April 18, 2025 • 32 mins
LEARN MORE: Charity for First Responders - Answering the Call 911
Nothing prepares you for the moment when your everyday heroes need heroes of their own. When Ronnie Doumitt watched his police colleague and friend Josh contract a flesh-eating bacteria that nearly claimed his life, he discovered a shocking truth: despite swearing an oath to protect our communities, first responders have virtually no safety net when catastrophe strikes their own lives.
What followed was a harrowing four-month journey that changed everything. As Josh underwent 27 surgeries and repeatedly "died on the operating table," Ronnie witnessed his friend's wife Melissa balance hospital vigils with homework help for their children, all while facing potential financial ruin. The community rallied, raising $100,000 to save Josh's life—but the experience revealed a systemic failure that Ronnie couldn't ignore.
From this crisis emerged Answering the Call, a nonprofit that has since donated over $1.4 million to first responders facing medical emergencies both on and off duty. Through whiskey raffles, ladies' nights, trivia events, and their upcoming Resiliency Gala, they've created a powerful safety net for those who protect us every day.
"It's our duty to lighten their load," Ronnie explains with palpable emotion. "I want to give it back to you because it's extremely heavy. It's a heavy damn pack. But let me lighten your load for just a little bit."
The most powerful part? How little it takes to make a difference. Through their 9-11 program, community members donate just $9.11 monthly—less than a fancy coffee—creating sustainable support that allows injured first responders to focus solely on healing.
Ready to answer the call for those who always answer yours? Visit act911.org to donate or learn about upcoming events. Because without the safety and security first responders provide, nothing else matters—and it's time we showed up for them the way they always show up for us.
Thanks so much for listening!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello and welcome to the Spandex and Wine podcast.
I'm your host, robin Hackney,and I'm so happy that you're
here.
This podcast is a place forconversations about balancing a
healthy lifestyle and beinghappy more specifically, happy
hour.
Together we'll explore allthings wellness and wine.
I hope you learn a little,laugh a lot and, along the way,
(00:22):
know you're not alone on thisbalanced wellness journey.
Ready to jump in?
Pour something in your glassthat makes you happy, because
it's time for Spandex and Wine.
Hey everyone, welcome to theSpandex and Wine podcast.
I'm your host, robin Hackney.
(00:45):
This episode is one that hit mestraight in the heart.
As a mom to a firefighter, I'vealways known the courage and
sacrifice it takes to answer thecall, but after talking with
Ronnie Dumit from answering thecall, I felt it on a whole new
level.
I'll be honest with you Ineeded a tissue while recording
this and might now I don't evenknow Ronnie's words.
The mission behind their workand the lives they're impacting
(01:05):
left me speechless and deeplymoved.
Answering the Call is anonprofit organization dedicated
to supporting first respondersduring medical crises and
injuries, whether on duty or off.
They step in when our everydayheroes need someone in their
corner Because while firstresponders are there for us.
They deserve someone to bethere for them too.
(01:28):
I hope you'll listen closely, Ihope you'll feel what I felt
and I hope you take a moment tovisit act911.org to learn more
and donate.
These brave men and womenprotect us.
Now it is our turn to show upfor them.
Here is Ronnie.
(01:49):
Well, hey, ronnie, nice to meetyou.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Nice to meet you.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
I really appreciate you being on the podcast today.
My husband heard you on Petethe Pete Mundo show and he's
like you have to have him on.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
It's very kind.
It's, yeah, of course, great.
I'm glad he listened.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
I think a lot of people listen to Pete, so yeah.
Yeah, and I was looking on yourwebsite.
It looks like you do so manyincredible things and, as a
mother of a first responder, Ireally appreciate that, so thank
you.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah, of course.
Yeah, I mean, you know it'swhat they even hear about.
So, yeah, it's the least we cando is just to give back and
serve them when they are in needthemselves.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Yeah, a lot of times they are silent heroes, you're
right.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Oh, without a doubt, yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah Well, my husband , dave, was telling me just how
moving your story was.
So if you don't mind, can westart there?
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Oh, I'd love to.
Yeah, I served in our communitywith the Lisawood Police
Department since 2001.
Wore many different hats,enjoyed my job, loved it, just
like your son.
It's the greatest job in theworld.
It really is.
You have some skeletons in thecloset, for sure, because you
see the worst in the community,but the good outweighs the bad,
(03:08):
without a doubt, and the impactyou can make is just incredible
on not just one, but so manylives.
Yeah, I was.
I got my dream job in 2007 andI was moved into the
investigations division of ourpolice department and I worked
in a narcotics unit.
It's called the specialinvestigations unit.
Absolutely loved it.
Drew, the big, beautiful beardthat you see them all wearing
(03:31):
jeans and a t-shirt every day.
It was great, um, but April16th actually shoot.
That was yesterday, 10 yearsago.
Yesterday, um, 2015, was when apartner and colleague of mine
and friend, detective Josh Ward,suffered a medical emergency
something we didn't really knowwas going on and he was rushed
(03:51):
to the hospital.
And when he got to the hospital, they rushed him directly into
emergency surgery.
He had contracted a virus, aflesh eating bacteria.
He was later diagnosed withnecrotizing fasciitis.
Flesh-eating bacteria.
He was later diagnosed withnecrotizing fasciitis and it was
probably the most brutal thingI've ever seen happen to the
human body.
In a very short period of time,josh was placed in medically
(04:14):
induced coma.
Day two, which was Friday, thefollowing day, I beat his wife,
melissa, down to the hospital.
The surgeon who was performingthe surgeries and taking on Josh
stepped out of the OR and foundme and, taking on Josh, um,
stepped out of the OR and foundme and said hey, just so you
know, josh isn't going tosurvive this current surgery.
And I was heartbroken,absolutely heartbroken.
(04:35):
Um he, uh, his body was justliterally being eaten from the
inside out and his wife showedup and I made the executive
decision, with some of ourcommanders that were there, that
we were going to keep thatinformation from her, because I
knew, I knew in my heart that ifMelissa believed that her
(04:59):
soulmate and her partner wouldsurvive, something told me he
would.
I just knew it.
And so we sat there for threegrueling hours.
I had this pit in my stomach inthe waiting room and there was
this sweet little nurse thatkept coming in and out and
giving updates to all thefamilies, and every time she
would come out my heart wouldsink because I didn't believe
(05:21):
that he was going to survive.
Because I didn't believe thathe was going to survive.
So every time that door swungopen, I was in fear.
Yes, and then eventually shecame over to us and she told
Melissa he survived.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Yeah.
So that started a four-monthperiod of Josh fighting for his
life and it changed my lifeforever.
I was reassigned to Melissa andthe kids to take care of their
needs and meet their needs.
(05:58):
I was just kind of waiting.
I was waiting around because Iwas naive to think that there
was something in place.
I just thought Josh had servedour community for 10 years of
his life, his wife and kids hadserved their community for 10
years of his life and theirlives as well, and I just
(06:21):
thought, man, there has to besomething that will step into
their lives and support them inthis time.
And I was wrong.
There was nothing.
There was nothing set upthrough our state, our cities,
our counties, and there was nota foundation that was set up to
step in and support them.
(06:41):
So we started to get the wordout.
We just started to market, westarted to push Josh's story.
The media, the local media, wasincredible and it took wind and
it took off and it became anational story and this
community surrounded that familyand Josh survived the next
surgery and the next surgery andthe next surgery.
(07:03):
His body kept failing.
I don't know how many times hedied on the OR table.
But he did, and he just keptfighting and he awoke after six
weeks of medically induced coma.
And you know, four months later, $100,000 fundraised and 27
(07:25):
surgeries later, Josh walked outof the hospital.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Oh my gosh it was incredible.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
It was incredible.
So June came around and I wassitting around with a good
friend of mine having a verymuch needed beer and he's a CPA
in Blue Springs, close friendBrett Reinhardt and we were
discussing how we could notallow this to happen ever again
(07:53):
to a first responder in KansasCity.
I was pissed to be real honestwith you.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
And.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
I got a unique insight into what happens behind
closed doors, into the wardfamily.
You know, every single day,Melissa and I were at the
hospital eight, 10, 12 hours aday making literally making life
and death decisions for Josh,and then I would drop her off at
home and she would have to dohomework with her twin daughters
(08:23):
, bathe dinner, put them tosleep and then cry herself to
sleep every single day for fourmonths.
So we decided to start anonprofit to do exactly what was
not being done, and that was tostep in and support them within
hours of a critical incidentthat they survive, or a
(08:45):
diagnosis, a rare and aggressivediagnosis.
And here we are, 10 years laterand we're over 1.4 million
donated back.
And it's just, it'sunbelievable.
God's been leading this thingsince the beginning and I'm
grateful for him for that.
I had asked for many years whyhe chose me and I don't really
(09:10):
know why still, but I'm justtrying to listen finally, after
49 years on this planet andlistening to him.
So this is a hundred percentGod led organization that steps
in and supports the warriorsthat he put on this planet to
serve and protect his churchesthe way I describe it.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Yes, oh, my gosh.
Okay, first of all, Dave didn'ttell me I needed a tissue.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Sorry.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Oh my gosh, when I start talking about it.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
It just puts me right back in there and hits me and
seeing your friend there goingthrough that and thinking that
man, I may never see him again.
And what about this sweetlittle family that still has so
many years together?
It just it tore me up.
Um, but honestly, thankfully,the Kansas city community it was
a national story.
(09:57):
We we received donations fromVermont, virginia, uh, minnesota
, um, where Josh and Melissaboth went to school up there.
So it was, it was unbelievable$100,000 in four months.
It was just incredible.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Yeah, I can't imagine what you went through.
I can't imagine what Melissawent through.
I mean, that would just be.
Ah, I can't.
I can't even fathom that.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
She is, to this day, one of the toughest humans I've
ever known.
Met had the pleasure of callinga friend, yes, and what amazed
me the most was not just hertoughness but the way she would
be able to retain all theinformation and all the doctors
(10:40):
that we visited with andsurgeons, and then go home and
update the community on theCaring Bridge.
You know, hours and hours laterI was just.
I was reading what she was.
I'm like I don't remember threequarters of this.
Yeah, she's an amazing womanstill to this day, just
incredible.
I got to see him on Tuesday.
We were the highlightednonprofit at a luncheon that
(11:02):
they surprised me and showed upat.
So it's always, it's alwaysspecially difficult to do a
presentation with them in theroom, but I love them dearly.
Um, the sad point of all thestory was that Josh lost his
profession over his illness.
Um and um.
I broke my heart for him andfamily and um, but like I told
him when he, when he left thehospital, you're still a father,
(11:23):
you're still a husband, you getto hug your babies and you defy
the odds.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Yes, absolutely.
Oh my gosh.
And you know I'm like you, Iwould have thought that
something would have been inplace too.
I can't believe that.
I'm just still shocked.
And you know, I talk to my sonevery now and then I'm like,
well, I talk to him often, butI'm like do you guys have some
type of support, or do you haveto go see a psychiatrist or
(11:49):
something?
Is that mandatory after youhave a big event?
And he's like, well, no, it'snot.
And so for something medicaltoo, I'm just, I'm shocked.
So do they know how hecontracted this?
Speaker 2 (12:01):
They don't.
And you know we try diligently,the surgeons.
There's just no way.
You know those guys in ourdetective unit, especially
specifically on the criminalside, they go out to so many
call outs and so many crimescenes there was no way of,
unfortunately, which reallyaltered their livelihood and
(12:22):
really the way the cityunfortunately had to proceed
with him.
But in his, in his employment,it really altered that for them.
But you know what?
That guy has never complainedonce to me, not once, not once.
He's just thankful, grateful.
He's back at the policedepartment working in the
records unit as a supervisor andI know all the guys and gals
(12:43):
love to have him there in houseand yeah, so yeah, there's
unfortunately just nothing.
There's nothing set up betweentwo states and what I'm learning
now, there's nothing set up inthree states.
The Iowa State Troopers are nowcoming to our events digging
into who we are and what we do,and now they're recruiting us to
their state.
So yeah, I think it's anationwide issue.
(13:06):
I really do, and it's veryproblematic.
I think it hurts recruiting alittle bit.
Sure, I think the violencethrown upon our law enforcement,
specifically in the last fiveyears, has really hurt
employment.
But I will tell you that I justreceived a message yesterday
and I've been told this beforethat as more people find out
(13:28):
about us and spouses and parentsfind out about what we're doing
, it gives them reassurance thatthere is now an organization
that is overwhelmingly,overwhelmingly supported by our,
by our community in Kansas City.
That God forbid, they are inneed.
We just show up.
There's no questions asked.
I just show up at the hospital.
(13:50):
My board tells me, just writechecks and take care of them and
then we can turn into acommunity resource with our
community partners.
It's incredible.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Oh my gosh.
Well, it's a wonderfulorganization and I see that you
do so many different types offundraisers.
Let's talk about some of those.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Let's talk about something happy for a second.
Yeah, let's do it.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
So I saw something about like a whiskey tasting or
something like that and a ladiesnight, or trivia or so.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Take us through all that.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
The good old ladies night.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
I've been strong armed into hosting that every
year by my wife now and herfriends.
2023 was a particularly violentyear for law enforcement.
The first couple months thatyear in 2023, we, across the
Kansas City metro area, we hadeight total police officers shot
and two line of duty deaths.
Officer Joan Oswald was killedin Fairway, kansas, that year.
(14:47):
And then we also lost JimMoldbauer and his canine champ
with KCPD that year.
And then we also lost JimMohlbauer and his canine champ
with KCPD that year.
And we were donating a ton ofmoney and I was terrified, to be
real honest with you.
So we threw together literallythrew together a ladies night
(15:07):
event called Singo Bingo atStonehouse Winery here in Lee
summit.
A friend of mine owns it andgives me the venue for free and
he's incredible.
And uh, we host 180 ladies, afriend of mine who's a DJ.
We put together a single bingolist.
Still, to this day, have noidea what we're doing, but they
don't know that because theyhave such a good time and you
(15:29):
know, I put I put 16 to 18 guysin nice polos like this one and
we we cater to the ladies and wedon't let them we don't let
them get up and get anything forthemselves, and I, you know, um
, I think they're deserving ofthat, because they
overwhelmingly support us, cause, you know, honestly, let's be
honest, um, majority of spousesare, are female in these
professions, right?
(15:49):
So it's a night for them.
It's a night for them, so, andmy wife included, so we have a
good time.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Oh, that's really cool, I love that.
And there's wine involved, soit has to be fun there is a lot
of wine, a lot of man.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
They drink some wine.
Yes, they do.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
And then what's the whiskey?
Event?
Speaker 2 (16:08):
So, um, we host a whiskey raffle.
I sell tickets through themonth of February and then the
first Thursday of every March wedo a live whiskey raffle and
try to raise as much money as wecan.
Obviously, we have between 40and 60 allocated bottles of
bourbon that are really hard tofind and very allocated, and a
(16:28):
lot of retailers in the KansasCity community reach out to us
and get involved with us and getthese, get these bottles into
some good hands for a good cause.
So we have a lot of fun.
Um, drawn cherry with theKansas City former Kansas City
Chiefs, and he he runs a drawncherry foundation is involved
with this and Lydia Taylor withQ104 is, uh, uh, the face of it.
(16:48):
Thank god her and not me um,and she draws the names and we
just we have a good time, youknow, and it's it's a lot of
people just enjoy it.
The bourbon community is verygiving.
I'll go to houses and drop offa bottle and they'll donate to
from their own bar once theylearn about us and the cause.
You know the cause is a lot ofpeople don't even know that this
(17:11):
need exists.
I think it's the biggestmisconception in Kansas City,
maybe even across both statesthat there are just things in
place for our men and women thatserve, and the fact of the
matter is there isn't.
You know, when you have anofficer shot in the head laying
in a hospital bed, his spousegets a 40-hour week check to
(17:33):
support that family.
There's nothing above andbeyond that through the cities
that they swear an oath to givetheir life for, or even this
great state of ours, and it'sjust, it's wrong, I think it's
just wrong.
But rather than sit and dwell onwhat they haven't done, I just
decided to move forward andspread the message, be an
advocate for them in our firstresponder community.
(17:55):
Extremely underpaid, overworked, way overstressed, and then you
throw a catastrophic injurywith a financial burden and
you'd see a family dissolve.
And I refuse to allow that tohappen anymore in Kansas City.
I just refuse.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Oh my gosh, good for you.
You're amazing.
Thank you so much.
Oh my gosh, good for you.
You're amazing.
Thank you so much, oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Yeah, it's not really me, though, it's Kansas City.
Once they hear this, they'rejust like how can we help?
Can we come to events?
If we don't want to come toevents, how can we get involved?
And we, you know, we do our9-11,.
$9.11 a month is somethingwe've asked the Kansas City
community to do and it's areoccurring donation.
Yeah, 9-11 is near and dear tomost of our hearts.
(18:36):
Yeah, september 11th, and wewatched those heroes run into
those buildings knowing theywere probably going to die.
So it's a tribute to them aswell, and it's a minimal amount
donated to serve the greatergood of Kansas City.
Yeah, yeah, it's doing well.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
So I'm assuming that's just on your website,
that everyone can go in and theycan click that button and $9.11
comes out of their accountevery month.
It goes to you.
It's something that peoplewould not even notice, like
it's-.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
You don't even notice .
It's a cup of coffee, a fancycoffee it's a yes, something
like that it is.
It's a coffee.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
It's a yes, Something like that it is.
It's a fancy coffee.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
And you know, honestly, I did it with the
first responders of mine becauseI'm really trying to get our
local first responders involvedin this too, because you know
your son can probably relatewhen, when you have somebody
injured or ill within thedepartment, you pass the boot
around, you pass the pass thehat Right.
I tell them I'm like fellas,you don't have to do this
anymore, the hat's been passed.
The Kansas City community isnow taking this burden on and
(19:33):
they're starting to recognizewhat's going on.
When the hat's passed.
You know, two or three monthsdown the road you get a check.
No, two or three hours, yeah,two or three hours, it's
wonderful.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
And I can tell you, I've seen it because I've been
in too many damn hospital rooms,unfortunately been in too many
damn hospital rooms,unfortunately the last 10 years
of my life, but I can tell youwhen those tears start to flow,
they're tears of relief, yeah,yeah, well, and we've seen here
firsthand we're just south ofLewisburg, kansas, and so we've
seen recently, firsthand excuseme, goodness, I'm getting choked
(20:07):
up with the Juarez family whenthe firefighter was in that
tragic accident where, just afreak thing, where the truck
went through the building andkilled him and left his wife and
four children.
So those things happen and it'sso terrible.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
They do.
They happen, you know.
The wonderful thing is thatthere are a ton of resources for
line of duty deaths.
We've seen them far too oftenin Kansas City and those
families thankfully they'retaken care of financially, as
they should be.
In my opinion, they should wantfor nothing the rest of their
(20:44):
lives, just like our militarythat are killed overseas
fighting for us.
I don't think they should everwant for anything.
That's just my personal opinion.
The problem is is when theysurvive the incident, when
they're burned up in a structure, fire over 90% of their body
and they can't work anymore.
And now you have that void,that paycheck that's just not
going to show up anymore like itused to, that insurance, the
(21:09):
overtime and the off duty andthe extra jobs that your son
probably works, becausefirefighters have a lot of extra
jobs to make ends meet and paythe bills.
You know our men and women thatserve they don't pay their
bills with their hourly rate,they just don't because they
can't they work.
That's why you just never seethem, because they're always
working overtime and off-duty.
You take them off the job formonths at a time and that off
(21:30):
duty and overtime job doesn'tpay anymore because they can't
work them.
And, man, they will be crushedfinancially almost immediately.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
That's where we step in.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Yes, oh my gosh.
So besides those two events andthe $9.11 that people can do
monthly, do you have otherevents, and I'm assuming there's
also just a link that you candonate a lump sum?
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Yeah, absolutely yeah .
So we have a ton of events.
This is what I do now.
I feel like I'm an eventplanner, producer, executor, all
the things.
We have a great event.
This is our sixth year.
It's become one of the bestevents in Kansas City and that's
our trivia night and that'll bein November of this year.
Last year we had about 425people under one roof.
(22:19):
We raised $130,000.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
Wow, that's great.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yeah, it's turned into a great event.
So that's on our website.
Those dates will come out herein the coming weeks.
We are hosting our first everAnswering the Call Resiliency
Gala and I had been humbuggedand bullied for years about
having a gala and I just, youknow, I didn't really just want
to have something where peoplejust showed up and just donated
(22:43):
money.
I really wanted a theme and theword resiliency popped into my
head because they are so damnresilient.
Word resiliency popped into myhead because they are so damn
resilient With what they gothrough, the catastrophic
injuries that they sustain, theterrible illnesses, and they
survive or they fight hard andlong enough to take care of
(23:03):
their families right, and that'sdeep-rooted resiliency.
So we're going to host aresiliency gala at the end of
May, may 31st.
It's our first one and we'regoing to tell five stories from
five recipients for the last 10years and we're going to put a
face and a family with thestories that you've heard about
and I'm excited, a littlenervous, but I'm really excited.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Oh, I'm sure it'll be great.
Now, where is that held?
Speaker 2 (23:28):
That's going to be held in Lee's Summit at the John
Knox Pavilion.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
Where is that held?
That's going to be held inLee's Summit at the John Knox.
Pavilion.
Okay Okay, I remember readingthat on your site.
Okay yeah, nice.
Ah, so, and then are youopening it up to.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
is there a limited number?
You know that place holds 700people.
We're hoping for 300.
I think we have just over 200in attendance right now.
I know there's additionaltables going to be bought.
There's definitely somesponsorships still available if
the Kansas City community wantsto get involved and get sponsors
sponsorships for the event.
So, yeah, it's going to be agreat night we host.
I hate to say this and thatsounds very arrogant, but I
(24:03):
think our events are just theblast and it's more than just
about raising money.
It's more than just abouteverybody having a good time.
It's exposing the need thatjust so many people don't even
understand exists.
And it's always humbling whenthat recipient and or their
spouse want to come back andjust donate, donate their time
(24:24):
for what we did for them or telltheir story.
You know you can go on ourwebsite.
I don't know if you did, butyou can go on our website and
see their stories.
There's a few there and they'repretty impactful.
And so I thought about, insteadof just putting a story on
social media, why don't we put aface with it and and really
tell that story in person over anice dinner with?
A nice crowd and maybe raise alittle bit of money for our, for
(24:46):
our cause.
So that's what the resiliencygal is going to be all about.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Yeah Well, I'm sure it will be amazing, and there's
just something so special aboutjust the community when it comes
together.
I mean it's just palpable.
You can feel it.
Everyone's supporting everyone.
So I think that'll be awonderful event.
I'm excited for you.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Maybe we'll see you there.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Yes, yes, okay, we will have to get signed up for
that, yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
It'd be great to have you.
So your son's a firefighterthen.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
He is in Raytown, yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Okay, great.
Yeah, we helped out a Raytownfire captain about two years ago
he had cancer.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
All right.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Well, thank you, yeah , yeah, of course, yeah, so what
else would you want?
Speaker 2 (25:30):
the listeners to know how can they find you?
Yeah, you know, I just I think,more than anything I want folks
to know that these men andwomen swear an oath and they
take it very literally to serveand protect our community.
And and so I really ampassionate about serving them at
(25:53):
a time when they themselves arein need.
And I've said this before and Iknow I said a little bit ago,
but it is our duty.
It's our duty and if we can getthe vast majority of Kansas
City you know probably what 1.5million, almost 2 million people
KC Metro wide to get involvedwith us in some level, we can
(26:19):
impact their lives the way theyneed to be, the way they deserve
to be, and really eliminatethat stress.
You know the stress of hearingyour son go to work every day.
My mom had two sons that gotinto the job within six months
of each other.
My brother's still a detectivesergeant and in the early 2000s
(26:40):
she would sit around and listento the police scanner and she
would call me and she's like Areyou going on that?
And I'm like what are you doingawake, ma?
You know it's 1230 at night.
Yeah, the poor woman wasstressed beyond belief, but they
do it.
They do it because it's builtinto the fiber of their soul.
And to be able to walk into aroom, a hospital room, where an
(27:05):
officer has been shot,catastrophically injured, and
see his spouse and his two youngkids.
It's a very somber setting.
It's heartbreaking, to behonest with you, but the relief
that we can bring to them almostimmediately, I wish everyone in
Kansas City could see it.
And they don't ask for a lot,they don't need a lot and my
(27:27):
pastor said it best it'scarrying and lightening their
load and carrying their pack.
I'm going to lighten your loadand carry your pack just for a
little bit.
Myself and the entire communityis going to lighten that load.
I want to give it back to youbecause it's extremely heavy.
It's a heavy damn pack.
But let me lighten your loadfor just a little bit.
You get to be selfish for oncein your life.
(27:48):
The sweet little wife and thosebeautiful little kids are going
to be taken care of by myselfand this community and you get
to focus on yourself.
And then we want them back outthere on that street and in that
firehouse, because that's wherewe need them more than anything
, and the safety and security ofour community means nothing
without them.
I'm biased, I'm extremelybiased in saying we have the
(28:11):
best nonprofit mission in KansasCity.
And, trust me, I love childrenI do, I have two of my own but
without the safety and securityand showing them that there is
now an organization that stepsinto their life when they
themselves need it the most.
Man, you just can't give back.
You can't give that back.
And so, yeah, the community canfind us at our website, which is
(28:32):
ATC911.org.
Um, they can click on thedonate button and set up a
one-time donation or areoccurring donation of any
amount that they would like.
It doesn't have to be 9-11.
It can be $20 and 11 cents, $29and 11 cents,11, some numerical
number with 9-11 in it.
(28:52):
I think it's just kind of acool process to have in place
and then come out to our eventsif they'd like.
You know, if there's businesscommunity in Kansas City that
would like to know more about us, I will go to your front door
and sit down with you across thetable.
I'll do it with anybody Betweenhere, lawrence to St Joe.
(29:19):
I just I believe in it thatpassionately, and one thing I
always like to throw out to thedonors is it's very important to
me that they know where theirmoney goes.
So 99.9% of every dollar staysright here in Kansas City.
It supports the men and womenthat drive up and down our city
streets at 3 am and respond toour family's calls for help.
But I have to be really honestwhen I say there's that 1%.
When I get a phone call fromSpringfield Police Department
(29:41):
that they had an officer ambushand run over the front lot and
spine was severed when he washit by a car, I just don't say
no to that I won't, yeah, Iwon't say no to that, um, and
everybody's very understandinguh, sure of that as well.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
So, sure, sure, yeah, uh well, ronnie, thank you so
much for sharing your story, fordoing what you do and helping
the entire community, the wholenation.
You are just amazing, so thankyou so much hey for having me.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
I'd love to come back on sometime and maybe give an
update.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
Yeah, absolutely.
We'll have to go to the galaand then I can update.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Yeah, come on out.
I love it.
That'd be great.
It's really nice meeting you.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
It's so nice to meet you.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Have a good day.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Okay, wow, I hope that you really felt that
conversation and I want to say ahuge thank you to Ronnie for
being on the show, for doingwhat he does, helping so many
families in need.
It's just an amazingorganization and what a
wonderful man that just had thisvision to help others and
(30:49):
giving back.
So now it's your turn.
It is your turn to give back tofirst responders in a way that
they will truly need it and mostof us will never know the need.
So I just encourage you to goto the website act911.org so
A-C-T-9-1-11.org, so act911.organd either click that donation
(31:13):
button and do a lump sum, signup for the 9-11 monthly, look at
all of their events, getinvolved in this organization.
You're just going to beimpacting so many families, and
another thing that you can dothat would be recommended is
share this episode with a friend, put it on social media.
(31:33):
Let's help get the word outabout this wonderful
organization.
So thank you so much forlistening.
Stay safe.
Thank you for listening.
If you're enjoying this podcast,be sure to follow Spandex and
Wine so you don't miss anepisode.
To do this, just go to thepodcast and click subscribe or
(31:55):
follow.
Wherever you're listening, lookfor the plus sign or follow
button.
This is one of the best thingsthat you can do for the podcast.
If you'd also be willing togive a five-star review, that
would be amazing and muchappreciated.
Lastly, please share an episodewith a friend or five to keep
the love going, and join theSpandex and Wine community in
(32:16):
our private Facebook group bysearching Spandex and Wine.
Feel free to reach out to me atany time by emailing info at
spandexandwinecom or text me at913-392-2877.
I appreciate you, thank you.
Hello and welcome to the Spandex and Wine podcast.
I'm your host, robin Hackney,and I'm so happy that you're
here.
This podcast is a place forconversations about balancing a
healthy lifestyle and beinghappy more specifically, happy
hour.
Together we'll explore allthings wellness and wine.
I hope you learn a little,laugh a lot and, along the way,
(00:22):
know you're not alone on thisbalanced wellness journey.
Ready to jump in?
Pour something in your glassthat makes you happy, because
it's time for Spandex and Wine.
Hey everyone, welcome to theSpandex and Wine podcast.
I'm your host, robin Hackney.
(00:45):
This episode is one that hit mestraight in the heart.
As a mom to a firefighter, I'vealways known the courage and
sacrifice it takes to answer thecall, but after talking with
Ronnie Dumit from answering thecall, I felt it on a whole new
level.
I'll be honest with you Ineeded a tissue while recording
this and might now I don't evenknow Ronnie's words.
The mission behind their workand the lives they're impacting
(01:05):
left me speechless and deeplymoved.
Answering the Call is anonprofit organization dedicated
to supporting first respondersduring medical crises and
injuries, whether on duty or off.
They step in when our everydayheroes need someone in their
corner Because while firstresponders are there for us.
They deserve someone to bethere for them too.
(01:28):
I hope you'll listen closely, Ihope you'll feel what I felt
and I hope you take a moment tovisit act911.org to learn more
and donate.
These brave men and womenprotect us.
Now it is our turn to show upfor them.
Here is Ronnie.
(01:49):
Well, hey, ronnie, nice to meetyou.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Nice to meet you.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
I really appreciate you being on the podcast today.
My husband heard you on Petethe Pete Mundo show and he's
like you have to have him on.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
It's very kind.
It's, yeah, of course, great.
I'm glad he listened.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
I think a lot of people listen to Pete, so yeah.
Yeah, and I was looking on yourwebsite.
It looks like you do so manyincredible things and, as a
mother of a first responder, Ireally appreciate that, so thank
you.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah, of course.
Yeah, I mean, you know it'swhat they even hear about.
So, yeah, it's the least we cando is just to give back and
serve them when they are in needthemselves.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Yeah, a lot of times they are silent heroes, you're
right.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Oh, without a doubt, yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah Well, my husband , dave, was telling me just how
moving your story was.
So if you don't mind, can westart there?
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Oh, I'd love to.
Yeah, I served in our communitywith the Lisawood Police
Department since 2001.
Wore many different hats,enjoyed my job, loved it, just
like your son.
It's the greatest job in theworld.
It really is.
You have some skeletons in thecloset, for sure, because you
see the worst in the community,but the good outweighs the bad,
(03:08):
without a doubt, and the impactyou can make is just incredible
on not just one, but so manylives.
Yeah, I was.
I got my dream job in 2007 andI was moved into the
investigations division of ourpolice department and I worked
in a narcotics unit.
It's called the specialinvestigations unit.
Absolutely loved it.
Drew, the big, beautiful beardthat you see them all wearing
(03:31):
jeans and a t-shirt every day.
It was great, um, but April16th actually shoot.
That was yesterday, 10 yearsago.
Yesterday, um, 2015, was when apartner and colleague of mine
and friend, detective Josh Ward,suffered a medical emergency
something we didn't really knowwas going on and he was rushed
(03:51):
to the hospital.
And when he got to the hospital, they rushed him directly into
emergency surgery.
He had contracted a virus, aflesh eating bacteria.
He was later diagnosed withnecrotizing fasciitis.
Flesh-eating bacteria.
He was later diagnosed withnecrotizing fasciitis and it was
probably the most brutal thingI've ever seen happen to the
human body.
In a very short period of time,josh was placed in medically
(04:14):
induced coma.
Day two, which was Friday, thefollowing day, I beat his wife,
melissa, down to the hospital.
The surgeon who was performingthe surgeries and taking on Josh
stepped out of the OR and foundme and, taking on Josh, um,
stepped out of the OR and foundme and said hey, just so you
know, josh isn't going tosurvive this current surgery.
And I was heartbroken,absolutely heartbroken.
(04:35):
Um he, uh, his body was justliterally being eaten from the
inside out and his wife showedup and I made the executive
decision, with some of ourcommanders that were there, that
we were going to keep thatinformation from her, because I
knew, I knew in my heart that ifMelissa believed that her
(04:59):
soulmate and her partner wouldsurvive, something told me he
would.
I just knew it.
And so we sat there for threegrueling hours.
I had this pit in my stomach inthe waiting room and there was
this sweet little nurse thatkept coming in and out and
giving updates to all thefamilies, and every time she
would come out my heart wouldsink because I didn't believe
(05:21):
that he was going to survive.
Because I didn't believe thathe was going to survive.
So every time that door swungopen, I was in fear.
Yes, and then eventually shecame over to us and she told
Melissa he survived.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Yeah.
So that started a four-monthperiod of Josh fighting for his
life and it changed my lifeforever.
I was reassigned to Melissa andthe kids to take care of their
needs and meet their needs.
(05:58):
I was just kind of waiting.
I was waiting around because Iwas naive to think that there
was something in place.
I just thought Josh had servedour community for 10 years of
his life, his wife and kids hadserved their community for 10
years of his life and theirlives as well, and I just
(06:21):
thought, man, there has to besomething that will step into
their lives and support them inthis time.
And I was wrong.
There was nothing.
There was nothing set upthrough our state, our cities,
our counties, and there was nota foundation that was set up to
step in and support them.
(06:41):
So we started to get the wordout.
We just started to market, westarted to push Josh's story.
The media, the local media, wasincredible and it took wind and
it took off and it became anational story and this
community surrounded that familyand Josh survived the next
surgery and the next surgery andthe next surgery.
(07:03):
His body kept failing.
I don't know how many times hedied on the OR table.
But he did, and he just keptfighting and he awoke after six
weeks of medically induced coma.
And you know, four months later, $100,000 fundraised and 27
(07:25):
surgeries later, Josh walked outof the hospital.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Oh my gosh it was incredible.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
It was incredible.
So June came around and I wassitting around with a good
friend of mine having a verymuch needed beer and he's a CPA
in Blue Springs, close friendBrett Reinhardt and we were
discussing how we could notallow this to happen ever again
(07:53):
to a first responder in KansasCity.
I was pissed to be real honestwith you.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
And.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
I got a unique insight into what happens behind
closed doors, into the wardfamily.
You know, every single day,Melissa and I were at the
hospital eight, 10, 12 hours aday making literally making life
and death decisions for Josh,and then I would drop her off at
home and she would have to dohomework with her twin daughters
(08:23):
, bathe dinner, put them tosleep and then cry herself to
sleep every single day for fourmonths.
So we decided to start anonprofit to do exactly what was
not being done, and that was tostep in and support them within
hours of a critical incidentthat they survive, or a
(08:45):
diagnosis, a rare and aggressivediagnosis.
And here we are, 10 years laterand we're over 1.4 million
donated back.
And it's just, it'sunbelievable.
God's been leading this thingsince the beginning and I'm
grateful for him for that.
I had asked for many years whyhe chose me and I don't really
(09:10):
know why still, but I'm justtrying to listen finally, after
49 years on this planet andlistening to him.
So this is a hundred percentGod led organization that steps
in and supports the warriorsthat he put on this planet to
serve and protect his churchesthe way I describe it.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Yes, oh, my gosh.
Okay, first of all, Dave didn'ttell me I needed a tissue.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Sorry.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Oh my gosh, when I start talking about it.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
It just puts me right back in there and hits me and
seeing your friend there goingthrough that and thinking that
man, I may never see him again.
And what about this sweetlittle family that still has so
many years together?
It just it tore me up.
Um, but honestly, thankfully,the Kansas city community it was
a national story.
(09:57):
We we received donations fromVermont, virginia, uh, minnesota
, um, where Josh and Melissaboth went to school up there.
So it was, it was unbelievable$100,000 in four months.
It was just incredible.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Yeah, I can't imagine what you went through.
I can't imagine what Melissawent through.
I mean, that would just be.
Ah, I can't.
I can't even fathom that.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
She is, to this day, one of the toughest humans I've
ever known.
Met had the pleasure of callinga friend, yes, and what amazed
me the most was not just hertoughness but the way she would
be able to retain all theinformation and all the doctors
(10:40):
that we visited with andsurgeons, and then go home and
update the community on theCaring Bridge.
You know, hours and hours laterI was just.
I was reading what she was.
I'm like I don't remember threequarters of this.
Yeah, she's an amazing womanstill to this day, just
incredible.
I got to see him on Tuesday.
We were the highlightednonprofit at a luncheon that
(11:02):
they surprised me and showed upat.
So it's always, it's alwaysspecially difficult to do a
presentation with them in theroom, but I love them dearly.
Um, the sad point of all thestory was that Josh lost his
profession over his illness.
Um and um.
I broke my heart for him andfamily and um, but like I told
him when he, when he left thehospital, you're still a father,
(11:23):
you're still a husband, you getto hug your babies and you defy
the odds.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Yes, absolutely.
Oh my gosh.
And you know I'm like you, Iwould have thought that
something would have been inplace too.
I can't believe that.
I'm just still shocked.
And you know, I talk to my sonevery now and then I'm like,
well, I talk to him often, butI'm like do you guys have some
type of support, or do you haveto go see a psychiatrist or
(11:49):
something?
Is that mandatory after youhave a big event?
And he's like, well, no, it'snot.
And so for something medicaltoo, I'm just, I'm shocked.
So do they know how hecontracted this?
Speaker 2 (12:01):
They don't.
And you know we try diligently,the surgeons.
There's just no way.
You know those guys in ourdetective unit, especially
specifically on the criminalside, they go out to so many
call outs and so many crimescenes there was no way of,
unfortunately, which reallyaltered their livelihood and
(12:22):
really the way the cityunfortunately had to proceed
with him.
But in his, in his employment,it really altered that for them.
But you know what?
That guy has never complainedonce to me, not once, not once.
He's just thankful, grateful.
He's back at the policedepartment working in the
records unit as a supervisor andI know all the guys and gals
(12:43):
love to have him there in houseand yeah, so yeah, there's
unfortunately just nothing.
There's nothing set up betweentwo states and what I'm learning
now, there's nothing set up inthree states.
The Iowa State Troopers are nowcoming to our events digging
into who we are and what we do,and now they're recruiting us to
their state.
So yeah, I think it's anationwide issue.
(13:06):
I really do, and it's veryproblematic.
I think it hurts recruiting alittle bit.
Sure, I think the violencethrown upon our law enforcement,
specifically in the last fiveyears, has really hurt
employment.
But I will tell you that I justreceived a message yesterday
and I've been told this beforethat as more people find out
(13:28):
about us and spouses and parentsfind out about what we're doing
, it gives them reassurance thatthere is now an organization
that is overwhelmingly,overwhelmingly supported by our,
by our community in Kansas City.
That God forbid, they are inneed.
We just show up.
There's no questions asked.
I just show up at the hospital.
(13:50):
My board tells me, just writechecks and take care of them and
then we can turn into acommunity resource with our
community partners.
It's incredible.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Oh my gosh.
Well, it's a wonderfulorganization and I see that you
do so many different types offundraisers.
Let's talk about some of those.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Let's talk about something happy for a second.
Yeah, let's do it.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
So I saw something about like a whiskey tasting or
something like that and a ladiesnight, or trivia or so.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Take us through all that.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
The good old ladies night.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
I've been strong armed into hosting that every
year by my wife now and herfriends.
2023 was a particularly violentyear for law enforcement.
The first couple months thatyear in 2023, we, across the
Kansas City metro area, we hadeight total police officers shot
and two line of duty deaths.
Officer Joan Oswald was killedin Fairway, kansas, that year.
(14:47):
And then we also lost JimMoldbauer and his canine champ
with KCPD that year.
And then we also lost JimMohlbauer and his canine champ
with KCPD that year.
And we were donating a ton ofmoney and I was terrified, to be
real honest with you.
So we threw together literallythrew together a ladies night
(15:07):
event called Singo Bingo atStonehouse Winery here in Lee
summit.
A friend of mine owns it andgives me the venue for free and
he's incredible.
And uh, we host 180 ladies, afriend of mine who's a DJ.
We put together a single bingolist.
Still, to this day, have noidea what we're doing, but they
don't know that because theyhave such a good time and you
(15:29):
know, I put I put 16 to 18 guysin nice polos like this one and
we we cater to the ladies and wedon't let them we don't let
them get up and get anything forthemselves, and I, you know, um
, I think they're deserving ofthat, because they
overwhelmingly support us, cause, you know, honestly, let's be
honest, um, majority of spousesare, are female in these
professions, right?
(15:49):
So it's a night for them.
It's a night for them, so, andmy wife included, so we have a
good time.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Oh, that's really cool, I love that.
And there's wine involved, soit has to be fun there is a lot
of wine, a lot of man.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
They drink some wine.
Yes, they do.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
And then what's the whiskey?
Event?
Speaker 2 (16:08):
So, um, we host a whiskey raffle.
I sell tickets through themonth of February and then the
first Thursday of every March wedo a live whiskey raffle and
try to raise as much money as wecan.
Obviously, we have between 40and 60 allocated bottles of
bourbon that are really hard tofind and very allocated, and a
(16:28):
lot of retailers in the KansasCity community reach out to us
and get involved with us and getthese, get these bottles into
some good hands for a good cause.
So we have a lot of fun.
Um, drawn cherry with theKansas City former Kansas City
Chiefs, and he he runs a drawncherry foundation is involved
with this and Lydia Taylor withQ104 is, uh, uh, the face of it.
(16:48):
Thank god her and not me um,and she draws the names and we
just we have a good time, youknow, and it's it's a lot of
people just enjoy it.
The bourbon community is verygiving.
I'll go to houses and drop offa bottle and they'll donate to
from their own bar once theylearn about us and the cause.
You know the cause is a lot ofpeople don't even know that this
(17:11):
need exists.
I think it's the biggestmisconception in Kansas City,
maybe even across both statesthat there are just things in
place for our men and women thatserve, and the fact of the
matter is there isn't.
You know, when you have anofficer shot in the head laying
in a hospital bed, his spousegets a 40-hour week check to
(17:33):
support that family.
There's nothing above andbeyond that through the cities
that they swear an oath to givetheir life for, or even this
great state of ours, and it'sjust, it's wrong, I think it's
just wrong.
But rather than sit and dwell onwhat they haven't done, I just
decided to move forward andspread the message, be an
advocate for them in our firstresponder community.
(17:55):
Extremely underpaid, overworked, way overstressed, and then you
throw a catastrophic injurywith a financial burden and
you'd see a family dissolve.
And I refuse to allow that tohappen anymore in Kansas City.
I just refuse.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Oh my gosh, good for you.
You're amazing.
Thank you so much.
Oh my gosh, good for you.
You're amazing.
Thank you so much, oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Yeah, it's not really me, though, it's Kansas City.
Once they hear this, they'rejust like how can we help?
Can we come to events?
If we don't want to come toevents, how can we get involved?
And we, you know, we do our9-11,.
$9.11 a month is somethingwe've asked the Kansas City
community to do and it's areoccurring donation.
Yeah, 9-11 is near and dear tomost of our hearts.
(18:36):
Yeah, september 11th, and wewatched those heroes run into
those buildings knowing theywere probably going to die.
So it's a tribute to them aswell, and it's a minimal amount
donated to serve the greatergood of Kansas City.
Yeah, yeah, it's doing well.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
So I'm assuming that's just on your website,
that everyone can go in and theycan click that button and $9.11
comes out of their accountevery month.
It goes to you.
It's something that peoplewould not even notice, like
it's-.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
You don't even notice .
It's a cup of coffee, a fancycoffee it's a yes, something
like that it is.
It's a coffee.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
It's a yes, Something like that it is.
It's a fancy coffee.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
And you know, honestly, I did it with the
first responders of mine becauseI'm really trying to get our
local first responders involvedin this too, because you know
your son can probably relatewhen, when you have somebody
injured or ill within thedepartment, you pass the boot
around, you pass the pass thehat Right.
I tell them I'm like fellas,you don't have to do this
anymore, the hat's been passed.
The Kansas City community isnow taking this burden on and
(19:33):
they're starting to recognizewhat's going on.
When the hat's passed.
You know, two or three monthsdown the road you get a check.
No, two or three hours, yeah,two or three hours, it's
wonderful.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
And I can tell you, I've seen it because I've been
in too many damn hospital rooms,unfortunately been in too many
damn hospital rooms,unfortunately the last 10 years
of my life, but I can tell youwhen those tears start to flow,
they're tears of relief, yeah,yeah, well, and we've seen here
firsthand we're just south ofLewisburg, kansas, and so we've
seen recently, firsthand excuseme, goodness, I'm getting choked
(20:07):
up with the Juarez family whenthe firefighter was in that
tragic accident where, just afreak thing, where the truck
went through the building andkilled him and left his wife and
four children.
So those things happen and it'sso terrible.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
They do.
They happen, you know.
The wonderful thing is thatthere are a ton of resources for
line of duty deaths.
We've seen them far too oftenin Kansas City and those
families thankfully they'retaken care of financially, as
they should be.
In my opinion, they should wantfor nothing the rest of their
(20:44):
lives, just like our militarythat are killed overseas
fighting for us.
I don't think they should everwant for anything.
That's just my personal opinion.
The problem is is when theysurvive the incident, when
they're burned up in a structure, fire over 90% of their body
and they can't work anymore.
And now you have that void,that paycheck that's just not
going to show up anymore like itused to, that insurance, the
(21:09):
overtime and the off duty andthe extra jobs that your son
probably works, becausefirefighters have a lot of extra
jobs to make ends meet and paythe bills.
You know our men and women thatserve they don't pay their
bills with their hourly rate,they just don't because they
can't they work.
That's why you just never seethem, because they're always
working overtime and off-duty.
You take them off the job formonths at a time and that off
(21:30):
duty and overtime job doesn'tpay anymore because they can't
work them.
And, man, they will be crushedfinancially almost immediately.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
That's where we step in.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Yes, oh my gosh.
So besides those two events andthe $9.11 that people can do
monthly, do you have otherevents, and I'm assuming there's
also just a link that you candonate a lump sum?
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Yeah, absolutely yeah .
So we have a ton of events.
This is what I do now.
I feel like I'm an eventplanner, producer, executor, all
the things.
We have a great event.
This is our sixth year.
It's become one of the bestevents in Kansas City and that's
our trivia night and that'll bein November of this year.
Last year we had about 425people under one roof.
(22:19):
We raised $130,000.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
Wow, that's great.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yeah, it's turned into a great event.
So that's on our website.
Those dates will come out herein the coming weeks.
We are hosting our first everAnswering the Call Resiliency
Gala and I had been humbuggedand bullied for years about
having a gala and I just, youknow, I didn't really just want
to have something where peoplejust showed up and just donated
(22:43):
money.
I really wanted a theme and theword resiliency popped into my
head because they are so damnresilient.
Word resiliency popped into myhead because they are so damn
resilient With what they gothrough, the catastrophic
injuries that they sustain, theterrible illnesses, and they
survive or they fight hard andlong enough to take care of
(23:03):
their families right, and that'sdeep-rooted resiliency.
So we're going to host aresiliency gala at the end of
May, may 31st.
It's our first one and we'regoing to tell five stories from
five recipients for the last 10years and we're going to put a
face and a family with thestories that you've heard about
and I'm excited, a littlenervous, but I'm really excited.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Oh, I'm sure it'll be great.
Now, where is that held?
Speaker 2 (23:28):
That's going to be held in Lee's Summit at the John
Knox Pavilion.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
Where is that held?
That's going to be held inLee's Summit at the John Knox.
Pavilion.
Okay Okay, I remember readingthat on your site.
Okay yeah, nice.
Ah, so, and then are youopening it up to.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
is there a limited number?
You know that place holds 700people.
We're hoping for 300.
I think we have just over 200in attendance right now.
I know there's additionaltables going to be bought.
There's definitely somesponsorships still available if
the Kansas City community wantsto get involved and get sponsors
sponsorships for the event.
So, yeah, it's going to be agreat night we host.
I hate to say this and thatsounds very arrogant, but I
(24:03):
think our events are just theblast and it's more than just
about raising money.
It's more than just abouteverybody having a good time.
It's exposing the need thatjust so many people don't even
understand exists.
And it's always humbling whenthat recipient and or their
spouse want to come back andjust donate, donate their time
(24:24):
for what we did for them or telltheir story.
You know you can go on ourwebsite.
I don't know if you did, butyou can go on our website and
see their stories.
There's a few there and they'repretty impactful.
And so I thought about, insteadof just putting a story on
social media, why don't we put aface with it and and really
tell that story in person over anice dinner with?
A nice crowd and maybe raise alittle bit of money for our, for
(24:46):
our cause.
So that's what the resiliencygal is going to be all about.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Yeah Well, I'm sure it will be amazing, and there's
just something so special aboutjust the community when it comes
together.
I mean it's just palpable.
You can feel it.
Everyone's supporting everyone.
So I think that'll be awonderful event.
I'm excited for you.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Maybe we'll see you there.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Yes, yes, okay, we will have to get signed up for
that, yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
It'd be great to have you.
So your son's a firefighterthen.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
He is in Raytown, yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Okay, great.
Yeah, we helped out a Raytownfire captain about two years ago
he had cancer.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
All right.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Well, thank you, yeah , yeah, of course, yeah, so what
else would you want?
Speaker 2 (25:30):
the listeners to know how can they find you?
Yeah, you know, I just I think,more than anything I want folks
to know that these men andwomen swear an oath and they
take it very literally to serveand protect our community.
And and so I really ampassionate about serving them at
(25:53):
a time when they themselves arein need.
And I've said this before and Iknow I said a little bit ago,
but it is our duty.
It's our duty and if we can getthe vast majority of Kansas
City you know probably what 1.5million, almost 2 million people
KC Metro wide to get involvedwith us in some level, we can
(26:19):
impact their lives the way theyneed to be, the way they deserve
to be, and really eliminatethat stress.
You know the stress of hearingyour son go to work every day.
My mom had two sons that gotinto the job within six months
of each other.
My brother's still a detectivesergeant and in the early 2000s
(26:40):
she would sit around and listento the police scanner and she
would call me and she's like Areyou going on that?
And I'm like what are you doingawake, ma?
You know it's 1230 at night.
Yeah, the poor woman wasstressed beyond belief, but they
do it.
They do it because it's builtinto the fiber of their soul.
And to be able to walk into aroom, a hospital room, where an
(27:05):
officer has been shot,catastrophically injured, and
see his spouse and his two youngkids.
It's a very somber setting.
It's heartbreaking, to behonest with you, but the relief
that we can bring to them almostimmediately, I wish everyone in
Kansas City could see it.
And they don't ask for a lot,they don't need a lot and my
(27:27):
pastor said it best it'scarrying and lightening their
load and carrying their pack.
I'm going to lighten your loadand carry your pack just for a
little bit.
Myself and the entire communityis going to lighten that load.
I want to give it back to youbecause it's extremely heavy.
It's a heavy damn pack.
But let me lighten your loadfor just a little bit.
You get to be selfish for oncein your life.
(27:48):
The sweet little wife and thosebeautiful little kids are going
to be taken care of by myselfand this community and you get
to focus on yourself.
And then we want them back outthere on that street and in that
firehouse, because that's wherewe need them more than anything
, and the safety and security ofour community means nothing
without them.
I'm biased, I'm extremelybiased in saying we have the
(28:11):
best nonprofit mission in KansasCity.
And, trust me, I love childrenI do, I have two of my own but
without the safety and securityand showing them that there is
now an organization that stepsinto their life when they
themselves need it the most.
Man, you just can't give back.
You can't give that back.
And so, yeah, the community canfind us at our website, which is
(28:32):
ATC911.org.
Um, they can click on thedonate button and set up a
one-time donation or areoccurring donation of any
amount that they would like.
It doesn't have to be 9-11.
It can be $20 and 11 cents, $29and 11 cents,11, some numerical
number with 9-11 in it.
(28:52):
I think it's just kind of acool process to have in place
and then come out to our eventsif they'd like.
You know, if there's businesscommunity in Kansas City that
would like to know more about us, I will go to your front door
and sit down with you across thetable.
I'll do it with anybody Betweenhere, lawrence to St Joe.
(29:19):
I just I believe in it thatpassionately, and one thing I
always like to throw out to thedonors is it's very important to
me that they know where theirmoney goes.
So 99.9% of every dollar staysright here in Kansas City.
It supports the men and womenthat drive up and down our city
streets at 3 am and respond toour family's calls for help.
But I have to be really honestwhen I say there's that 1%.
When I get a phone call fromSpringfield Police Department
(29:41):
that they had an officer ambushand run over the front lot and
spine was severed when he washit by a car, I just don't say
no to that I won't, yeah, Iwon't say no to that, um, and
everybody's very understandinguh, sure of that as well.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
So, sure, sure, yeah, uh well, ronnie, thank you so
much for sharing your story, fordoing what you do and helping
the entire community, the wholenation.
You are just amazing, so thankyou so much hey for having me.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
I'd love to come back on sometime and maybe give an
update.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
Yeah, absolutely.
We'll have to go to the galaand then I can update.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Yeah, come on out.
I love it.
That'd be great.
It's really nice meeting you.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
It's so nice to meet you.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Have a good day.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Okay, wow, I hope that you really felt that
conversation and I want to say ahuge thank you to Ronnie for
being on the show, for doingwhat he does, helping so many
families in need.
It's just an amazingorganization and what a
wonderful man that just had thisvision to help others and
(30:49):
giving back.
So now it's your turn.
It is your turn to give back tofirst responders in a way that
they will truly need it and mostof us will never know the need.
So I just encourage you to goto the website act911.org so
A-C-T-9-1-11.org, so act911.organd either click that donation
(31:13):
button and do a lump sum, signup for the 9-11 monthly, look at
all of their events, getinvolved in this organization.
You're just going to beimpacting so many families, and
another thing that you can dothat would be recommended is
share this episode with a friend, put it on social media.
(31:33):
Let's help get the word outabout this wonderful
organization.
So thank you so much forlistening.
Stay safe.
Thank you for listening.
If you're enjoying this podcast,be sure to follow Spandex and
Wine so you don't miss anepisode.
To do this, just go to thepodcast and click subscribe or
(31:55):
follow.
Wherever you're listening, lookfor the plus sign or follow
button.
This is one of the best thingsthat you can do for the podcast.
If you'd also be willing togive a five-star review, that
would be amazing and muchappreciated.
Lastly, please share an episodewith a friend or five to keep
the love going, and join theSpandex and Wine community in
(32:16):
our private Facebook group bysearching Spandex and Wine.
Feel free to reach out to me atany time by emailing info at
spandexandwinecom or text me at913-392-2877.
I appreciate you, thank you.
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