The following is a thank you note from Melanie Maycock, winner of a Global Rescue membership for her father, through one of Global Rescue’s newest partners, Hideaways International. To kick off the new partnership, Hideaways sponsored a “Rescue Me Contest,” open to all travelers. “It seems we struck a chord when we asked travelers to submit stories of travel woes and mishaps for the contest,” says Mike Thiel, Founder and President of Hideaways International (www.Hideaways.com). “And one submission stood out as most deserving of the prize.”

Global Rescue would like to congratulate Melanie on her winning entry and thank her father for all the good work he does around the world.

I am so glad you picked my father, Thomas Maycock, for the medical evacuation coverage while he is out of the country. As I mentioned, he has always been a role model, not just for our family but for others as well. He has been involved with prison ministries for ages. At one point, he forgot to turn in his cell phone and when he realized, he went and gave it to a guard. He was mandatorily suspended and had to appeal to get back in. We always teased him . He’s the only person we know who got kicked out of prison- and fought to get back in!

From the time we were kids he has always told us to be part of the solution and he has certainly led by example. I don’t know anyone more unselfish or less self-centered.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone as happy to serve as my dad. We certainly did not have a lot when we were growing up but I can remember him asking us if we would be willing to give our picnic lunch away and telling us what a blessing it was that we had more food at home – just always being mindful that it was not just a responsibility but a privilege to work towards brightening the corner where we were.

He has never worried about himself or his own safety which completely drives the rest of us crazy! He has been going to Haiti for years and helping with an orphanage/school there (Caring & Sharing Mission).  He traveled at his own expense and did everything he could to improve the conditions. He is a contractor by trade and not only used those skills to improve the plumbing and the housing but to train the older kids so they would have a marketable skill for the future.

He was always encouraging us to read and understand that there is a purpose for living. Years ago he had us memorize a quote : “The greatest want of the world is the want of men — men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall” and he told my sister and me that it applied to girls as well.

He is now working on getting equipment to Sierra Leone and helping the rebuilding effort there. I don’t know of anywhere that would be too scary or too dangerous for him if he believed that it would be for the good.

Just knowing that he will have someone to call on if he does get sick or injured is worth more than I own. I am so very, very grateful to Hideaways and Global Rescue! He may not worry, but we sure do!

Thank you again,

Melanie Maycock