Support the Heroes Who Saved My Life: North Shore Rescue

Hello, my name is Ethan and I would like to share my story today. As I was still a teenager, I had my whole life ahead of me—dreams to chase, goals to reach, and so much more to experience.

On March 17, 2025, Cypress Mountain was supposed to be just another adventure—fresh air, snow-covered slopes, and the thrill of the ride. But in an instant, everything changed. A wrong turn, an unexpected slip, and I found myself beyond the boundaries, lost in the vast, freezing wilderness as the last light of day disappeared. At first, I told myself I could find my way back. But as the darkness deepened and the cold grew unbearable, fear crept in. I hadn't prepared anything, I was alone with nothing to help me bear through the night. The towering trees, once familiar and welcoming, now felt ominous and endless. I had previously sent out a distress call only for it to be cut short as my phone died as I couldn't get my location sent out in time. The wind roared through the mountain, and for the first time, I truly understood what it meant to be helpless.

Then, through the silence, I heard something—distant voices, the crackle of a radio, a flashlight cutting through the darkness. I had thought that no one was coming for me, that tonight would be the last night I would live, under the stars in the dark. North Shore Rescue hadn’t given up. Hour after hour, they searched relentlessly, braving the dangerous terrain and unforgiving cold. Ever since 7PM, these selfless volunteers risked everything, knowing that every passing minute made the difference between life and death.

At 1 AM, they found me. Cold, exhausted, but alive. And it was because of them.

North Shore Rescue operates entirely on donations. Every hour they spend searching for someone like me costs approximately $1,500. They don’t ask for anything in return. They don’t hesitate. They simply go. They save lives. I owe them everything. And now, I want to give back.

Please consider donating to the North Shore Rescue Team Society. Your support means more than you can imagine. It means that when someone else is lost, when they are terrified and alone in the dark, there will be a team ready to find them. A donation could be the difference between someone else being able to go home once again and a devastated, torn apart family.

Because no one should feel forgotten in the wilderness. And thanks to North Shore Rescue, no one ever will.