The 28th Annual Betty's Laughing Horse Toy Run

Today at Betty's Laughing Horse groups of bikers got together to make Christmas a little better for some great kids out at the Central Florida Children's Home. It is the 28th year for this fabulous cause.

A friend donated some money, so I was able to double up on the

bears I brought.

This guy saw me struggling with two cameras, the

bears, and my coffee, right away offered to help me carry the load.

Good enough sport that he left me take pictures with the bears so

my friend could see what his generosity did for some really awesome

kids! Yes Bruce, the one you donated has the antlers.

This is a patch I saw on a veteran's vest.

And yes, Santa showed up too!

Rev. Al made this rose.

Orange County Fire Department Captain Death Spotlights Suicides

Apparent suicide of Orange County fire captain may be part of sad trend in profession
The Mercury News
By SCOTT SCHWEBKE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
PUBLISHED: December 15, 2016

Tuesday’s apparent suicide of an Orange County Fire Authority captain is part of a sad trend among firefighters.

In 2015, 132 firefighters committed suicide in the U.S. – a bigger number than those who died of job-related injuries and illnesses, according to figures provided by the California Professional Firefighters union.

In addition, a national study of 1,000 firefighters, by researchers from Florida State University, revealed that nearly half of the respondents say they had suicidal thoughts at one or more points in their careers. About 15 percent reported one or more suicide attempts.

One cause may be post-traumatic stress syndrome, similar to that experienced by military personnel in combat, that can take an emotional toll on firefighters with their high-stress duties, according to the International Association of Firefighters.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol are investigating what prompted Eric Weuve to jump from the Crown Valley Parkway overpass onto the I-5 freeway in Mission Viejo, where he was fatally struck by a big-rig.
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Florida Veteran With PTSD Gets Puppy After Thinking of Other Veterans

Former Marine With PTSD Brought to Tears as His Mom Gifts Him a Puppy for Christmas
Inside Edition
by Johanna Li
December 16, 2016

Finding a puppy under the Christmas tree may be viewed as a clichéd holiday tradition, but for this former Marine suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, the newborn beagle was the perfect gift.

Peter Coukoulis from Tallahassee, Florida was brought to tears when his family surrounded him Wednesday, and presented him a tiny puppy as an early Christmas present.

"Hey pretty girl," 26-year-old Peter could be heard saying in a video licensed by Caters News, while wiping away tears of joy with one hand, and holding his new puppy in the other.

His mom, Dena Coukoulis, told InsideEdition.com he has been struggling from PTSD since returning to civilian life three years ago.

"Sometimes he just looks sad to me," Dena said. "[He feels] a lack of purpose and self-worth. He has a hard time sleeping because he has bad dreams. Anytime he sees something big in the news, he feels like he could have done more."

Although Peter, who now works as an electrician, was qualified for a service dog, she said her son passed on the opportunity, hoping the dog will go to a veteran who deserved a dog more.
read more here