| A little over two months ago Ryan Cleckley, a paid Paramedic/Firefighter at the Gamber and Community Fire Company, started a fundraising project to benefit the daughter of TFC Mickey Lippy, the MSP flight paramedic killed in the tragic crash of Trooper 2. This tragedy struck right at home because Mickey was also a part-time paid Paramedic/Firefighter for many years at the Gamber station. Mickey's wife Chrissy is also a paid employee of the company.
The fundraiser originally started at Gamber as well as at the Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company, Ryan's volunteer fire company. With a modest goal of $500.00, Ryan quickly realized that word had gone state-wide. It was soon realized that a larger area of sale would produce a much larger donation. About a week after the initial sales started at the fire companies, the fund-raiser went to the internet and subsequently to WBAL Channel 11 News.
The response was overwhelming. Ryan was getting orders from New York, California, Maine, you name it, and people wanted Trooper 2 decals to benefit the family. The fundraiser ran for a little over a month and at the end of November the results were tallied. In all, 3070 decals were sold and a few citizens just sent in a check to be included in the total donation. On Friday, November 28th, a cashier's check was made in the amount of $3126.00 to the Harford Financial Group which is overseeing Madison's account. A carbon copy was also presented to Chrissy Lippy.
Ryan would like to thank everyone nationwide who either purchased decals or made a cash donation. It is because of the overwhelming support that a sum this large is able to be donated. Ryan would like to thank the employees at Bank of America, Riviera Beach branch, for cashing hundreds of personal checks, and the people who had to wait in line while this was taking place. He would also like to thank his girlfriend Amy Swiger, Matt Hanks, a paid Paramedic/Firefighter at Gamber, and Heather Rodgers a volunteer firefighter at the Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company. Matt and Heather played an instrumental role in the sale and distribution at the above companies while Amy was the force behind packaging and addressing the hundreds of orders for shipping.
Once again thanks to everyone who contributed and have a safe and happy holiday! |
