“Search & Rescue volunteers risk their lives to help others. The least we can do is make sure they have the resources they need to do their job”
A Great Day, A Great Cause!
The last few years I have had the privilege of documenting the annual “ Benefit Ride” fundraiser for El Paso County Search & Rescue. With a more than 30 year tradition this event has been a much anticipated every year by the biker community in Colorado Springs. This year we had a few new sponsors to thank for their support. J2D Electric, 5 Star Bank, Groff’s Automotive, Mountain Country, Day Lily Salon & Spa, Stargazers Theater, Wild Beauty Photo and Timber Lodge Cabins. Thank you!
The organizers went BIGGER this year. The day started in the morning with a poker-run for the motor cycles & a car cruise for the the autos. Followed by a car show and live music at Stargazers live music venue in the afternoon and evening.
The bands Abe Mac with Red Dirt Artists, Kaitlyn Kohler, local group 6035, and the Ashtonez were ALL amazing! Some local favs participated along with 2 groups that came all the way from Texas at no charge to support this event. Thanks to Timber Lodge Cabins for donating the accommodations.
Why do I get behind EPCSR? As an avid off-roader these folks are top on my list to support. They provide a valuable service to all of us that enjoy the beauty and challenges that the Colorado back country has to offer. El Paso County Search and Rescue is a non profit volunteer mountain search and rescue unit dedicated to saving lives through search, rescue, and mountain safety education. There is never a charge for their service, year round 24 hours a day. They are a non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation and are funded solely through generous public donations and grants.
EPCSAR specializes in search and rescue operations involving:
- Rescue or medical assistance
- Search for missing, lost, or overdue
- Missing aircraft, balloon, or glider
- Activated emergency locator transmitters (ELT)
- Activated personal locator beacons (PLB)
- Disaster operations (flood, blizzard/snowstorm, major fire, earthquake, tornado, etc.)
- Technical rescue/recovery, such as: high angle, ice rescue, confined space, avalanche
El Paso County Search and Rescue is a third generation organization. Its predecessors include the Mountain Aire C.B. Radio Club and the Wilderness Wanderers Search and Rescue Group organized in 1963. Over the years, the team has built its skills and accumulated the necessary equipment to become a totally self-supporting field unit capable of providing all of its needs to maintain a field operation lasting several days. The team’s inventory of mountaineering equipment, medical gear, and radio equipment is extensive and was procured over a long period of time. In 1990, the team purchased a building to serve as an operational base, training facility, and location to store group vehicles and gear.
EPCSAR maintains a roster of approximately 50 to 65 volunteer members. The team owns “Rescue Base”, which is the 9000 square foot facility located at 3950 Interpark Drive. The team currently owns and operates two first-response rescue trucks, two Terra Tucker snow cats, one utility vehicle, one personnel transport vehicle, one command & communications vehicle, one 6×6 and one 4×4 off-road vehicles.
The team members spend countless hours of their free time – and occasionally their work time – training and learning so that they will be ready to respond to a search and rescue operation on a moment’s notice. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support the EPCSAR organization.
The selfless volunteers in this organization share a strong desire to serve the community. They are individuals who have the availability and commitment to serve, are capable of working in demanding environments, work as a member of a team, can perform under stress, are self motivated, are willing to maintain a high level of skills and fitness, and are willing to do the non-glamorous work that keeps the team running.
As a Colorado resident that enjoys the back country, I am honored to be able to help support these selfless volunteers.
This fundraiser takes loads and loads of community volunteers and support to bring it all together. A special thanks goes out to all the behind the scenes dedicated volunteers and donors that spend countless hours putting all the little pieces together to make this event a HUGE success.
I hope you will join me in supporting El Paso County Search and Rescue.
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