Menifee resident Gale Webb recently celebrated her 65th birthday. What she didn’t know was that 250 close friends and family would surprise "America’s Sports Mom" at The Diamond stadium’s sold-out All-Star game on Tuesday, June 23.

Well known throughout the motocross community as one of the pioneers of women racing motocross and participating in many action sports, Gale has a unique approach on life.

Long story - short

Gale’s sister, Alice Smith, organized the tear-jerking, laugh-out-loud party for an incredible survivor.

"About 35 years ago, Gale went skydiving. It was just another day for her," Smith began. Neither of her parachutes opened. Life became a new journey for her after that day.

"Gale spent two years in and out of the hospital," Smith continued. "Mostly in, trying to recover from such a tragic landing."

"While I was recovering in the hospital, I lost my best friend to a drug overdose. I was devastated," said Gale. "I vowed never to live through another loss of a human being from drugs and alcohol ever again. After what I lived through, I was going to make a difference in life and give back."

Get high on life: an anti-drug message

Webb began mentoring young skaters soon after that in Huntington Beach.

"I got together with a few local kids and brought out some small ramps," she recalled. "The emphasis was on how talented they were and no matter what life’s troubles bring, you are special."

Soon, the idea was conceived for Gale Webb’s Extreme Sports & Air Show, an action-packed rah-rah mix of music, big ramps, freestyle BMX, inline skate, scooter and skateboard stunts put on by the most talented teens and pre-teens around.

Known as "Gale’s Kids"

Gale emcees every event with the energy of an unleashed freight train.

Jumping around, she drives her messages intensely: "Follow your goals and dreams, never give up. Say no to drugs. Kids are number one, and wear your safety gear."

"Get high on life!" she’ll shout into the microphone as the crowd of spectators cheers with vigorous enthusiasm that is well known to leave a lasting impression in the hearts and memories of many.

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Fallbrook gasped as he watched the stunt show with his two children. "Oh, my gosh! I remember seeing Gale Webb’s show over 20 years ago when I was a kid. I remember her from a show she did at the surf shop Avalon Bay in Vista."

Bonnie Warch, a motorcycle and ATV instructor for Coach 2 Ride, said, "Every time I see her show… when she cries, she makes me cry, and I’ve seen her show many times. You’d think by now I’d be over it. Nope. I need a tissue."

Matresa Lee of Murrieta was watching the show with her young son, Skyler Evans. "I thought the show was awesome," Lee said. "I really liked the message that Gale had to share with the kids. She’s right."

Christine Rivers, also of Murrieta, said afterward, "Excellent, excellent show. It was so energetic. My kids loved it."

Michael Rivers, 5, said, "One of these days I hope to be part of Gale’s show."

Older sister Kaitlyn, 6, was closer to the landing ramp and could feel the boom of the skates landing. "I thought it was very exciting," she said. "Wow! I’ll remember that for a long time."

The reunion

Gale has had many, many kids perform in her shows over the years who have since grown up and now have kids of their own.

At the end of the show Gale was passing out prizes to the loudest of the cheering audience and had her back turned to the center ramp/tabletop platform in the show.

Suddenly, when Gale wasn’t looking, dozens of now-grown "Gale’s Kids" alumni from years past stormed out from where they were hiding in the back of the audience and piled on top of the platform. The party was on.

Since Gale started her mentoring show more than 30 years ago she has reached out in person to more than a million kids, performing at school assemblies, county fairs, expos, amusement parks, soccer camps and now – with her newest sponsor, the Lake Elsinore Storm – baseball games.

Some of Gale’s now-grown alumni include Tony Hawk, Danny Way, Ryan Scheckler and Eddie Fiola.

To learn more about Gale Webb, visit her Web site at www.galeskids.com.