Where it all started...
In loving memory of hector kitscha
THe Legacy continues...
My grandfather, Hector, started the Wisconsin SCI (Safari Club International) chapter many years ago, as an avid outdoorsman, hunter, conservationist, and family man, he devoted his life to the outdoors and giving back. He then passed this on to his children and grandchildren.
Through his passions for the outdoors and giving back, he started a non profit specifically to promote awareness, education and conservation in South Africa with the mission statement of “Providing hopes and dreams to African children” the money raised was given directly to the communities. They assisted in building schools, community kitchens, donating food, school supplies and even medical supplies. I specifically remember growing up and making homemade wheelchairs in our basement at a very young age, made up on plastic chairs, bicycle wheels and foam pads just to get those who are immobile, up and about, some for the first time.
Through the years of caring on his passion specifically for South Africa hunting, he continued to give back. THAT is what he lived for. Those very people he connected with over there, became family. Francois DeWet was the man that my grandfather beloved and created a very special relationship with.
My dream was to one day take over the non profit, but I needed to finish my goal (at the time) of going to become a large animal veterinarian. The plan was for me to go to South Africa once I graduated high school. My grandpa became ill and unfortunately he passed my third day of my senior year in high school. I never made it to South Africa. No one from our family has been back since he passed in 2010. When he was sick, seeing him in the hospital, caring for him while he fell ill, changed my entire future plans. The day after he passed away, I started applying to nursing schools, I signed up and went to a local technical college to obtain my CNA certificate and started working in high school as a CNA. I got into nursing school and graduated with my Bachelors Science of Nursing and became a Registered Nurse in 2016. I dedicated my life to a career where I was able to give back and help others for the rest of my life. That didn’t come without trials and tribulations.
Through his passions for the outdoors and giving back, he started a non profit specifically to promote awareness, education and conservation in South Africa with the mission statement of “Providing hopes and dreams to African children” the money raised was given directly to the communities. They assisted in building schools, community kitchens, donating food, school supplies and even medical supplies. I specifically remember growing up and making homemade wheelchairs in our basement at a very young age, made up on plastic chairs, bicycle wheels and foam pads just to get those who are immobile, up and about, some for the first time.
Through the years of caring on his passion specifically for South Africa hunting, he continued to give back. THAT is what he lived for. Those very people he connected with over there, became family. Francois DeWet was the man that my grandfather beloved and created a very special relationship with.
My dream was to one day take over the non profit, but I needed to finish my goal (at the time) of going to become a large animal veterinarian. The plan was for me to go to South Africa once I graduated high school. My grandpa became ill and unfortunately he passed my third day of my senior year in high school. I never made it to South Africa. No one from our family has been back since he passed in 2010. When he was sick, seeing him in the hospital, caring for him while he fell ill, changed my entire future plans. The day after he passed away, I started applying to nursing schools, I signed up and went to a local technical college to obtain my CNA certificate and started working in high school as a CNA. I got into nursing school and graduated with my Bachelors Science of Nursing and became a Registered Nurse in 2016. I dedicated my life to a career where I was able to give back and help others for the rest of my life. That didn’t come without trials and tribulations.
Throughout my life, starting at a very young age, I hunted and fished, enjoying the great outdoors. I discovered so many different passions amongst the outdoors and enjoyed sharing my experiences on social media. I kept the goal in mind to re-start grandpa’s non profit one day when I was ready, until a few years ago I decided to come up with the wild idea to start my own. Terrifying and exciting, I was presented an opportunity I couldn’t say no to.
There, the Wild Race was born. “The race to change the future” and as a registered nurse and outdoorswoman, I devoted my show and my organization to traveling nationally and recently internationally, to share my passion with others. Wherever we travel to, we give back. Promote health and wellness within the outdoor industry. Educate the community and assist in conservation projects. Support local businesses. Give back to local communities and truly make a difference wherever we go.
After years of cancellations and COVID complications and planning, we finally made a family trip to South Africa to pick up where my grandfather left off. It was my first trip, and let me say, it won’t be the last. My goal was to continue his legacy and his passion. To continue the close relationships with our friends and family in South Africa and create new ones. We did much more than that.
This journey is just the beginning of a lifetime of a new, wild adventure that I’m about to bring you all on with me. Being able to share my experience in South Africa with both my parents and our close family friends, meant everything to me. To see my grandpa memorialized and remembered amongst the very community he worked with, moved me. I can’t express the amount of emotion and adrenaline packed into these episodes, we aren’t your normal hunting/outdoors show. What we do is so much more. We will continue to make it our mission to promote, educate and give back
There, the Wild Race was born. “The race to change the future” and as a registered nurse and outdoorswoman, I devoted my show and my organization to traveling nationally and recently internationally, to share my passion with others. Wherever we travel to, we give back. Promote health and wellness within the outdoor industry. Educate the community and assist in conservation projects. Support local businesses. Give back to local communities and truly make a difference wherever we go.
After years of cancellations and COVID complications and planning, we finally made a family trip to South Africa to pick up where my grandfather left off. It was my first trip, and let me say, it won’t be the last. My goal was to continue his legacy and his passion. To continue the close relationships with our friends and family in South Africa and create new ones. We did much more than that.
This journey is just the beginning of a lifetime of a new, wild adventure that I’m about to bring you all on with me. Being able to share my experience in South Africa with both my parents and our close family friends, meant everything to me. To see my grandpa memorialized and remembered amongst the very community he worked with, moved me. I can’t express the amount of emotion and adrenaline packed into these episodes, we aren’t your normal hunting/outdoors show. What we do is so much more. We will continue to make it our mission to promote, educate and give back