This reporter heard the following statement last Saturday, October 8th, during Hurricane Matthew’s wind and rain while the annual truckers’ day was underway: “Cancer patients have to travel in all types of weather so the least we can do is to weather this stormy day for them.” I had said the same thing earlier in the day and was glad to hear it again.
The day was horrific but the camaraderie was sky high! Over 200 banners were placed on 190-plus trucks in pouring rain that never slowed.
What didn’t slow either was the number of trucks pulling into Darrin and Sheila Jones’ long driveway for this important cause. So many trucks arrived, in fact, that the latest arrivals were sent to the Phenix Elementary School parking lot that filled quickly. Drivers and their families were then shuttled back to the festivities.
Two giant tents had been erected earlier in the week to house tables and chairs for the Saturday lunch crowd. Other large tents covered the food and those serving, a separate tent for hot dogs and trimmings, another for stew, yet another for a live auction, etc. Desserts were handed out from laden tables in the back of an enclosed trailer.
If one wasn’t careful, the water overflow from the tents’ outer edges would give anyone a quick bath. The more people, the sloppier the ground became. Straw was put down and every boot and raingear company in America must have had their items displayed on folks.
All kinds and colors of boots were covered in mud and this reporter didn’t see too many “rainproof” coats. Most folks’ coats were soaked through to the skin but umbrellas really helped the situation. One fellow or two had the perfect rainproof solution by taking a large trash bag and cutting out holes for a head and two arms. The water was rolling off!
I heartedly give all workers present a colossal thank-you for jobs well done under awful conditions. Banners were placed on trucks, the crowd was well fed, the stew master served up hot stew, sweatshirt sales boomed, music played, haircuts were given, and the bidding went on along with music despite the winds and downpours. Amid all this, there was nothing but smiles, hugs and a lot of love shown.
Thank you ALL for your participation and for your generous donations. We’ll see you next year for the 17th Annual Truckers’ Parade. Meanwhile, if you haven’t yet donated and would like to, send checks to TPAC, 471 Nollie Road, Phenix, VA 23959. Please make checks payable to American Cancer Society or ACS.
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