Local Lions heard from CRH Foundation director Marian (Shiever) Gilkerson regarding the 2nd annual charity golf event to be held May 16th at the Cushing Country Club.
Funds raised from this event will go toward training members of the Cushing Fire Department to become paramedics. Last year, the first such event raised a total of $28,000 – although a portion of those monies did come in from the CRH auxiliary. Three members of the fire department recently started the paramedic program and another three are in line to start in a few months. Prior to the program, one member of the department took it upon himself to become a paramedic and another is close to completion.
“These guys knew this is where we were heading one day and took it upon themselves to get the training,” Fire Chief Brent Kerr said.
Kerr accompanied Gilkerson to answer questions about the paramedic program. He not only spoke highly of the foundation, but commended the City, the guys themselves and Central Tech, who went out of their way to create the paramedic training program that was needed. Not only does it save on travel time – typically they would have had to travel to Oklahoma City or Tulsa for such training – but it saves on expenses.
According to Gilkerson, the cost difference is about $2,000 per person.
“And,” said Chief Kerr, “the guys are just eight miles up the road should we need them.”
Why the need for paramedic training anyway?
“It came to our attention,” Gilkerson explained, “when we discovered some patients were having to wait an extended period of time to travel by ground. It wasn’t anyone’s fault – there just wasn’t enough trained personnel.”
(Some patients are not allowed to travel without an R.N or paramedic to monitor and administer drugs. While air ambulance is often an option, on low visibility days, this becomes impossible)
It was at that point that Gilkerson asked what needed to be done and how the foundation could help.
.”Besides relying on the city, the fire department, Central Tech and the foundation, we knew we’d have to rely on the community as well,” Gilkerson said.
That is how the golf event was born.
The 2nd annual Charity Golf Event will be held May 16 – tee time 8 a.m. at the Cushing Country Club.
Gilkerson reported that some have already committed to this year’s event, but there is still a need for more.
Those who have already committed are:
Cushing Masonic Lodge has committed to $2500 plus assistance in organizing
Cushing Regional Hospital: $2000 plus
Geographic Club $2500
Central Tech $2000 in vouchers
Cushing Regional Hospital auxiliary – $13,000
“The deadline to enter is April 16th,” Gilkerson said. “We still need teams, hole sponsors, corporate sponsors and even folks to donate goodies for the goody bags.”
For more information contact Marian Gilkerson at 918-225-8125 or via email: [email protected] or Bob Felts at 918-225-1875 or via email: [email protected]
***
