American Legion Riders raise funds for veterans
Last year, they transported more than 2,500 local veterans to Bay Pines Veterans Hospital in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area for desperately needed medical treatment that is not available here in Lee County.
“That’s 288 trips, 57,500 miles with zero accidents,” said John Ebling, Lee County Veterans Service Officer.
Ebling was recently presented a check for $3,100 from the North Fort Myers American Leader Riders Post 336, a check that put a concentrated local effort involving many over the top.
“It was an on-going effort,” said Dan Read, ride coordinator and sgt. at arms at NFM Post 336. “Basically every non-profit veterans organization and fraternal organization in the area have donated to this project.”
The formal check presentation was held at the Cape Coral Moose Lodge on Santa Barbara on Feb. 16, with many from various areas in attendance to celebrate.
Proceeds from a recent Poker Run, which spanned North Fort Myers, Fort Myers, Bonita Beach, Gulf Coast Town Center and points between were responsible for the last $3,000-plus presented to the fund.
Sponsors locally that helped the local group both work and live in North Fort Myers and Cape Coral.
“The Riders are a group within a group,” Read said. “To be a Rider, you need to be an American Legion member and veteran first, then be part of the Riders.”
The sponsors were from a group of diverse businesses and organizations. All said veteran causes were important and that many loved riding. More importantly, they all supported the cause.
From North Fort Myers, one sponsor was Arizona Pizza Company, known for the business’ many charitable works.
Owners and managing partners Jay and Bett O’Connor said their partnership group (eight in all) was committed to this event. “The van is something that will really help veterans who have served and deserve all they can get from us. They’ve earned it,” said Jay O’Conner.
From Cape Coral, one business sponsor was Orthopedics Associates of Southwest Florida PA. Petite Cape resident Rebecca Sewell, an X-ray technician for the company, not only rides a motorcycle but also drives the van when she can.
“It’s very rewarding,” she said of the transport. “I just wish I could do it more, but we helped with the sponsorship.”
There were 10 sponsors total of the Poker Run who helped the event and van purchase a reality.
Besides Arizona Pizza and Orthopedics Associates, sponsor businesses and their representatives included LaBelle Post 130 Commander Tony Alvarez and First Vice Commander Bill Davis; Dr. Jo Anne Pelletier-Rickert and Larry Rickert of Pelletier Rickert Physical Therapy (Cape Coral and North Fort Myers); Jerry and Jencye Scmitt from Fowler Street Ace Hardware; Tony Beach of Harley Davidson of Fort Myers; Jerron Hull of Aim Engineering and Surveying and from the Hideaway Sports Bar, Tisha Mason and Brian Dodson. Other sponsors included World Famous Cigar Bar and Rental City of North Fort Myers.
Besides Read, Jack Ruskai, director of American Legion Post 336 Riders and Buddy Fields, treasurer and chaplain of Post 336 were there to present the check to Ebling.
In addition to the Poker Run, the local Legion had a raffle for a 32-inch flat screen TV.
The Disabled American Veterans organization has volunteer drivers that take the van several days a week. Sponsors all expressed how much the van will mean to many.
Sponsors and Fowler Street Ace Hardware owners Jerry and Jencye Schmitt are also members of American Legion Riders Group.
“This was important to us because it is such a good cause,” said Jerry.
“We need to get them (veterans) where they need to go because we wouldn’t be here without all of our veterans through the years,” added Jencye.
“This was absolutely a great cause for both the American Legion and the rehabilitation of our veterans,” said Larry Rickert of Pelletier Rickert Physical Therapy.
“Our next project is on March 20 for the American Legion Legacy Fund,” Read added. “It provides scholarship money for children of deceased troop members from Iraq and Afghanistan.”
For information, call his post at 543-1919.