I have been waiting to send this email all day.
rainbowbridgehope.com is live.
Go there first. Read Paul's story. Look at the bridges he built. Listen to the last phone call Jason had with him. It's less than fifteen minutes, on March 8th, twenty-two days before he was gone.
Then come back here.
Paul Allabaugh built wooden rainbow bridges by hand in his workshop in New Smyrna Beach. One for each dog he lost. Then one for the vet who took care of those dogs. Then about fifty more that few outside his house knew existed.
He died by suicide on March 30th.
His wife Pat said yes to letting us share his work and his story. That yes is the reason any of this exists.
Right now Pat has very real and immediate needs. She has muscular dystrophy. She needs her lawn repaired. She needs a platform built so she can get in and out of her own home. She lost her husband two months ago and she is doing all of this while she is still in the middle of her grief.
Every bridge sold goes 100% to Pat. No split. No fees.
If you want to buy one of Paul's bridges:
Reply to this email or reach me directly and we will make it happen. Payment is through Venmo or Zelle. The bridges are one of a kind, made from real wood, real joinery, real craftsman work. When they are gone they are gone.
There is also something bigger being built here.
Rainbow Bridge of Hope is becoming a platform for anyone in the valley. The veterinary community is where we started - they have the highest suicide rate of any profession and Dr. Ginger, who knew Paul personally, is already bringing this mission to every vet who will have it.
But pain doesn't stay inside one profession. It doesn't pick a demographic. It shows up in garages in New Smyrna Beach and living rooms across the country and in people you'd never expect. This is for all of them.
We are building a coalition of businesses and individuals who believe in this mission and want to help expand its reach. Founding coalition members are already on the site starting with a veterinarian, a combat veteran, a realtor from Wyoming who said yes before there was a single dollar in the account.
If you want to be part of what this becomes:
Your name goes on something that matters. People will know you showed up at the beginning because you believed in helping people who were hurting.
If nothing else, please go to the site. Share it with someone who has lost a pet and doesn't know what to do with the grief. Share it with a veterinarian you know. Share it with anyone who has been in the valley.
Paul built bridges.
We are just making sure they reach a little further.
Amber
If you or someone you know is in crisis: call or text 988
