Rally Round Gail and Jackie!

     On Monday, September the 4th (Labor Day) of this year, just one year before his retirement, my buddy Gail and his wife Jackie were hit by a car while riding their motorcycle in Maryville, Tennessee.
     Every year in the fall, a group of couples from Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia all meet in the beautiful mountains around Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to ride motorcycles and fellowship with one another. We all met up this year, just as we have done so many times before. On Labor Day, just two days into the mountain getaway, Gail and Jackie were leading the group to the mountain roads for a beautiful afternoon ride in the Smoky Mountains.  Ten minutes into the ride on a two lane road through a semi-residential area, a car pulled out from a side road and broadsided Gail and Jackie on their left. The rest of the group watched in horror as they were lifted and thrown off the road into a ditch.  Their injuries were devastating. The car hit Gail directly on his left leg. Both of my friends were knocked unconscious. Gail and Jackie were rushed to the nearest hospital. Gail nearly lost his leg when the car hit him. Paramedics had to apply a brace at the scene to keep his foot attached. His left upper arm was severely broken all the way through in two places. Jackie's leg was severely broken and also required surgery.
     Gail and Jackie are from Ohio but they have not been able to go home since that day because of the extent of their injuries. My friends came to Tennessee for a relaxing vacation and now they find themselves trapped in a nightmare and unable to even go home.
     More than a month later, Gail is still in the hospital and has undergone numerous surgeries trying to save his leg.  We have not received any promise of when he will be released.  We do know, however, that when he is released he will face a year or more of therapy trying to learn to walk again.
    Gail is (or was) self-employed which means that no work equals no pay. The family is struggling to make ends meet while Gail is recovering from this awful wreck.
     I am establishing this emergency campaign to help with Gail and Jackie's expenses during this tough time.  My friends need time to heal and adjust to the new reality. Please donate what you can to help two of the finest people you would ever know.  Thank you.

Wayne