Determined Pet Owner Channels Grief into Action with 1,200 Mile Ride to Honor His Late Dog
Hope’s Ride - A Journey of Healing
Cleveland, OH - August 15, 2017- On August 19th, Air National Guard member Rick Dreyer will get on his bike in Amelia Island, Florida and start a 1,200-mile journey to Embrace Pet Insurance’s headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio. He’s taking this ride, accompanied by his wife, Yvette, in honor of their late dog, Hope, who passed away from an aggressive cancer this past spring. The Dreyers’ goal is twofold:
- Raise money for The Hope Chest Charitable Foundation
- Increase awareness of pet insurance and its benefits for pet owners
The charity that Rick is riding for, The Hope Chest Charitable Foundation at Southeast Veterinary Oncology and Internal Medicine (SEVO-Med), is a nonprofit organization that provides financial support to help cover the medical care of pets battling cancer or any other debilitating illnesses. The Dreyers hopes to raise at least $10,000 to assist Hope Chest in fulfilling their mission to support pets and their people in times of need.
According to Rick, the charity bike ride “provides a way for us to memorialize Hope’s memory and celebrate her life. At the same time, we want to recognize and bring awareness to the wonderful work performed daily by the professionals at SEVO-Med, and the financial help they provide other pet families though their nonprofit foundation. We also want to thank and recognize Embrace Pet Insurance for being a partner with us in this journey throughout Hope's life and allowing us to enjoy Hope's final months without the constant worry of how we would pay for her care.”
The Dreyers purchased an Embrace Pet Insurance policy for Hope in 2007. They rarely used it until July 2016 when Hope was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, a rapidly growing, highly invasive form of cancer. While Hope’s diagnosis was devastating, they were able to give her the best care without worrying about the cost thanks to their Embrace policy. The vet bills for Hope’s care came to just over $7,000, of which Embrace reimbursed $5,000.
The ride, which will take about three weeks to complete, will take Rick, with Yvette right behind him every mile from their support vehicle, through Savannah, GA, Charleston, SC, Fredericksburg, VA and Pittsburgh, PA – and eventually into Cleveland, OH. Rick says he’ll bike 100 to 120 miles per day.
In Cleveland, the Embrace Pet Insurance team will be eagerly awaiting the Dreyers arrival with a $3,000 check made out to The Hope Chest Charitable Foundation. The ride will end at Embrace’s headquarters in Warrensville Heights, OH in late August. Media and local pet owners are encouraged to join the celebration and greet the Dreyers when they arrive. Details available on Embrace’s Facebook event page.
