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Bruce Ponder a Lightning Strike Survivor

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On August 3rd Bruce Ponder was hiking in the Jemez mountains with four friends, all experienced hikers. As they were nearing the end of their hike, they saw a storm brewing, being experienced they increased their pace to return to their car. The first lightning bolt to strike anywhere near the area struck Bruce and his friend, knocking them off a ledge 10-12 feet to the rocks below. His friend landed safely in a tree while Bruce’s head struck the rocks. The other two hikers rushed to assist him and found Bruce profusely bleeding from a head wound and not breathing. They revived him twice and brought help. Bruce is with suffering a brain injury and severe electrical burns needed to be airlifted to the hospital. We are blessed that  Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is not charging anything for the helicopter ride, or any costs related to the mountain rescue.  We are so lucky to have such wonderful people helping others. Bruce  will have to deal with unknown medical debt from the ER, diagnostic CT scans, and four days in the hospital in critical care.

Bruce is well known in the local cycling and custom bike community and owns Loco Bikes, an electric bicycle shop near Nob Hill. Bruce has been developing a new generation of artistically-styled, electric-assist bicycles. Bruce is well liked and has a reputation as a creator and a generous person, often fixing, at no charge, the bicycles and scooters for low income people. This ‘act of God’ accident came at a time when he was heavily invested in the development of his new models. His is a not uncommon story in today’s America where self-employed artists and entrepreneurs forego the security of a corporate job with health insurance to risk a path where they can follow their dream to create something new and unique. Bruce is now facing an insurmountable mountain of bills and could use your help.

Organizer

Jackie Pavlik
Organizer
Albuquerque, NM

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