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By Mike Brady
www.offroadrescue.com
"Adventure Tourism" and "All Terrain ResQ Team"
Work Together at Eastern Kentucky Charity Trail
Ride and Live County Music Concert!
BUCKHORN, KENTUCKY
Fall 2008
"All Terrain ResQ Team" members prepare to
deploy ahead of 28 mile trail ride.
At 7:00 AM on a late fall Sunday morning in
Southeastern Kentucky, twelve members of the
Grapevine – Chavies Volunteer Fire Department’s
"All Terrain ResQ Team" assembled at a Breathitt
County farm near Crockettsville. Members
brought with them several 4X4 all terrain
vehicles, and other specialized rescue
equipment, needed to provide off-road rescue
services to participants at what was planned as:
"An attempt to break the
'World's Record' for the most ATVs in one line!"
Following registration and the ATV parade,
all participants enjoyed the opening of
Kentucky's latest addition to ‘Adventure
Tourism’ – the new "Buckhorn Trailhead."
Leading to the East Kentucky Trail System, this
recently completed 28 mile segment consist of
scenic off-road trails which run near the Perry
and Breathitt County lines. Eventually, it will
be part of a network covering five Southeastern
Kentucky counties.
This was the first large crowd event for
GCVFD's new 4X4 YAMAHA Rhino 450 side-by-side
and an ‘All Terrain ResQ Trailer’ acquired
earlier this year though a $10,000 grant from
the ‘YAMAHA Motor Corporation, USA’ and ‘Andy's
Cycle Sales’ of Hazard [
www.andyscyclesales.com ], in Bonnyman,
Kentucky.
With several hundred off-road vehicles
participating, and potentially over 1000 riders
on the trail, GCVFD’s 'ATV / Off-Road ResQ Team'
was on standby for emergency responses should
participants require medical assistance during
the trail ride. Also on hand was a 2008
"MERV" 4X4 Mini-Emergency Response Vehicle, set
up for ‘Advanced Life Support’ on the trail,
plus a second ATV and 'All Terrain ResQ Trailer'
provided by ///EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT [
www.eeresq.com
] of Independence, KY.
In all, the Grapevine – Chavies VFD's new
'ATV / Off-Road ResQ Team' deployed four ‘YAMAHA
Rhinos’ with two rescuers each, plus two 'All
Terrain Res-Q Trailers.’ Additionally, a ‘MERV’
carrying a Rescue Technician, a Paramedic and
EMT for ‘ALS’ care during this event was staffed
by the Perry County Ambulance Service.
None of this would have been possible without
the assistance of Yamaha Motor Corporation,
Andy's Cycles of Hazard, and ///EMERGENCY
EQUIPMENT.
This event was a joint effort by the country
music artist "Halfway 2 Hazard" and the Tourism
Commissions of Perry and Breathitt Counties.
Riders were expected from all over the region,
as well as from several adjoining states.
At registration, it was found one couple
traveled from Ontario, Canada, to participate.
The ride started at 10:15 AM and concluded at
3:00 PM but the family oriented fun didn't stop
there.
At 5:00 PM, a live charity concert featuring
country music artist "Halfway 2 Hazard" and
‘special guest’ began. Proceeds from this
live concert, and a silent auction associated
with the event, will benefit the nearby Buckhorn
Children's Center. With the generosity of
thousands of participants and hundred's of
volunteers, this event raised $100,000 in
support of programs for troubled children
provided by the center.
Grapevine – Chavies Volunteer Fire Department’s
"All Terrain ResQ Team" members at the concert.
During a break in the music, Kentucky's Lt.
Governor Daniel Mongiardo addressed the crowd.
He applauded the charity trail ride and concert
as an excellent example of how the advent of
"Adventure Tourism" will bring greater
prosperity to this historically depressed region
of Southeast Kentucky.
For more information on next year's ‘Halfway
2 Hazard’ Charity Trail Ride & Concert visit the
Perry County Tourism Commission at
www.perrycountytourism.com.
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