Bio: Kruschke, Ava – Receives Support From Far and Wide (2022)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Kruschke, Raine, Drescher

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/19/2022

Youth Racer Sees Support From Far and Wide (Kruschke - 2022)



Ava Kruschke, 11, of rural Neillsville has been racing her snowmobile for five years and placed fourth or fifth in many national SnoCross races. She recently received the “Heart of a Racer” award for her resilience and determination after being seriously injured in a snowmobile accident. Submitted photo

By Valorie Brecht

Just over a month ago, well-loved local competitor, Ava Kruschke got in a serious accident while racing her snowmobile, cutting her season shot and bringing many concerns about what the future May hold. However, in this difficult situation Ava has shown her resiliency and community members have shown just how much they care by the support they have given this young racer.

“We are very humbled by the outpouring of community support,” said Ava’s mom, Andrea (Raine) Kruschke. “We are very grateful to be in a community that’s so supportive. It’s been out-of-this-world support.”

Ava, 11, lives near Neillsville and has been racing for five years. For her young age, she is already a decorated SnoCross racer. This year she competed in three different snocross series: two regional series and a national one. In the Midwest Snocross Series, she was ranked number two in the junior girls division (ages 9-13) and number one in the transition division, in which she competed against eight boys ages 11-13. She also was ranked number five in the Amsoil National Series junior girls division and first in the ERX Grassroots Series junior girls division, going undefeated on the season.

Ava was racing in Fargo, ND, on Feb. 5 when her accident occurred.

“My throttle stopped. I wanted to pull the cord to get out, but I was going way too fast, and I crashed into the wall,” said Ava. “Laying there, I knew my leg was broken right away.”

Ava was examined in the FXR Mobile Medical Unit. Medical staff did some x-rays and confirmed she has a broken femur.

“Ava said me, ‘Is my leg broken? My leg can’t be broken; I have to race,’” said Andrea.

Ava also broke her wrist in two places, as well as her pelvis and hip socket. She was transported to the edge of the property in one ambulance and then switched to another ambulance that took her three miles down the road to Sanford Medical Center, which is the number-two trauma center in the country. When she arrived there, she was greeted by a trauma team of 42 people.

It was like something you see in the movies. It was a huge room where everyone piles in,” said Andrea.

The team included trauma doctors, trauma surgeons, nurses, a radiologist and a whole host of others. There was also a flight medic pilot standing by in case Ava needed to be airlifted. Thankfully, that was not the case. She had surgery immediately on her leg. After all her injuries had been stabilized, she began the long road to recovery.

Ava spent five days at the hospital. The encouragement and support started right away.

“I have a childhood friend from Portage who looked on the hospital website and found there was a way to send e-cards to a patient,” Andres said.

Andrea put out a Facebook post inviting people to send “get well” wishes and the notes came pouring in – from fellow Girl Scouts in Ava’s troop, from classmates at school and from local people who knew her. A hospital staff member would print out all of the messages and deliver them to Ava’s room. All told, she received more than 100 e-cards, the most in Sanford history.

Also while she was in the hospital, Ava received support from fellow racers near and far.

“The people that you race with become a family, whether it’s the Minnesota group, Wisconsin or nationals… A lot of other racers sent goodies, gift boxes, crossword puzzles, t-shorts, balloons, flowers you name it – even those we hadn’t talked to before. Some sent notes to say, ‘Just to let you know, we’re thinking of you,’” said Andrea.

Ava also had a couple of professional racers reach out to her to offer words of encouragement. Which was a big deal.

“It boosts her attitude and moral just for them to remind her that ‘you do matter’ and ‘you do make an impact,’” said Andrea.

After Ava was released from the hospital, it was a four-and-a-half hour drive home. There were signs lining the driveway welcoming her home.



Loved ones put up signs saying “Welcome home, Ava! We love you!” to greet Ava Kruschke when she arrived home from the hospital. Many other community members have reached out to offer support while Ava is on her journey to healing. Submitted photo


As Ava began to feel a little better, she settled into life at home. She started doing school from home and is expected to return to school sometime in April. She’s mostly been confined to her home except for doctor visits.

Local people offered what they could to make Ava’s recovery easier, including meals, cards, calls, texts and gifs. People even brought walkers and wheelchairs in case she needed them. The girls Ava raced with sent her gift bags and have kept in contact with her.

Ava said she appreciated the kind gestures.

“It brightens my day sometimes. I have different things to look at. I’ve gotten snacks and a lot of blankets,” she said.

Ava also received some unexpected help when it came to Girl Scout cookie sale. This year, the girls are planning a trip top Savannah, GA, and raising funds for that. Normally, after Ava finished racing, she would walk around the racetrack and sell Girl Scout cookies. She couldn’t do that this year, but a couple of racers found out and bought more than 400 boxes of cookies from her.

In addition, Girl Scouts from Neillsville and surrounding areas planned a booth sale in Eau Claire, with whatever cookies they sold going toward Ava’s cookie numbers, Ava also put a video on Facebook asking people to buy cookies and set a goal of having an order from each of the 50 states. As of March 2, she had sold to people in 18 states.

Although she hasn’t been able to be out too much, Ava attended snocross awards banquet the last weekend of February, providing a much-needed pick-me-up.

“Everyone was trying to help or would ask how she was doing. Everyone was saying, ‘We’re glad you guys came.’ When Ava smiled, it lit up the room,” said Andrea.

At the banquet, Ava received the “Heart of a Racer” award for the determination she’s shown.

“She pushes herself pretty hard in physical therapy and her schooling… If she’s given exercises to do, say if she’s to do five, she’ll do 10. Sometimes it’s a little more mental be cause she can’t be active like an 11-year-old typically is. But when she reads a card from a friend or a complete stranger, it boosts her morale,” said Andrea.

Those little acts of kindness are helping Ava as she seeks to get back to doing the things she loves as soon as possible. Her goals are “to be able to walk around and get back on my snowmobile,” said Ava.

She also is focused on building her strength so she can attend the “Savannah, GA trip in June and a Girl Scout camp later this summer.

Although Ava’s accident was a very traumatic experience, Andrea said the whole family has much to be grateful for.

“We’re really grateful that she didn’t have more injuries. We’re just grateful that she’s here and able to walk and talk,’ said Andrea.

People wishing to send cards to Ava May write her at W1705 USH 10, Neillsville, Wi 54456, or drop them off at her family’s business, BP/Drescher Oil Company in Neillsville.