"HUNTER to the OCEAN" Fundraiser SUCCESS

A fundraiser I started over a month ago lasted only 7 days when 40 people came from all over the world to help make one young man's dream come true!

In 7 days we raised $1027USD to help create a way for Hunter Shaffer, 14 years old and in a wheelchair all of his life, make it to the ocean. Hunter fights for the ocean & animals daily online and through his personal life working at a local conservation area. Hunter has had over 400 bones break in his 14 years of life and knows first hand what pain is all about so he now lives a vegan lifestyle and has taken on a voice for the voiceless.

Hunter inspired me to create this fundraiser and I am so happy to say "It was a SUCCESS!" Hunter and his family took this opportunity as a family road trip to Jupiter, Florida. Jimi B. Long set up the event at the Florida destination and has only spoke to Hunter over the internet for months. So they too were able to meet for the first time and Jimi is in a wheelchair as well and knew first hand how he could help make this day something to be remembered for the rest of Hunter's life! Now we have photos to share!

Hunter Shaffer with Michael Worden, Jimi B. Long, Erik Brush, Danny.
Photo by Susan Mabe

 This is the status that Hunter put out only 11 hours ago from his resort in Florida:

"Snorkeling at coral cove was great, and my first time in the open ocean! Was also the first time I had seen a fish in the wild while I was in the water. My biggest thanks to Danny, Michael Worden, Jimi B. Long, Erik Brush, Susan Mabe, Jim Shaffer, and most of all Bob Timmons for helping me to get to Florida in the first place! A big thanks as well to Amber Foster for watching the pets back at home so I could come here!

I am now VERY comfortable with the ocean, and snorkeled again today at a different location. Snorkeled 300FT out right over a coral reef and saw Sea Urchins, Crabs, Puffer fish, Appears to be Bermuda Chub, a large Yellow Fish that I was unable to identify *Thought it was a Trumpetfish, but looks nothing alike!*

Erik, Jimi and I also went to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, we saw a variety of rescued turtles and sat for a 30 minute educational interactive course about sea turtles. *This was also the spot where I beat Jimi in 2 wheelchair races, no need to brag about that, videos will come soon! ;)*

All in all, I could not have asked for a better time in Florida and saw a variety of life! A huge thank you to ALL who donated to the Hunter To The ocean campaign! Without your help, I would not have been NEAR the ocean, let alone 100 meters out over a reef! Considering going out early in the morning tomorrow to swim with the Bull Sharks when they migrate into the shallows to feed as the sun rises. Thank you, everyone!" ~ Hunter Shaffer

Jimi B. Long, Hunter Shaffer & Erik Brush at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center
Photo by Susan Mabe

Comments from the days event:

Susan Mabe
Was up at Blowing Rock today with Hunter Shaffer on his snorkling trip ! Kudos to Bob Timmons for his fund raising and all who donated. A big fins up to Erik Brush, Jimi B. Long, Mike & Danny for getting Hunter into the water. Went to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center as well. It was a great day. Pics will be posted later. WTG Hunter ! ♥

Michael Worden
It was a pleasure! So proud of Hunter, he did a great job in the water this morning!

Jimi B. Long Meeting Hunter and his wonderful family was without a doubt, one of the highlights of my life!! What a great bunch of people, to spend an awesome day with! Thank you to everyone who showed up to help!! I had a BLAST!!! Next time, I'll know better than to challenge Hunter to a wheelchair drag race.. The little bugger blew my doors off and left me in the dust...TWICE!!!!!

To see what I "FELT" only weeks ago, go from a thought, to a reaction, to networking, to a JOURNEY for a young man and his family! People globally were affected by his compassion to join in and create an Incredible Story for him and all of us! Hunter keeping on Rocking the Free-World for the Animals! I think you know now that we ALL LOVE YOU Bud!

By Erik Brush

Here are some photos of the Card I made to send the names of all the donators and the money orders:

Bob Timmons

Co-Host for Herbivores - Animal Frequency Show
http://www.facebook.com/HerbivoresAnimalFrequency

Artist For The Ocean
http://www.bobtimmons.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aartistfortheocean
Twiiter: https://twitter.com/ArtistforOcean
Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MarineArtist
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/stalyun2006

Ontario Regional Coordinator for Sea Shepherd
http://www.facebook.com/SSCSToronto

http://twitter.com/SSCSToronto

Ocean Activists United Founder
http://www.facebook.com/oceanactivistsunited

http://twitter.com/oceanactivists

Taiji Interview aired in Rogers TV - Ontario

Attention Ontario and Hlobal viewers: My interview that will be Aired Only in Southern Ontario, Rogers TV, is available on my website here! It's about The Taiji Dolphin Slaughter and my Awareness Paintings. First TV showing is today at 1pm. Scheduled showings are on Channel 20 in South-Western Ontario: Wednesday, May 2nd  at 1pm, 9:30pm Thursday, May 3rd at 5pm Saturday, May 5th at 10am, 3:30pm. 9pm Sunday, May 6th at 10am, 6:30pm Twitter for Inside Angle @Inside_Angle To view interview go here: http://www.bobtimmons.org/rogerstvinterview.htm

Ocean Wish: "Hunter to the Ocean"

A young man bound to a wheel chair most of his life and absolutely loved on Facebook for fighting for ocean animals has shocked me even more when I heard he has never swam in the ocean.

Hunter Shaffer is this young man and when I first seen him popping up on threads regarding animals I felt this was a man of well informed knowledge. The words and facts this young man was putting out showed he was definitely aware and has done his research on the matters. What we didn't know was his age. At this time I believe Hunter was only 12 years old.

We learned about his disability to walk but also learned about his great ability to fight! On March 13th, 2012 Hunter put this as his status on Facebook:

"I can stand up by myself again..

They said I would die at birth, and encouraged my mother to have an abortion.... I would be hooked up to life supporters for my entire existence. Weak and frail? Nope. Dead? Nope..

Four hundred broken bones later, I'm alive and am out to protect the worlds inhabitants, with one primary mission: Conserving the biodiversity within this fragile world, that are perhaps as fragile as my bones.

Defying all odds, I'm here to help the animals.. And THIS is my journey.

Get off of your excuses, get out and make a change.. No, BE the change you WANT to see in the world. You CAN do it.. I did."

This inspired so many people that already knew who he was and now I am taking this young man's inspiration and sharing it with all of you!

Just searching around his threads and how Hunter comments truly inspires me to think we can make a change on this world and Hunter at his now age of 14 years old is proving this true! Hunter fights for animals and has taken on a Vegan Lifestyle to show his true stand for all animals.

Hunter commented on one thread regarding diving in Florida by saying He has never swam in the Ocean. This is when I took my skills, time and energy to put out an online fund-raiser to make his wish come true! "HUNTER to the OCEAN" is what I have created and within 21 hours we raised over $670 Canadian Dollars to make it happen! The money keeps coming in and its definitely not local! We have a global support team donating from Canada, Portugal, Sweden, USA, Ireland, UK, Norway, and Germany so far! We want to reach $2500 so we can help the whole family make it to an Ocean Shore of Hunter's choice. They will have to rent a Wheelchair accessible van to make this happen and we definitely look forward to seeing Hunter with Sea Salt Tears!

Please help get "HUNTER to the OCEAN" by going to the following link and watch the Thermometer Rise!

http://www.bobtimmons.org/apps/donations/

Animals Asia Founder Jill Robinson in Toronto

I rushed after work to get over to this unique visit from a lady who has dedicated her last 18 years to help Moon Bears in China and recently Vietnam as well. Jill Robinson the founder of Animals Asia joined us in the Lula Lounge of Toronto to speak about the lives of these gorgeous bears in what they call "Bear Farms".

Within these farms these bears are caged so tightly they cannot move around much and the floor is bars which makes their feet deform over the many and some decades of time being caged. The farmers milk them for their bile to use in ancient chinese medicine. This leaves the wound open and always infected that in time kills these animals but sadly not soon enough since they have to be tortured for years if not decades.

Jo-Anne McArthur was also there being the amazing photographer as well as she had some gorgeous Moon Bear photos up for sale with all proceeds going to Animals Asia.

Please watch the whole talk Jill Robinson gave us in four parts.

PART ONE

PART TWO



PART THREE

PART FOUR

Jill Robinson and Myself

Rob Laidlaw of Zoocheck Canada and Myself

Animals Asia North America with Nina Muller the Toronto Volunteer

Author Marc Bekoff and Myself

Jo-Anne McArthur and her gorgeous photographs.

--

Bob Timmons

Co-Host for Herbivores - Animal Frequency Show
http://www.facebook.com/HerbivoresAnimalFrequency%20

Artist For The Ocean
http://www.bobtimmons.org/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aartistfortheocean

Twiiter: http://twitter.com/activistartist

Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MarineArtist
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/stalyun2006

Toronto Regional Coordinator for Sea Shepherd
http://www.facebook.com/SSCSToronto 

http://twitter.com/SSCSToronto

Ocean Activists United Founder
http://www.facebook.com/oceanactivistsunited

http://twitter.com/oceanactivists

Ric O'Barry Gets ECO HERO Award

I was honoured to meet Ric O'Barry for the fourth time this year being the third Country too! We have been talking since the beginning of 2010 and met for the first time this past January when I was in Japan, then again in Miami at the Seaquarium for a protest, and finally twice in Canada for two separate awards!

This award was for being an ECO HERO! Please watch the 9min award ceremony with Ric Speaking. At the end he plugs that he normally comes to Canada to protest Marineland and further states not to buy a ticket to any dolphin shows. Period.

Hanging out at the After Party!

--

Bob Timmons

Co-Host for Herbivores - Animal Frequency Show
http://www.facebook.com/HerbivoresAnimalFrequency%20

Artist For The Ocean
http://www.bobtimmons.org/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aartistfortheocean

Twiiter: http://twitter.com/activistartist

Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MarineArtist
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/stalyun2006

Toronto Regional Coordinator for Sea Shepherd
http://www.facebook.com/SSCSToronto 

http://twitter.com/SSCSToronto

Ocean Activists United Founder
http://www.facebook.com/oceanactivistsunited

http://twitter.com/oceanactivists