| Presented by Curtis Johnson |
| When I first met Don in 1996, it was because both of us were attempting to help close friends who were cancer patients, and we built our first machines from the same plans for that reason, although we had not met. Don had built his first Rife-Bare unit and was using it to help his friend Batyah, who had been suffering from very advanced cancer. It transpired that some neighbours of mine in Powell River were close friends of Batyah, and, when they found out about my efforts to build a similar machine, they told me about Don Tunney in Courtenay. I promptly contacted him by phone. From that time forward, we became good friends and regular collaborators in the attempt to utilize the units we had built to see if they would prove helpful to our friends. The early machines were in need of improvement, as they were difficult to build, operate and maintain. Don was determined to do all he could do to improve the device and, to this end, he set about seeking out many sources of information. With characteristic resourcefulness, he had attracted a group of local volunteers who wanted to learn more about the capabilities of the device as a potential therapy for a wide range of health problems. Additionally, he cultivated a large and growing body of individuals with expertise in medicine, electronics, and other relevant scientific fields from whom to seek advice.
Up to this point all of the work that had been done was paid for out of pocket. By this time, Don was dedicated to the project and he soon launched himself full time onto the path that led to the founding of his company called, initially, Rife Technology. In the following months, Don's old apartment on Piercy Street was rather like Grand Central Station. Electronic parts were everywhere. I often camped out on the sofa bed to avoid the ferry trips from Powell River. Visitors were frequent. Machines were constantly modified and tested. There were regular complaints from neighbours about the interference to their TV's & radios caused by the radio frequencies emitted. Don had organized experimental therapy sessions for the local group of enthusiasts wherever he could find a suitable venue, preferably not too close to areas that would be bothered by the radio frequency emissions- often an impossible feat. He was searching for a way to lower the interference level of the device without losing the beneficial output of the wave forms. New components were introduced and tested. Don knew that he needed to develop a device contained in a single housing, not a set of individual components linked together with yards of cabling that acted as antennas and increased the interference potential of the output. His search led him to making improvements wherever possible in the components themselves- some made by the original manufacturers at Don's request, others made by hand in the shop. By 1997 he had rented new quarters on the north side of Courtenay that included a small shop behind the house. The business was underfinanced and Don worked long hours 7 days a week. There were about 6 employees involved, a number which would fluctuate from time to time. The unit that was produced became known as the RBT, for Rife/Bare/Tunney, and it began the slow transformation from this early stage to the current PERL model. Sales within Canada and to the USA increased with some international inquiries. The small business survived several crises and the machines's performance gradually improved. They were much better than the original units, but still rather difficult to operate and were quite erratic. Don knew where he wanted to go, but progress toward his goal was not easy to achieve. He persevered. Components were improved. The business grew. Around this time Don was completing the task of setting up the First International Rife Conference which was a considerable achievement. There was strong volunteer support from many of the members of the local group that had come together to attend the meetings that Don hosted. It took place on Oct. 17-19, 1997 at the Coast Hotel in Courtenay and was a great success. It has been held regularly since then in different cities in the USA & Canada. Don was a keynote speaker at the event. Even at this early stage, Don envisioned being able to spend several months a year traveling far & wide by motor home, combining business and road trip adventures. He was true to his dream. In June, 1998 Shelley and I were married in Powell River, and Don did yeoman service as our Best Man at the ceremony. I spent several months working with Don in the old shop, staying in Courtenay from M-F and returning to Powell River on most weekends. We worked hard at improving the technology. Don had a new programmable frequency generator developed that could run sets of selected frequencies automatically. This was a major improvement. By September of 1998, Don had made contact with a researcher named Michael Coyle, who built dark field microscopes and taught seminars on Live Blood Analysis. Don wanted to learn how to do this as a diagnostic aid and for monitoring the effect of the device emanations on live blood samples. One day in early Sept. 1998, Don told me that he had enrolled both of us in Michael Coyle's weekend seminar on dark field microscopy that would take place later that month in Petaluma, Calif. We duly set off in Don's veteran Mercury a couple of days early so we could enjoy a leisurely trip and make a stop on the NW coast of California to visit a cancer patient who was a friend of Don's. This was a classic Don style road trip, something he always loved to do. He was never one to pass up a good time on the road and we took full advantage of the opportunity. We made our first stop in Vancouver, Washington to visit old hometown friends of mine, then carried on to his friend's home in Ft. Bragg. We had a good visit with the couple and then got underway once again. We had to drive back through the coastal mountain range to rejoin Interstate 5. By mere coincidence this lovely, winding 2 lane road happens to pass by a number of small vineyards with the customary wineries, and their tasting and sales facilities. We felt it incumbent upon us to take regular breaks from driving, so, with flawless logic, we visited a number of these fine establishments, there being no other rest stops on the narrow road. We ended up with several cases of wine in the trunk and continued onward to Petaluma. The seminar was excellent and Don added a $12,000 darkfield microscope to our return baggage prior to departure. Michael Coyle agreed to be a feature speaker at the coming 1998 Rife Conference as well, and proved to be one of the best speakers on the program. On the way home we timed our arrival in Seattle to accommodate a visit to the huge Boeing Surplus complex in S. Seattle. This place is for tool collectors what Disneyland is for kids- dangerous country for a pair of determined bargain hunters in search of prey. We filled up most of the remaining cargo capacity of the car with treasures and carried on to the border. When re-entering Canada, the gentleman in the kiosk took one look at the pile of receipts we had, the full back seat, and asked how many bottles of alcoholic beverages we were bringing in. Don explained that we had travelled through wine country, taken full advantage of the bargains to be had and that we expected to pay duty on the overage. The inspector made a quick check of the trunk and back seat- gave us a good humoured look and told to get out of there. We complied gracefully and beat it for home base, delighted to have been blessed with an official who had a sense of humour. Always an adventure to travel with Don. From 1998 onwards, after the second successful Rife Conference was held in Courtenay, the small business continued to improve and expand into the new century. Don's purchase of the present industrial building was an essential step to give the growing business a real headquarters, with adequate space for workshop and office, along with room for expansion. It was here where the first self contained PERL model was developed and entered onto the market. The company added more personnel to both front office and workshop. Overall sales continued to increase. As with all small businesses, there were many difficulties to overcome and Don handled them extremely well. He bought his first motor home in 2003. The major event of the period was the coming together of Don and Eddie, a fortunate occasion that blended a deep personal relationship with a very solid business partnership. The sales peaked. What had been Don's dream was realized- now Don & Eddie were able to spend several months each year traveling in Canada, the USA and Mexico, meeting friends, business contacts, making presentations and, of course, the inevitable relaxing and socializing along the way. The company that began in Don's old apartment has continued to make improvements in the business operation and the technology itself. Don's sudden illness came as a shock to everyone and he handled it with his usual calm dignity, intelligence and humour to the end. He will be greatly missed and remembered as a loyal friend, a man of many talents, wide interests and a generous heart- a fine traveling companion to have known on this planetary journey. |