For the first time ever, we are planning to enter a 10-member bike team in the 2010 National EMS Memorial Bike Ride (NEMSMBR). The team has been training for several months now; they are honing their riding skills and looking forward to this great opportunity!
The NEMSMBR is designed to honor Emergency Medical Services personnel and celebrate the lives of those who serve every day, those who have become sick or injured while performing their duties, and those who have died in the line of duty. Lake-Sumter EMS’ participation this year became even more significant and poignant with the recent passing of Capt. David DeLand and our team will proudly ride in his memory.
The National EMS Memorial Bike Ride takes place May 15-22, 2010 and begins in three locations - Bennington, VT; Portland, ME; and Paintsville, KY—with all routes culminating in Washington, DC for a final gathering. The Lake-Sumter EMS team plans to travel the Portland, Maine route.
Our team members share the vision of the NEMSMBR to see recognition of EMS as a profession, a reduction in debilitating injuries and line of duty deaths in EMS and a national EMS accountability system. We are excited to join them in focusing attention on the accomplishments of all EMS personnel, and educating the community at large about the need for improved safety standards, injury prevention, disability tracking and death benefits for EMS personnel and their families.
Please join us in honoring EMS personnel and our late co-worker, Capt. David DeLand, by supporting our team’s participation in the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride. Funds raised will be used to offset the cost of the team’s participation and proceeds will be donated to the NEMSMBR’s Fallen Angels Fund. Monies in the Fallen Angels Fund are distributed to the families of line of duty death providers via scholarships or direct distributions.
So, how can you support Lake-Sumter EMS’ participation in the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride? We have a fundraising goal of $1,000 per rider. Your donation, of any size (no amount is too small or too large!), can be made by writing a check to Lake-Sumter EMS – please write EMS Memorial Ride in the memo section! John Simpson is spearheading this effort, so checks can be directed to him.
Thank you for considering this wonderful opportunity to honor Capt. David DeLand and others who have paid the ultimate price on duty in EMS! Questions? Please call John Simpson at 352-383-4554.
