Dave Cook's Bucket List Trip

The Story

Dave Cook was born March 31st, 1959 and began life with only 1 kidney, not discovering it until 2003 during tests run at Roseville Imaging Center in Roseville California.

For 44 years he struggled to stay alive with this one kidney, and in September of 2010, Dave had an emergency surgery at Presbyterian Saint Luke in Denver Colorado, finding then that his only functioning kidney had been long failing, Dave and the hospital's healthcare team catching the organ at only 3% function. Since September 3rd  of 2010, he's had to do Peritoneal Dialysis every 3 hours to maintain a base standard of health, Social Security providing only the bare minimum to aid in his living. 

At this time, Dave is "looking at the future like a fish looks to a worm" and he recognizes that his time here is precious and limited, and as such has decided that for the remainder of what is to be his life, he'd like to take care of and treat his two children and himself to one last great vacation. 

To that end, Dave is looking towards GoFundMe to help fund his dream, an end of the line trip around the states with his children, the goal being that he'll be able to make it a reality by his 59th birthday, March 31st of 2018. 


The Details

Dave has had a while to figure out what the ideal version of this trip would look like and he has a few specific goals in mind that he'd like to meet. The problem Dave faces right now is that he's living paycheck to paycheck (And even then occasionally struggling to make ends meet) and he recognizes that without help he won't be able to achieve his dream. 

The two most daunting obstacles for Dave making this trip are transportation and shelter, both problems easily solved with the purchase of a Class C RV. Here in his residing state of Colorado, new Class C RV's range anywhere from $25,000-$40,000, and so, he's looking to raise at least $35,000 in the next six months.


Why Should I Donate?

Because it's the right thing to do. 

While there shouldn't be much more to it than that, we all know the world we live in, and we know that all too often people can be undeserving of the aid we can offer to one another.

And so,  as the individual helping Dave put this together, here's a few more reasons to help him make this Bucket List Dream an honest goodness reality. 

1. Dave is a passionate and talented artist. Several times per week Dave comes into a local coffee shop (This is the location I met him) and plays the house guitar. With the instrument in hand, Dave will sit and play providing a backdrop of tranquil sound to the otherwise sleepy space. 

2. Dave is a loving father. With two children still in the house, Dave does his very best to balance his needs and wants alongside those of his kids, and while he knows that they'll be taken care of once he passes, he does wish to give them the opportunity to remember him as he the man who lived his dreams.  

3. Dave is a kind and wholehearted individual. Since I've known Dave, I've yet to see a moment where he isn't going above and beyond to help others in need. With those in less than fortunate situations, Dave reaches out and offers what he can, even when he knows he doesn't have all that much to give. I've personally been witness to him helping to ferry strangers to places they needed to go, I know he helps a close neighbour of his get to doctor appointments regularly, and even in context of what I have been doing for him, Dave has offered to pay me for my time setting things up for him here on GoFundMe. (With 100% transparency, you as donors can rest assured that I have zero intention of letting him do so. Anything that comes through this project goes straight to Dave and no-one else!) 


What's The Timeline?

Dave wants to be able to begin his trip on his 59th birthday, March 31st of 2018. That gives him approximately six months of time to advertise this page, to share more of his heart, his kindness, and his talent, and to put the remainder of his time fully into this dream of his.