Main fundraiser photo

RIDE 2 DIVE, WITH A TBI (TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY)

Donation protected
Hello everyone, my name is David Marsh. I am looking to raise money for a scuba diving internship program to become a PADI certified scuba diving instructor and to raise awareness for TBI's. Through a thorough and rigorist vetting  & interviews, I have been formally accepted into Rainbow Reef's scuba diving internship program out of Key Largo, Florida. Unfortunately due to my medical recovery, I just haven't been able to save enough money for the internship requirements. If you are willing to contribute to helping me meet my goal, I am willing to put in the work just to show how serious this is to me. I am taking the challenge of riding a pedal bike 200 miles, from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Cadillac, Michigan. 100 miles to Cadillac in one day and then the next morning turn around and do it all over again to head home 100 miles back to GR. I plan on doing my ride on May 1st-2nd, we will be departing from Van's Pastry on Fulton, on the morning of Saturday May 1st. All are welcome to wish us off, anyone is welcomed to ride. You don't have to do the full thing and can always join along on the White Pine Biking Trail. We will have designated stops along the way. 

On January 2nd, 2019 my young life was rocked to the core. At school during wrestling practice I sustained what is called a traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Since then, I've completed my senior of high school from home and got my driver's license. Prior to my TBI I had earned a full ride academic scholarship to Hawaii Pacific University for Marine Biology + Oceanography, I went to Hawaii and finished a semester of school before having to come home from being over come by symptoms from my TBI. I have since had to give up my full ride academic scholarship as I can no long meet the requirements to keep it.

After 27 months of recovery, multiple emergency room visits, ambulance rides, numerous doctors + specialists appointments,  endless medication prescriptions, 4 stints of outpatient therapy programs of physical, occupational, and psychological therapy at both Mary Free Bed and Spectrum Health, 2 6-hour long neuropsychological exams,  I am finally making headway in my recovery and understanding my new handicap that has caused so much grief, pain, and rollercoasters of emotions + turmoil for both myself and my close circle of family + friends.  And in my career path, as throughout this entire recovery process I have been chipping away at certifications towards becoming a scuba diving instructor. 

At Rainbow Reef they will train me from where I am at in certifications to a Master Certified Scuba Instructor. Along the way I will learn how to inspect, maintenance, and properly use all scuba gear. I will obtain training on being a dockmaster, then to First Mate of a vessel, and eventually to boat Captain of a vessel and dive leader of the diving excursions. this has been my life long goal and dream since I was 3yrs old. And now that I have the strength, and mental ambitions, the dream is finally within my grasp, I just need that final financial nudge to get there. 

So, if you could please find the compassion and understanding to help contribute in me moving forward towards my career, I would be forever appreciative and I thank you for your help in advanced. 

You can find more information on Rainbow Reef's internship program here @  https://www.rainbowreefidc.com/our-padi-diving-internship-programs/

I am required to buy all new equipment for this program as my equipment is used, and is Scuba Pro brand, they sell Aqualung, and require that your wear and use what they sell, which makes sense. Also as stated while my equipment is good, it is used and some pieces are 20+ yrs old. A breakdown of the required purchases will be attached to the gofundme after it goes live.  

 I thank you all.
God Bless, 
David Marsh
Donate

Donations 

    Donate

    Organizer

    David Marsh
    Organizer
    Grand Rapids, MI

    Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

    • Easy

      Donate quickly and easily

    • Powerful

      Send help right to the people and causes you care about

    • Trusted

      Your donation is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee