With Wolford hurt, toy ride still goes on
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As the chairman and founder of the annual fund raiser designed to benefit needy children, it is usually Wolford leading the charge, making rounds around the county to ask for business donations and getting the word out.
This year, he was injured in a motor vehicle accident Nov. 4 after being hit in a head-on collision. He suffered serious injuries to his arm and has been recuperating for the past several weeks.
Those factors have caused him to not be able to get out like he has in the past. But shortly after the accident, several people, including Gail Wolford, Ron Hillis, Shelda Hall, Scott Cantrell, Ralph Pierce, Rhonda Hillis, Jeremy Williams and a number of others, stepped up to help out.
They have made this year’s toy run possible, Wolford said, adding a personal note of thanks to all who have helped either solicit donations or contribute in other ways.
Wolford said when he first starting asking for donations for the toy ride six years ago, businesses were skeptical.
“I would pull up on my bike and they’d be locking the doors wondering what we were there for, but now everybody has kind of figured out what we’re doing. They know it’s a good thing and they know what we’re doing it for and the businesses have really accepted it big time and everybody is helping out and that’s why it’s been such a success through the years,” he said.
“But this year, I was terrified it wasn’t going to happen because I got put in the hospital, but these people took it and ran with it and we’re actually going to have more sponsors this year than we’ve ever had, so I’m looking for a good year.”
The toy ride gets under way Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. at Lowe’s parking lot. For more information, contact 473-7307 or 247-4217.