posted Nov 7th, 2005 - The NSL audience probably noticed in September that a banner was added to the front page. The link behind the logo of the "Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund" opens a page on Team Fastrax' website, which offers the opportunity to help the relief efforts with donations.

The page has also been updated with brief news and information of the support project. There were many skydivers in the New Orleans region who were directly hit by Katrina's damaging path. The NSL News on September 9 had covered one of the Katrina stories during the USPA Nationals 2005 when Perris Synchronicity member Becky Brocato had just made it to Perris in time.

The manager of the Fastrax Relief Project, David Hart, recently provided the NSL News with new information related to the support efforts. The project still continues, and Dave Hart encourages skydivers to provide information of people in need:

"If you don't already know, the Hurricane Katrina Skydiver Relief Fund recently disbursed all the funds in the account ($4,248) to individuals within the skydiving community, at least the ones we could track down (19 people). The distribution was made equally to all the people affected, a family of four received four times as much as a single person. This week, the fund had a new donor add an additional $1,500, which will be disbursed in the same manner. If you know of someone in need, please contact me directly."

David Hart also provided one of the stories that shows how much the support is needed and appreciated. Mike Igo of the Gold Coast Skydivers explains how the skydiving community in the Katrina path helped each other and depended on help from the outside:

"Dave, Tammy is single with no children. She was one of the people that was rescued from the roof of her home and was a refugee in Houston for awhile. A couple of her family members died during the storm.

As a side note, I can't even begin to tell you how much appreciation we feel for you and your sponsors. The checks you have sent were greeted with tears of joy knowing that strangers have come to the aid of skydivers that were in desperate need. Your compassion is overwhelming and when all is said and done we want the skydiving world to know how proactive you were in spearheading this effort.

A lot of people "talk the talk", but you actually put together a very successful fund raising effort that was appreciated beyond belief. I only wish you could have been present to see the expressions on the recipient's faces when I handed them their checks!

God bless you and all the others that contributed to this noble cause. The check that you sent to Gold Coast Skydivers has been put to good use. We have purchased gift cards at Wal Mart and bought the bare essentials for some of the neediest people in our area.

The security guard at the airport, an elderly retired gentleman, lost everything and is sleeping on an air mattress in one of the hangars. Even though he is not a skydiver, I didn't think you would mind that we have taken him under our wing. He is a part of our family now and is overwhelmed with the generosity shown to him. It's funny to see this little old man making his rounds wearing skydiving T-shirts.

Blue Skies and God Bless, Mike Igo, Gold Coast Skydivers"