This string of articles will focus on meeting the Pawsitive Recovery team. This week we are highlighting Nick! Nick is in charge of Pawsitive Recovery’s fundraising and the donations.
Nicholas, a familiar face in the world of professional sports has gone through his struggles in a very different light then most of us. Becoming a national champion in the sport of figure skating at the age of 18, he had to learn very quickly how to navigate the challenge of living his life in the publics eye. The tragedy that struck his family with the murder – suicide of his parents which resulted from a Domestic Violent marriage was covered by news and media outlets nationwide. Being pulled in so many directions on how to be professionally treated emotionally and mentally while keeping his career in tact was the learning curve that would forever change his life.
At times when the road never seemed to have a light at the end of the tunnel he struggled with self-medicating, and faced the harsh reality that resulted in decisions that we aren’t proud of but so many of us struggle with. Throughout his career he skated his way to 8 major titles, was ranked 10th in the World, recipient of the Massachusetts State Award and he is listed in the Figure Skating Hall of Fame on two separate occasions. Upon his retirement, Nicholas and his sister started the US Athletic Foundation which was a fundraising-based non-profit that helped to sponsor figure skaters in need of financial assistance.
Their highlighted event “An Evening on Ice” would turn out to be one of the top live figure skating events to host Olympic, World and National Champions from all over the globe. With this experience, Nicholas is honored to lend a helping hand that could benefit Pawsitive Recovery through their various fundraising events and auctions. On many levels, Nicholas understands what Pawsitive Recovery can offer to struggling addicts, victims of domestic violence and the families that surround both of these situations.
Not only with the loss of his parents due to Domestic Violence, Nicholas is also a survivor of Domestic Violence himself and credits his Emotional Support Animal Bam-Bam as the light that kept him pushing through to survive these life challenges.
