Leigh is currently in the ICU at Christus Spohn Hospital (Corpus Christi) working to stabilize for a life-saving organ transplant. He’s upbeat and fighting hard. We’re raising funds for out-of-pocket medical costs, insurance deductibles, and living support while he can’t work.

The quickest thing you learn about Leigh is the laugh-the big, warm, belly laugh that shows up first and fills a room. Leigh has been lucky enough to spend most of his life doing what he loves: working in travel and helping folks share their stories and explore the world. He’s seen much of it (with a soft spot for southern Africa and Brazil and Argentina) and has spent more than two decades championing Australia-making lifelong friends across the U.S. and Australia through those big events like Marketplace, G’Day, ATE, Corroboree, countless roadshows, and the smaller visits to out-of-the-way destinations, casual dinners with the travel specialists stateside, and lots of laugh-filled phone calls and zoom meetings.

Right now, Leigh needs our help.

He’s in the ICU at Christus Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi, where doctors are working to stabilize him for an organ transplant. It’s moving in the right direction, but it’s a day-by-day process. Through it all, Leigh has stayed remarkably positive-grateful for the life he’s lived and eager to get back to work, back to traveling, and back to laughing with friends and family soon.

Leigh moved to Corpus Christi to help care for family, which meant putting his own work on hold. He returned to steady work about a year ago, but he’s still catching up. He is incredibly appreciative of the support and benefits accorded by his current job as a People Lead with Walmart, and the team he works with there, and he is excited to rejoin them as soon as he’s able. In the meantime we’re raising funds to cover the out-of-pocket medical expenses and basic living support while he can’t work.

He’s surrounded by love: Leigh’s brothers, Terence, Oscar, Frank and Fred, and Andy and Julie are pitching in from Colorado, Corpus Christi, Minneapolis, Las Vegas and Austin and his Walmart family are providing incredible resources, but we need a wider circle now.

Leigh asked me to tell you he’s so grateful for the friendships over the many years, and is looking forward to returning to health to create more sunny days of laughter together.

HOW YOUR GIFT WILL HELP

Every donation—of any size—moves Leigh closer to the transplant and recovery he needs. If donating isn’t possible right now, please share this page with anyone who knows Leigh from the travel community or beyond.

STAY IN TOUCH

Leigh truly wants to connect when he has the energy. Please reach out to Andy through GoFundMe here to find a good time to say hello or share a message for Leigh. Hearing from friends keeps his spirits high.

From all of us: thank you for the love, the shares, and the support. Let’s get Leigh back to the places and people he loves and back to that huge, unforgettable laugh.