Area volunteer fire departments receive donations from Sloan Everett Memorial Bike Ride
By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
For the second year in a row, the organizers of the Sloan Everett Pure Country Pedal Memorial Bike Ride donated thousands of dollars to the three local volunteer fire departments following the fundraising event.
The bike ride brought together more than 100 bike riders, as well as others who joined the crowd for a barbecue lunch and concert in the Breckenridge City Park on Saturday, Oct. 17. The annual event honors the memory of Sloan Everett, a Breckenridge rancher who died in a 2017 wildfire in the Texas Panhandle.
Last year, the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce and the Everett family decided to add a fundraising element to the event and chose to benefit Stephens County volunteer fire departments. When the fire overtook Sloan and two friends as they were trying to save the cattle on the Franklin Ranch northeast of Amarillo, volunteer firefighters responded to the fire that day. The Everett family wanted to recognize the invaluable role volunteer firefighters play in rural Texas.
This year’s event raised $17,850, providing each department — Wayland VFD, Caddo VFD and Hubbard Creek VFD — with $5,950. That was over 35 percent more than was raised last year.
“This year, we improved this bike ride by leaps and bounds, and it’s because of all of you,” Jim Everett, Sloan’s father, said to the small crowd gathered outside the Breckenridge Chamber on Wednesday evening to present the donations to the fire departments.
Some of the changes to this year’s bike ride included a ride through downtown Breckenridge and longer routes. “I think it was important for the riders to go through downtown, so we could get everybody to witness what’s happening, pulling more and more people in each year,” Everett said.
The event also included a a catered barbecue lunch donated by Jim Lucas and his crew of helpers and a concert by the Urban Pioneers. Additionally, the Breckenridge Police Department, the Breckenridge Fire Department and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office provided assistance throughout the bike ride.
Caddo Volunteer Fire Department Chief Campbell and Assistant Chief Sy Mitchell accept the donation from Elizabeth Everett and Jim Everett on behalf of the Sloan Everett Pure Country Pedal Memorial Bike Ride. Also pictured are Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce members Luke Grider, Carrie Holson, Whitney Stultz and Chris Curtis. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Hubbard Creek Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tom Claybrook and Johnny Wade accept the donation from the Sloan Everett Pure Country Pedal Memorial Bike Ride organizers. Also pictured are members of the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce, HCVFD and Everett family, Luke Grider, Jim Everett, Carrie Holson, Bacel Cantrell, Nick Reynolds, Junior Fernandez, Whitney Stultz, Tony Smith, Chris Curtis, Tanner Hunt and Elizabeth Everett. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cecil Ramsaier with the Wayland Volunteer Fire Department accepts a donation from Elizabeth Everett and Jim Everett on behalf of the Sloan Everett Pure Country Pedal Memorial Bike Ride fundraiser. Also pictured are WVFD and Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce members, Chris Curtis, Carrie Holson, Chris Houchin, G.L. DuBose, Brian Rogers, Jody Breasette, Walker Ramsaier, Chris Windsor, Jim Lucas, Sammy Fambro, and Whitney Stultz. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Jim Lucas and his crew of helpers, center, who donated the barbecue lunch for the 2020 Sloan Everett Pure Country Pedal Memorial Bike Ride, pose with members of the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce, Everett family and the volunteer fire departments that benefited from the fundraiser. The catered barbecue lunch was a new addition to the event this year to help increase the donations for the fire departments. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: On Wednesday evening, Jim Everett and Elizabeth Everett, Sloan Everett’s father and sister, talk to the organizers of the annual Sloan Everett Pure Country Pedal Memorial Bike Ride and the volunteer fire departments that received donations from the fundraiser. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
