David's Story

David has been a member of the family at our Reservoir Home in Richmond since 2006. On a regular basis, David and his one-to-one staff member have visited the Chesterfield Airport, the Richmond International Airport and numerous air museums in the region. 

In the not too distant past, David experienced a “simulated” flight which he found quite exciting. So the next question was, 'What could we do to provide David with the ultimate flying experience?' The answer – a chance to fly for real!

Larry Scurlock, CRi’s Chief Information Officer, is a licensed pilot who enjoys sharing aviation stories – and even the occasional flight in his Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Last fall, Larry was approached with the idea of flying to Richmond and fulfilling David’s life-long dream. 

Without hesitation, Larry agreed and the date was set for December 22. Reservoir staff escorted David to the Chesterfield Airport to await the arrival of his “private” plane. It was abundantly clear that David was enjoying the airport outing and was fully aware that something special was going to happen.

After watching the plane descend and greeting Larry, David was guided out on to the runway. Without any hesitation, he climbed into the four-passenger plane and was ready to go! So, on a mild winter day, David took his first plane ride around Richmond from about 3,500 feet! During the trip, David could be seen smiling and gesturing to others, a clear indicator that he was having a wonderful time.

The generosity exhibited by Larry, the support of the Richmond staff, and the privilege to witness David experience this adventure was quite extraordinary for all involved.

            – Teresa Secreti, Clinical Director, Richmond Area

To support fellow community members like David, click ➡ HERE. 

To share your own CRi story, click ➡ HERE.