Nonprofit That Helps Vets Has Trailer Stolen Day After Purchase
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - An organization that works with wounded veterans and others with disabilities says a trailer crucial in their mission was stolen over the weekend.
Adaptive Adventures had just bought a trailer to transport equipment Friday night. They parked it in a storage facility where they keep their other trailers and equipment. By morning it was gone.
From skiing to kayaking to dragon boat racing, Adaptive Adventures gives wounded veterans like Rob Martinez far more than an adventure.
"They talk about veterans and the suicide rate, and this group has done ... no words," Martinez said.
The nonprofit has specialized bikes and kayaks, water skis and wakeboards. It hauls them all over the country, giving those with disabilities an opportunity like none other.
"This was going to be our largest trailer," Program Director David Schmid said.
Schmid said for months they had raised money for a new trailer big enough to hold kayaks.
"The staff was just like, 'When are we getting it, when are we getting it? When is the trailer going to come?' "
When they finally bought the trailer Friday night they were so excited they snapped a picture. But the picture is now all they have.
"Kind of walked around dumbfounded looking for traces," Schmid said.
He said they didn't have time to register or insure the trailer.
"So much of what we do at Adaptive Adventures is build community, try to find support, try to help people realize that they are not alone; and when someone comes in and selfishly takes that … it's hard to deal with," Schmid said.
"It's gut-wrenching, it's gut-wrenching," Martinez said. "This is what people are doing with their freedom that we nearly gave lives for … that buddies who did die?"
Neighbors say they saw a flatbed tow truck pull in and haul the $5,000 trailer away.
Adaptive Adventures operates almost entirely on donations, so the theft is a huge loss.
For more information about Adaptive Adventures, visit adaptiveadventures.org.
