Local bike ride raises record amount for volunteer fire depts.
By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
This year’s Sloan Everett Pure Country Pedal Memorial Bike Ride raised over $100,000 for Stephens County volunteer fire departments, almost twice as much as last year’s event.
It was the 10th annual bike ride held in memory of Sloan Everett, a Breckenridge man who died in a wildfire while trying to save cattle on his family’s ranch in the Texas Panhandle. Everett and two others died in March 2017. That fall, his family joined the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce in honoring his memory with a non-competitive bike ride.
Jim Everett, center, talks to the volunteer firefighters gathered at the Breckenridge City Park on Nov. 2. The Everett family presented the three local volunteer fire departments with donations on behalf of the Sloan Everett Memorial Foundation. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Two years later, the family turned the event into a fundraiser to benefit local volunteer fire departments. That first fundraising year, the bike ride raised a total of $13,136.20. Each VFD received $4,378.73.
Each year, the amount of funds raised has increased, but this year it was a dramatic increase.
The 2026 bike ride raised $100,568.40, more than $46,000 over last year’s total of $54,014.52.
Each of the volunteer fire departments — Hubbard Creek VFD, Wayland VFD and Caddo VFD — received a check for $33,522.80. Several members of the Everett family presented the donations in a ceremony at the Breckenridge City Park last week.
The VFDs can use the funds for whatever they need, including fuel, equipment, insurance, etc.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years now, and I really believe that the bike ride gains momentum every year,” Jim Everett, Sloan’s father, said at the check presentation last week. “We have more bikers wanting to ride, coming to ride, we’re making more money, and we’re trying to preserve all of that we can for you guys. … We love that our son is remembered, and we enjoy doing it. We enjoy doing it because of the friendships we’ve made with all of you all and a lot of the bikers.”
The Everett family unveils the “big check” showing the total amount raised by the 2026 Sloan Everett Pure Country Pedal Memorial Bike Ride — $100,568.40. Pictured from left are Jim Everett, Elizabeth Everett, Teresa Everett, and Ronnie Elder with the Caddo VFD. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
The volunteer fire departments, along with the Breckenridge Fire Department, Breckenridge Police Department and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, also help with the logistics of the race on the day of the event, assisting with traffic control, helping bike riders along the designated routes, etc.
“Y’all do more work to make this happen than anybody,” Everett told the volunteer firefighters gathered in the park. “We couldn’t put it on without all y’all volunteering to put signs with the routes, etc., etc. And so, thank y’all very much for helping us pull this off. … And, thank you guys again for what you do to help protect our community from fire – property, livestock, and lives.”
Elizabeth Everett, one of Sloan’s sisters, announced the total amount of the funds raised and talked to the firefighters, also. “Well, like my dad said, I can’t say it better than he did … thank y’all so much for your sacrifice to help put this event on. Thank you for your sacrifice in a moment’s notice to go fight fires,” she said. “We’re just excited to present this to y’all, and I think Sloan will be proud of what we’re doing.”
Not only did the bike ride raise a record amount of funds for the fire departments, but, also, a record number of riders registered – 146.
Participants in the 2026 Sloan Everett Pure Country Pedal Memorial Bike Ride take off from the start line in the Breckenridge City Park on Oct. 3. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
The fundraiser reaches beyond the borders of Stephens County, bringing in bike riders from all over the state of Texas, as well as some from New Mexico. And, this year, two men from Spain participated. They are temporarily living in Odessa as part of a visiting teacher program and heard about the bike ride, said Teresa Everett, Sloan’s mother.
The 2026 bike ride was on Oct. 3 and included five routes, ranging in length from 4.22 miles to almost 60 miles. This year’s event also included a barbecue lunch and musical entertainment.
In addition to raising funds through the bike riders’ registrations, the Everett family also accepts other donations and sponsorships for the bike ride to boost the money for the volunteer fire departments.
Representing the Sloan Everett Memorial Foundation, the Everett family presents a check for $33,522.80 to the Caddo Volunteer Fire Department. Pictured from left are Jim Everett, Teresa Everett, Elizabeth Everett and with the Caddo VFD, Ronnie Elder, Chad Jones and Sy Mitchell. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Each of the three Stephens County volunteer fire departments received an equal share of the funds raised by this year’s bike ride. Pictured from left are Jim Everett, Teresa Everett, Elizabeth Everett and, with the Hubbard Creek VFD, Patrick Frishe, Carl Huffman, Junior Fernandez, Phillip Boone, Tom Claybrook and Tamara Boone. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
This was the 10th annual Sloan Everett Pure Country Pedal Memorial Bike Ride, and it raised a record amount of funds for the local volunteer fire departments. Pictured from left are Jim Everett, Teresa Everett, Elizabeth Everett and, with the Wayland VFD, Cecil Ramsaier, Chris Houchin, Sammy Fambro, David Fambro, G.L. Dubose and Tom Doherty. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: On behalf of the Sloan Everett Memorial Foundation, the Everett family presented a combined total of $100,568.40 to the Caddo, Hubbard Creek and Wayland volunteer fire departments. Click here to see pictures from the Oct. 3 bike ride. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
