Friday, March 24th 2023, 6:06 pm
A retired OHP Trooper and his wife are giving back to families of fallen Oklahoma officers by offering them a week-long retreat in the Bahamas on a sail boat.
Dwight Durant and his wife, Shelley, started a nonprofit called Ten Seven Retreat.
They just took the wife and two kids of the late Washington County Deputy, Kyle Davis, on an all-expenses-paid trip.
Saturday marks two years since deputy Davis died in line the of duty. His wife Kristin said this trip couldn't have come at a better time.
She said this was the first time in two years she's been able to just relax and breathe. She said the kids had a blast.
"There was so much laughter from them the whole time that I haven't seen in awhile. I have so many videos of them just giggling that I haven't heard in a couple years,” said Kristin. "An even since we've been back home, it's like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders with that."
Kristin said the trip couldn't have been more perfect.
"We didn't have phone service. We were able to just relax and take it easy or do all the things we wanted to do,” said Kristin.
Dwight Durant retired from OHP a couple of years ago and his wife Shelley is a retired nurse. They bought a sail boat and now live in the Bahama's six months out of the year.
Dwight said it is just in their hearts to help people and give back.
"We were thinking of a way we could share our experience, but yet make a difference in someone's life. And my wife came up with the idea, 'why don't we see about bringing the families of Oklahoma police officers who have died in the line of duty,'” said Dwight.
Dwight and Shelley started Ten Seven Retreat and raise money to pay for passports, travel and spending money for the families. Kristin and her kids were the first-ever guests of their retreat.
They got a police escort to the airport in Oklahoma, then another police escort by the Broward County Sheriff's Office in Florida.
They spent a week living on the boat, going snorkeling, swimming with sharks, doing boat races, and going on a treasure hunt.
And the whole time a Washington County Sheriff's Office flag was waving atop the boat.
"Seeing that emotion come out of them confirmed that they needed this and this is a good deal. This is going to help change some people's lives,” said Dwight.
"Just the care that they have, and like I said the special things that they set up. You can tell this is something they are really into, that they want to put the effort into,” said Kristin. "Dwight and Shelley are just the most amazing people. It felt like we were in a dream the whole time."
Dwight said they are already planning the next trip for the next family and have big plans for the future. You can click here to donate on the nonprofit's website.
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