Back in the eighties the Groholski family made an impact on East Coast skaters that lasts until today. They purchased a Lexan (plexiglass) Rad Ramp from a closed skatepark in Staten Island NY and set it up in their backyard.

Skaters from all over were welcomed creating a tight knit network in a time where skateboarding was deemed "dead." We were inspired by Tom's shredding and his families kindness. Friendships were formed that last until today.

Lives were changed. Seeing Tom on the cover of Thrasher, in ads for his sponsors and travelling the country, reporting back with stories from far off lands like California opened our eyes and minds to what was possible. Locals like Mike Vallely, Jim Murphy, Rob Mertz and more went on to become world-travelling pro skaters themselves.

None of this would have been possible without Tom's dad, Mister G. Not only did he drive Tom and friends all over the country to the skateparks of the time and erect the metal and plexiglass playground in his backyard. He also shot the iconic photos of Tom bringing him to the world's attention which in turn brought together a strong scene.

Sadly, Mister G. succumbed to Cancer a few years ago. Which inspired me to create this fund-raising graphic using his photography of Tom as reference. Donations from the sales of all products featuring this artwork will be made to Grind for Life. Their mission is to provide financial assistance to cancer patients and their families when traveling long distances to doctors and hospitals.

Graphics: