Dear Friend of CHARIAD:

I want you to take a moment to hear the story of a close “Friend” and to take another moment to help our friend.

Maureen McKinnon has already won the Gold Medal sailing in the Olympics. Maureen is campaigning to win the gold again in the next Olympics.

Here is the rest of the story. When Maureen gets up in the morning to begin her day, she has to get into a wheel chair. When Maureen has come to a CHARIAD gathering at Richard Sides house in Marblehead, she comes in a wheel chair. Think about how you would feel about yourself and your life if you lived every day as Maureen does.

I have never met a more positive person who feels as good about herself and what she is doing than Maureen. Here is Maureen, Rich Wilson and you know who with the only Olympic Gold that any of the 3 have  won.

While you are reading this note, Maureen and her partner Ryan Porteous are in Melbourne Australia racing in the qualification round for the 2016 Paralympic games in Rio. Their boat had to be shipped from Marblehead to Melbourne and will have to be shipped to Europe (the Netherlands) for the second part of the qualifications next spring.

As you can imagine this kind of international campaign is very difficult and expensive. Last spring, the generosity of the Jubilee YC membership helped leapfrog Maureen and Ryan over the competition in Italy, with new sails and travel costs but she needs to refuel the rocket ship.

I am supporting Maureen’s joyful and determined campaign to represent the United States in the Olympic Games. She represents the best that each of us can hope to be in our lives. Please join me.

Year end is coming, so make a tax-deductible contribution to our Maureen’s campaign by writing a check to:

The Sailing Foundation of New York
PO Box 1736
Wallingford, CT 06492

Make sure you put Maureen’s name in the check memo so the money is channeled to her campaign. Donated travel miles could be very helpful for getting the team to Brazil to train in the spring.

Here are the on line touch points.

Facebook to follow Maureen’s journey:  https://www.facebook.com/mcktucker

Web Site with support options:  https://www.teamusa.org/para-sailing/athletes/Maureen-McKinnon

I hope you are well.

Rick