Help Forrest and Family Rebuild After Tragedy

Forrest is a medically retired EMT, who taught Technical Rescue to first responders, military/SOF, SAR, and civilians. Forrest specialized in water/swift water/rope rescue, and advanced tactical training which simulated emergent access techniques via helo.

During the winter season of 2023/2024, Forrest was in a snowboarding accident that left him with considerable nerve damage. As the nerve damage intensified and he began struggling to walk, Forrest and his family began acclimating to life as an adaptive athlete in a wheelchair.

Due to various circumstances, Forrest and his family have struggled to maintain financial independence since his accident and are also facing the mounting costs that an injury of this magnitude entail. Forrest and his wife Hailee welcomed their first child, a sweet little girl named Chloe earlier this year.

Additionally, Forrest and his family were evacuated yesterday during the Gold Ranch Fire in Reno. While we are hopeful that they will not lose their home, this has incurred additional and unforeseen expenses for their family.

We are asking for donations for Forrest and his family. This GoFundMe has been started by Forrest’s OpenWater Team that are training together for the OW Veteran’s Day Channel Crossing in November.

The past week we came together from all over the country to train together, to share our stories, our lives, struggles and our victories with one another. For Forrest, he needs a win. Life has dealt him a lot of blows recently and we want to support him in every way we can.

The thing we love about Forrest is his desire to see those around him succeed, to be lifted up. During the OpenWater Training Camp Forrest was consistently a source of encouragement, his kindness, humor and positivity shining through even when he was in pain. He’s also an absolute animal in the water.

Forrest’s grit, perseverance and love for the water got him linked up with Waterman Foundation Tahoe, who got him into an adaptive OC1 and back on the water. He will also complete the Operation OpenWater Channel Crossing on November 11, 2024.

Thank you for your donations, please leave Forrest, Hailee and Chloe a message of encouragement if you can’t afford to donate.

We appreciate you!