This was written by Chris Bischoff who is the chief judge of the Pro Tour as well as a pioneer of our sport, and his wife Rhoni who is one of the best water skiers in the world. Please take the time to read it and if you find it in your heart to help. Kiwi is an amazing skier and great guy in need of some real help right now.
PLEASE READ! THANK YOU FROM THE BISCHOFF'S
Dear family, friends and colleagues,
As some of you may or may not know, a close family friend of ours, Kyle “Kiwi” Eade, took a crash while waterski jumping about a week ago training in New Zealand. Kyle is from New Zealand but lives here in the US now. Each year Kiwi, his wife Karyn and two sons, Jaeden (2) and Damien (1), travel to NZ during the month of February to visit family, coach and train for the first pro waterski event of the year which takes place in Australia. Kyle was taking a practice jump and went out the back. It seemed like a typical crash, but this time he landed on the back of his neck and almost immediately lost feeling in his arms and legs. Luckily the crew that Kiwi was skiing with immobilized him and called for help. He was airlifted to the local hospital and diagnosed with a broken C4 and C5 vertebrae along with severe swelling and trauma to the spinal chord. He is completely immobilized and will be for the next 6 to 8 weeks. He is about to be transfered to one of the top spinal centers in NZ.
Kyle and his family had planned on being in New Zealand for the month of February. By early March, they would return to their life, home and jobs here in Florida. Obviously, this plan has changed dramatically. If all goes well, which we are all praying it will, Kiwi will be healing for the next 12 to 18 months. As we all know, things are tight financially everywhere these days and it just became extremely more difficult for the Eades. Unfortunately, Kiwi's accident occurred about an hour plane flight away from where his parents live. Not only are they going to need to keep up their home here in Florida, but now they'll need to create a home away from home near the spinal center where Kiwi will rehabilitate from his injury. Kyle and Karyn's new jobs will be to focus 100% on Kiwi's recovery. They also need to establish as much of a normal life as possible for their boys.
Kyle is one of the strongest individuals both physically and mentally that we know. He is also one of the nicest and most giving guys you will ever meet. We know he would be one of the first people to step up to help in a situation like this. Kyle has been giving his whole life to the sport of waterskiing: he has been the coach, the judge, the driver, the friend who jumped in and pulled someone out of the water on a crash, the tournament organizer, the best skier of the day, and everything in between. He has been the best dad, the best husband, and the best friend all at the same time.
If you can help Kyle and his family in any way, please donate. You can send a check made out to Kyle Eade. On the memo line, please write, “gift - deposit to Kyle Eade's bill account.” Send the check to:
SunTrust Bank, Central Florida
Mail Code Fl-Clermont-0137
581 East Highway 50
Clermont, Florida 34711
OR
log on to
www.skifly.com to make a pay pal donation.
We would like to thank you for your prayers and any support you can give. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Chris, Rhoni and Linkin Bischoff
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