Help a Big Sky snowboarder in need!

I was reading today about a local Big Sky snowboarder and instructor, Paul Overby, who was nearly beaten to death after trying to stop two thief’s from stealing his friends moped. He has a website which is tracking his progress through multiple surgeries. His medical expenses are estimated to be $2,000,000 and his friends/family are reaching out for help. ‘

I listed his trust fund below where donations can be sent. This is a horrific thing to hear about and I definitely am going to contribute what money I can.

Thanks to Rome Snowboards putting this up and bringing attention to shredder in need. A fundraiser will be held on November 14th.

Here’s the story about Paul Overby:

Late at night, Tuesday September 16th, 2008

Paulie had just finished walking his friend home safely from a bar, and noticed several men attempting to steal his friend’s moped. He had lived in Bozeman for over 3 years at that point, and had never seen these young men before, but decided to stop them anyways.

Paul attempted to tell them ‘to back off’ and ‘just leave’ when one young man jumped him from behind, and hit him in the back of his head with his elbow. He instantly fell down and the same young man allegedly started kicking him repeatedly in the face and head.

The attack lasted less than a few minutes because when nearby witnesses came running, both attackers were already gone. One of the witnesses found that Paulie was choking on his blood and turned him on his side to help him breathe.

After being called the police found Paul unresponsive with no pulse, and lying in a parking lot“bleeding heavily from the head,” according to a written statement released Wednesday afternoon. The police said he had stopped breathing and emergency CPR was administered.

Shortly after, he was taken to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital where the medical staff desperately tried to get his airways cleared and allow him to breathe.

Paul was beaten so severely that no visible face, mouth, or nose was left behind. His airways were also blocked from choking on his own vomit, his lungs were filled with so much fluid that the emergency team was unable to clear his airways.

He was later flown by helicopter to a Billings hospital where he was placed critical condition in an intensive care unit.

Most of his injuries were to the face. Every bone in his face had been broken and 2 major surgeries were needed to repair them.

Paul’s family in Minnesota at was notified at 4:30 AM Wednesday September 17, 2008.

They were told that he was having difficulty breathing and that he was being airlifted to Billings, Montana. At that point, they just did not know if he would make it to Billings.

Some of Paul’s friends immediately drove from Bozeman to Billings. Paul’s family will always be very grateful that these friends watched over Paul until they could get to Billings from Minnesota.

When family arrived, what they saw was a face that looked like a smashed pumpkin painted black, blue, yellow, and green. He had an oxygen mask on and blood was being pumped from this stomach (he lost at least half of his blood).

On Thursday, September 18, Paul had his first facial reconstructive surgery. The surgery took 6 hours and when complete, Paul had 8 plates in the lower half of his face and his jaw was wired shut. Each eye socket required three plates and two were needed for the jaws. One eye socket was so pulverized that cartlidge was taken from his nose to rebuild it. Paul also had a trachea tube because he couldn’t breathe from his nose or his mouth.

On Wednesday, September 24, 2008 Paul had his second surgery. The forehead was stabilized with a mesh material and the nose bridge was rebuilt. His trachea tube was downsized.