As Hurricane Irma hammered Florida Sunday about 200 cyclists and others in our area paused to honor emergency personnel. The I & I Firefighters Association holds a ride each year remembering those who died on September 11th, 2001. A bike blessing before Sunday’s ride included words of prayer for those handling the current crisis with Hurricane Irma.
Jamie Beaver is the Secretary-Treasurer of the I & I Firefighters Association. She works with the American Red Cross of Central Illinois and noted some volunteers from our region are helping with hurricane relief. ‘’Actually, I leave on Wednesday with my job. So, we just appreciate very much what all the first responders do – around here, throughout the country. So this is our way to honor those folks,’’ said Beaver.
Beaver added the annual ride helps local and area firefighter families. ‘’This is to help all the local firefighters that belong to our Association. So, if they have a medical need that we’re able to reach out and help our own.’’
Beaver says the rides have helped 18 to 20 firefighters from eleven different area departments.
[In the photo above the riders pause for a bike blessing and pledge to the flag prior to their ride. You can click on the photos to enlarge them.]
