Adventures for Heroes & Illness Warriors

Serving as the original Disaster Pastor at First Baptist Church New Orleans was one of the highlights of my life. This position was created after Hurricane Katrina devastated our city of NOLA. During this time, I contracted a rare form of E. coli that almost took my life. Since then, I have been all over the US seeking treatment. The E. coli altered my DNA so that although it has been eradicated, my body believes I still have it. This created an autoimmune disorder that has my body continually attacking itself. While I am still living, my life has changed dramatically. Prior to that infection, I was Superman and could do anything and had never been sick. However, since then, I was unable to walk for a few years, I have IV medications taken several times each day; I have to run a bag of saline every day over a period of +/- 6 hours. God has blessed me with a center console boat which, although I no longer drive, I do pilot the boat, and hang my IV from the t-top as I fish/float all day. The boat is one of my happy places. I am trying to find things to do to the best of my abilities. Beth and my kids are helping me to create custom drinkware, hats, shirts, etc.

We want to create HookedUp Intl LLC as a 501C3 non-profit charitable organization. We wish to use the proceeds to offer free adventures in and around the Pensacola, FL area, primarily using the boat for fishing, Blue Angels watching, floating, tubing, wandering, and chauffeuring. We desire to offer these services to people, and their families, dealing with invisible illnesses and wounded/disabled veterans, and their families. As proceeds amass, we dream of forging a partnership with a boat manufacturer and getting a larger center console with special access for wheelchair ease and a hoist for loading the disabled. As aforementioned, the first step of this huge dream is to incorporate and get our 501C3 status. For everyone who assists us in achieving this great task, you will receive a free surprise gift and a signed thank you letter, with pics, of us granting the free offer to one of our honored participants.