Help Ricardi Bring His Heart and Training Partner, Cyber, to America ❤️
My name is Ricardi Matthee. I am a 20-year-old international para-athlete , competing in the T13 class. My family and I have recently started a new life in Utica, New York — a fresh start filled with hope, opportunity, and the dream of continuing my journey on the track here in the United States.
But our family is not complete.
We had to leave one very important member behind in South Africa… my best friend, my training partner, my Labrador — Cyber.
Cyber is not just a dog to me. He is part of who I am.
Every morning back home, no matter the weather, Cyber was right there next to me. When I trained, he trained. When I struggled, he stayed. When my body wanted to quit, he kept me going. He knows my pace, my rhythm, and my limits. He has been with me through injuries, tough races, and the moments where giving up felt easier than pushing forward.
Now I’m in a new country, chasing my dream… but doing it without him feels empty.
Training alone is not the same. Life without him is not the same.
The hardest part is knowing he is still waiting for me, not understanding why I left, or why I haven’t come back.
Bringing Cyber to the USA is a complicated and expensive process because South Africa is classified as a high-risk rabies country. It requires specialized blood tests, an approved travel crate, cargo flights, veterinary certificates, and transport from New York to Utica.
The total cost is between $5,000 and $6,500 USD.
We are doing everything we can to make this happen, but we cannot do it alone.
If you are able to help, you won’t just be helping us bring a dog to America…
You will be reuniting a family.
You will be giving me back my training partner.
You will be helping me continue chasing my dream with the strength and support that only he gives me.
From the bottom of my heart, I’m asking — please help us bring Cyber home.
Every single dollar brings him one step closer.
Thank you for your kindness and support. We will never forget it.
❤️
Ricardi, Cyber, and our family in Utica, New York