Motorcycle ride to benefit Red Cross set for April 10
By Sue Guinn LeggPress Staff Writer
slegg@johnsoncitypress.com
To help the American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee replenish funds used to provide emergency shelter, food and clothing to an inordinately large number of people who were displaced by the rash of house fires that occurred across the region this winter, Northeast Tennessee Harley dealers and other area businesses have joined forces to sponsor a benefit “Ride for the Red.”
Set for April 10, the 107-mile ride will take motorcycle enthusiasts over a meandering course through the mountains and scenic byways of Hamblem, Greene, Unicoi, Washington and Sullivan counties to help provide support for Red Cross disaster services in each of those counties and Carter, Hawkins, Hancock and Claiborne counties as well.
With house fires up nearly 30 percent in the region compared to last winter, funds are needed to provide financial assistance to people in the 10-county region who will be in need of immediate shelter, food and clothing in future emergencies.
“The American Red Cross throughout Northeast Tennessee has had a much busier than usual year of disaster response, with incidents up over 27,” Bobalik said. As more than 1,000 volunteers and 21 Red Cross employees help provide that “life changing and often life saving” response listen to people talk about their memories of homes and possessions that have been destroyed and witness their struggles to cope and to plan for the future, it challenges them to increase their efforts.
In January and February, the Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee assisted 124 victims of 36 house and apartment fires, including the victims of 21 fires in Washington, Cater, and Unicoi counties. With more than four months remaining in the current fiscal year, the Red Cross has so far responded to more than 140 emergencies in fiscal 2009-10, compared to 170 emergencies that occurred in fiscal 2008-09.
To provide that assistance, the Red Cross relies on funding from local United Way campaigns and individual contributions. The need for donations is constant, especially as resources are depleted.
To help, Food City and Pepsi have joined Smith Brothers Harley-Davidson and Jim’s Motorcycles of Johnson City and Colboch Harley-Davidson of Morristown, Outback Steak House and Hardees in sponsorship of the Ride for the Red benefit.
The event will begin with a free check-in breakfast provided by Hardees to get under way at 8:30 a.m. at the Coboch Harley-Davidson shop at 1830 Davy Crockett Parkway, (US Highway 25E), located about 1 mile north of US Highway 11E in Morristown.
The ride will begin at 10 a.m., starting at Colboch, and end about 3:30 p.m. in the Eastman parking lot located next door to the regional Red Cross office in Kingsport where more than $1,000 in door prizes will be awarded. Pepsi will provide cold drinks at all stops along the way and Outback will provide dinner afterward.
The entry fee is $25 per driver before April 10 and $30 per driver on the day of event, and $15 for passengers through Friday and $20 per passenger Saturday through April 20. Free Ride for the Red T-shirts will be provided for all registered participants. Additional T-shirts will be available for $10. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross for local disaster services.
Registration forms and more information about the ride and about the work of the American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee are available online at www.redcrossnetn.org.