After a devastating injury left Randy Lachmuth paralyzed late last year, he hopes to finally leave the hospital make it back to his East Kelowna home within a few weeks. On Saturday, more than a dozen volunteers showed up at his house to get his yard ready for his return.
The Yard Angels initiative is organized by Creative Roots Landscaping, a local company that’s held two other similar events in town this year. “It’s been so successful and so fun for all our team to pitch in and do something good for people who deserve it,” said Ryan Markewich, part owner of Creative Roots.
Randy was in Australia with his wife Karen last December for their daughter’s wedding when a wave pulled him underwater and drove him head first into the ocean floor. Randy broke two vertebrae and was rendered a quadriplegic. He’s been recovering at Vancouver General Hospital for months, and was recently transferred to Kelowna General Hospital, but his wife expects him home with the next few weeks. “He’s very anxious to get out of a hospital setting and get back to the home again,” said Karen, who added they’re still looking to hire a caregiver before he comes home. “Having Ryan here today with Creative Roots and all of his gang, it’s just awesome, I can’t explain it. I can’t imagine taking it on myself.”
Many of the volunteers working at the Lachmuth residence Saturday were Creative Roots employees, while others simply wanted to help out. Markewich said they accept nominations from the public for the Yard Angels program, and four separate people nominated the Lachmuths for Saturday’s free yard cleanup.
“It doesn’t take a lot to give back. It’s a few hours on a Saturday a few times a year to make people proud,” Markewich said.
Watch the Castanet report here: Yard Angels Strike Again
by Nicholas Johansen – Nov 3, 2018