OFF THE WIRE
BY: ARTIE OJEDA
Source: nbcsandiego.com
Trisha Bertussi still can't believe her best friend is gone.
At Ooh La La Salon in El Cajon, she clips hair as a digital picture
frame cycles through photographs of Amy and Lance Heath. The husband
and wife were two of five people killed in last Saturday's accident
involving a Lakeside Motorcycle Club.
Bertussi said she had a special friendship with Amy Heath.
"I guess when you work in a salon, you kind of have a different
friendship. We're all really close. We tell each other our secrets;
our clients come in and tell us their secrets. Amy had my back no
matter what," said Bertussi.
The Heaths leave behind two boys aged 14 and 13.
"You didn't see the two of them without their boys," said Bertussi.
"And I think that’s what hurts more. Now they don't have their best
friend. No of us do. Our best friends are gone. It's horrible.”
In the days that have passed since the accident, members of the
Saddletramps Motorcycle Club have had to deal with their emotions
while planning for memorials and services for their friends. They
haven't been alone. Complete strangers have stepped forward to offer a
helping hand.
"It's unbelievable and I'm so thankful for all of the support that
we're getting. It has just been great," said Denny "Grizz" Humberstad,
the vice president of the club.
He says he's still dealing with the heartache of having witnessed the accident.
"Every night when I lay down, before I fall asleep, the whole thing
goes through my mind. I picture everything that I saw over and over
again," said Humberstad.
He says motorcycle clubs from across the nation have contacted his
group sending condolences and offering to help.
"We're all a big family and when tragedy strikes a family you always
pull together," said Humberstad.
The outpouring of support has also amazed Bertussi.
"I've had people that I've never even met before calling me, asking me
what I can do, how I can help the boys. I think it's awesome. They
touched a lot of people's lives," she said.
This weekend, numerous events are planned from memorials to
fundraisers to a blood drive.
Nov: 20: Saddletramps Blood Drive 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at San Diego Harley.
Nov: 20: Funeral Service 4 p.m. at El Cajon Mortuary
Nov: 20: Celebration of Life 6 p.m. at Barona Hall (1054 Barona Rd)
Nov: 21: Memorial for all Families at Renegade in Lakeside 2 p.m.
Nov: 28: Pat and Oscars at Parkway Plaza 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. Fundraiser
(must provide coupon at time of purchase)
Dec. 4: Studio B in Alpine (1347 Tavern Road) Cut-a-Thon Fundraiser
from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Dec. 7: Wendy's Restaurant in all of San Diego County Fundraiser;
mention the Health Family Fundraiser during purchase.
Ooh La La Salon at 1174 Broadway in El Cajon will have a fundraising
sale of Amy and Lance Heath wristbands for sale for $5. They will also
be taking Christmas Toy Donations through December 23. Food and Gifts
can also be dropped at 630 Brockwood Drive.
