Father and Son Ride Bicycles Across the Country Raising Funds to Replace Rural Town’s 1978 Fire Truck

Hugh Evans and Alex Turanski, a father and son team from Penobscot, Maine, will be riding bicycles across the country this summer in support of their home town’s volunteer fire company. Their goal is to raise $150,000 for a new fire truck to replace an outdated 1978 Mack.

Penobscot, ME, April 09, 2015 --(PR.com)-- A new truck will cost the town over $250,000. Penobscot is a small town on the coast of Maine. The town has been putting aside funds for a new truck for 4 years, but the high cost of the truck along with the rate of inflation makes saving enough money for a new truck seem out of reach. Gathering pledges for each mile they ride, Hugh and Alex hope that they can raise enough to make the purchase a reality.

Beginning in early June they will be riding from Bolinas, California to Penobscot, Maine. They plan to average 80 miles per day over a six-week period, stopping when possible at local fire stations along the way.

The trip will be more than just a fundraiser. In addition to raising money, Hugh says, “I want to highlight small rural companies like the ones I serve. I want to encourage people we meet on the way to recognize and support their local departments. We rely on volunteers willing to do the training, to fight the fires, to respond to accidents, and to do the support work. In many ways this trip is bigger than a truck for Penobscot, it is a promotion for the work of volunteer fire services in general.”

As for biking across the country, Hugh says, “I took a similar bicycle trip when I was about the same age that Alex is now, riding over 13,000 miles in a year across this country and western Europe. That experience gave me a great sense of myself, and my place in the world. I can think of nothing better than to be able to share this with my son.” As for Alex , he says, “I have always looked up to my dad for doing his trip and have wanted to pursue the journey myself. Making it into a fundraiser for my town gives me all the more enthusiasm.”

Hugh, 48, has been a volunteer fire fighter with the town of Penobscot for over 15 years, serving at different times as Training Officer and Lieutenant. 20-year-old Alex is a college student and recent addition to the company. This trip will be a great opportunity to help the Town and the fire station, while giving father and son an adventure of a life -time.

The trip is approximately 3,500 miles long and the team is looking for pledges/donations for each mile they ride:

1 penny per mile = $35.00
5 cents per mile = $175.00
10 cents per mile = $350.00
25 cents per mile = $875.00
$1 = $3,500

There are 2 ways to donate:

1) Checks mailed directly to the fire department with “BIKE TRIP” in the memo line.

The mailing address is:
Penobscot Volunteer Fire Company
Attn: Treasurer
P.O. Box 20
Penobscot, ME 04476

2) Gofundme online is also a good way of donating. Gofundme can be accessed through the link below or on our Facebook page.
www.gofundme.com/firetruckbiketrip

Fine Print: 90% to truck, 10% to cost of trip. 100% to truck when trip is paid for.

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www.facebook.com/penobscotfiretruckbiketrip
Contact
Penobscot Fire Truck Bike Trip
Sonia Turanski
(207) 266-9530
www.facebook.com/penobscotfiretruckbiketrip?fref=ts
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