Laura & Ray Waldbaum Wildfire Relief Fund
Donation protected
2020, the wretched hag, has struck again. Our dear friends Laura & Ray Waldbaum just received word that nearly everything they had has been lost to a wildfire: the house in Santa Rosa they built with their own hands, the cabin that stood for over 125 years, all their outbuildings (including the chicken palace) and most possessions they owned; all reduced to nothing more than a pile of ash.
On Sunday, September 27th around 9PM, Laura noticed two spot fires had started on their road, likely embers from the Glass fire that had traveled on the wind. When she went outside, she could see a fire ball on the ridge above their home. She and Ray immediately decided it was time to go. (The emergency alert system had failed.)
As they headed down the road, they heard the hi low sirens of about 20 fire vehicles headed up the road. They got out with their animals, but not much else.
Once they got situated in a small parking lot in town, they tried to go back for Ray's antique cars, but by then the firefighters said it was too dangerous. They were not able to fight the fast-moving fire from the air due to all the smoke. Much of their beautiful community was razed by the wildfire. Mother Nature was in the driver's seat and she relentlessly took everything she could.
This fundraiser has been organized by friends of the Waldbaum's within the Bernese Mountain Dog community. This is a rallying cry to all, to please consider giving whatever you can to help Laura and Ray through this unthinkable tragedy. Their property was adequately insured but with all the devastation in the area, it could take considerable time before they receive desperately needed relief, and your donations will help them with short-term living expenses and/or help to purchase household items. (They are sole beneficiaries of this account.)
Laura has owned Bernese Mountain Dogs and been an active member of the berner community for nearly 25 years; she has been breeding them since 2008 under the Wildridge prefix. She is an avid competitor and mentor in Conformation, Tracking and BMDCA's Draft program.
Click here to purchase the excellent book Laura wrote on how to train your dog for draft work (pictured below).
[Note: An additional GoFundMe page was created by Sheila Jones to ensure that we reach the maximum number of friends and family.]
On Sunday, September 27th around 9PM, Laura noticed two spot fires had started on their road, likely embers from the Glass fire that had traveled on the wind. When she went outside, she could see a fire ball on the ridge above their home. She and Ray immediately decided it was time to go. (The emergency alert system had failed.)
As they headed down the road, they heard the hi low sirens of about 20 fire vehicles headed up the road. They got out with their animals, but not much else.
Once they got situated in a small parking lot in town, they tried to go back for Ray's antique cars, but by then the firefighters said it was too dangerous. They were not able to fight the fast-moving fire from the air due to all the smoke. Much of their beautiful community was razed by the wildfire. Mother Nature was in the driver's seat and she relentlessly took everything she could.
This fundraiser has been organized by friends of the Waldbaum's within the Bernese Mountain Dog community. This is a rallying cry to all, to please consider giving whatever you can to help Laura and Ray through this unthinkable tragedy. Their property was adequately insured but with all the devastation in the area, it could take considerable time before they receive desperately needed relief, and your donations will help them with short-term living expenses and/or help to purchase household items. (They are sole beneficiaries of this account.)
Laura has owned Bernese Mountain Dogs and been an active member of the berner community for nearly 25 years; she has been breeding them since 2008 under the Wildridge prefix. She is an avid competitor and mentor in Conformation, Tracking and BMDCA's Draft program.
Click here to purchase the excellent book Laura wrote on how to train your dog for draft work (pictured below).
[Note: An additional GoFundMe page was created by Sheila Jones to ensure that we reach the maximum number of friends and family.]
Co-organizers (4)
Susan Henderson
Organizer
Yorba Linda, CA
Laura Waldbaum
Beneficiary
Jennifer Zaayer
Co-organizer
Kathy Gray
Co-organizer
Stacy Slade
Co-organizer