Stay Connected
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Enjoy the first newsletter of the new year featuring our big fund raiser at Copper Mountain, presentations to some special people, a Dawg in the Big Apple and a look ahead to a major event.
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COPPER - TAKE 2!
The 2nd Annual Dawg Nation/Copper Mountain Pond Hockey Tournament is February 24-26. Games will be played all three days. Join us Saturday night for the party and auction with live entertainment.
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"2016 was our first pond hockey tourney and it surpassed all of our expectations," said Dawg Nation founder Martin Richardson. "It was an extraordinary weekend pulled off by lots of people looking to make a difference. This year promises to be just as fun."
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Last year, the tournament and auction raised $85,000 for Dave and Amanda Repsher. Expect more incredible items to bid on as we again raise money to help those in need in the hockey community. And the Repshers plan to be there!
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Dave, a flight nurse, was burned over 90% of his body in a Flight for Life accident in Summit County in July, 2015. Over a year later he walked out of the hospital! He continues rehabilitation and in October did a 4 mile hike with no walker, no walking stick and no assistance!
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Dave is an avid hockey fan and hopes to once again play. January 14 was Dave Repsher Day at the Avs game vs. Nashville.
The day came to a crescendo early in the third period when Dave was honored on the big screen as the "Hero of the Game". Incidentally, the first ever "non military" Hero of the Game.
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Dave and Amanda met Matt Duchene before the game. #9 gave Dave a signed stick. The Avs also gave the Repshers their own jerseys.
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Amanda and Dave visited the NHL referee locker room and Dave was given a signed jersey from the four officials. This was made possible by our DN ambassador and NHL referee, Dave Jackson.
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Supporters, including Avs broadcaster Peter McNab, had the chance to say, "Hi," to Summit County's Superman.
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Later Amanda texted the Dawgfather:
"Can't thank you enough. Our best day of our new life!"
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Dawg Nation supporters enjoyed discounted tickets and the Avs gave a portion of those sales back to us!
A special thank you to Deb Dowling of the Avalanche who coordinated the event and made it memorable!
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The Dawgs have extended the Dave Repsher donation page into this year. We are again matching the first $2,500 in donations 3 to 1. Click HERE to help!
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Although Dave's health continues to improve, he is in need of kidney transplant and is now considered healthy enough to be a kidney transplant recipient!!!
This is HUGE news and would be a life changer as Dave currently endures several draining kidney dialysis sessions each week. We have been told that sometimes it is a non family member who turns out to be the best match.
Click HERE to get more information. To speak with a donor coordinator call 720-848-0855.
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THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!
Thanks to the generosity of so many, in 2016 alone we have been able to pass over $400,000 to families in need!!!
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Once again, you came up big in support of Dawg Nation. Colorado Gives Day, on December 6th, produced over $3,400 in donations.
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In December, members of the Colorado Springs Dawgs were the guests of the Colorado Springs Thunder of the Professional Inline Hockey Association, for their series versus the Colorado Stallions and their annual charity jersey auction.
Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation was announced as the recipient of the proceeds from the jersey auction. On behalf of all of Dawg Nation, we would like to thank the Colorado Springs Thunder players, staff, and fans for inviting us out for a night of tremendous inline hockey.
Their donation is greatly appreciated and will be put to good use supporting hockey players in their times of need.
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New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins named Dawg Nation the quarterly recipient of their donation program!
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A HELPING PAW
Giving back is what Dawg Nation is all about. In just over five years our grass roots organization has been able to aid over 60 families in times of need.
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Martin Richardson, Garrett Ladd of "Bout Time" and DN board member Bill Miller are happy to help John with medical bills.
John Matthew (left) is a long time adult player in the Denver area. This past summer he had a bad bicycle accident that left him paralyzed for a short time.
After a long hospital stay, he's on the road to recovery and hoping to back on the ice next summer.
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Kevin Ulanski, A.J. Hau, Dawg Nation board member Dave Chamberlin, Cookie and Chris Hau.
Cookie has beaten cancer and plays each year in the Dawg Bowl Survivor Game. He had medical bills that insurance didn't cover and Dawg Nation's check paid them off. Cookie's dad, Glen, is also a cancer survivor.
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Andrew Ouellette was paralyzed after a body surfing accident during a vacation in Mexico. He's 18 and an East High grad. He was on this way to Cal Poly, but those plans are on hold for now.
Dawg Nation's check for $17,500, presented to Andrew's dad Tom (r), helped the Ouellettes purchase this specially equipped handicapped accessible van to aid Andrew.
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IF SHE CAN MAKE IT THERE... |
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Shannon Kelly, a long time DN volunteer, is off to seek fame and fortune in the Big Apple. Shannon (left, with Cindy Richardson) is the daughter of the late Jack Kelly, an original Dawg and the inspiration behind Dawg Nation.
"I would say that New York has been a challenge and an adventure so far," Shannon said. "It's difficult leaving behind a full life, my family, and my Dawg family, but the reason I did it was to push myself out of my comfort zone and try something new.
NYC is vibrant, exciting and unique. As my dad always told me, 'Nothing worth having comes easily.' I just know that this adventure will be worth it."
We miss you. Good luck, Shannon!
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Bretlyn and Dawgfather Martin Richardson take a break from clearing land to hang with Watson.
Watson is fitting in well with his new family. Bretlyn and Charlie Schmidtmann lost their home and their beloved Saint Bernard in last summer's Cold Springs fire.
The Dawgs responded with a check to help with rebuilding and with the gift of Watson.
Bretlyn and Charlie are paying it forward. When he's old enough they will enroll Watson in therapy dog training and plan to bring him to those in need of comfort.
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Thanks to your daily votes, the Dawgs beat out hundreds of teams to make the finals of the annual Westy Award competition. A team from Newfoundland, Canada, won the $8,000 in hockey equipment offered to, "The Best Beer League Team in the World."
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Join us for the 7th annual Stand Up for Dawg Nation Comedy Night March 22 at Comedy Works South at the Landmark, Greenwood Village.
Comedy Works donates the venue to us and 100% of the ticket proceeds go to Dawg Nation. Last year's event raised almost $18,000 to help those in need. Again this year, Dawg Nation will have a special check presentation and there are some fabulous prizes to be won.
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This newsletter was written and edited by Jeff Kingery.
Photos by Kelli Packard.
Special thanks to
Martin Richardson, Rob Packard and Cindy Richardson for their assistance.
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