Fairview residents Perry and Shilo Wild and Pauline Broddle and Keith Lyons are now back in Fairview having delivered the Rotary ambulance to Mexico.
Broddle says, “The need is so great for this project. Over 13 years 66 vehicles (firetrucks, ambulances, schoolbuses) have been delivered to Mazatlan and area, most are used daily and are maintained with pride in top condition.
Request for 40 school buses - working with Mexican government to amend the specs on buses to be delivered (max. age of bus and gas vs diesel). These buses are not only used by the schools, but for handicapped programs/community groups etc.
Firefighters (bomberos) and ambulance operatives are all volunteers and have to raise their own funds for fuel expenses. One group (Cobras) operates six small ambulances, their base is out of an administrator’s home and he is an air traffic controller in his day job. Others are students or have regular jobs. Dispatch is out of Mexico City – a long way away!
Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) – we met five exchange students and saw the way their year as RYE has changed their lives. Pauline spent a year in Edson – she was translator for our Rotary breakfast with Mazatlan clubs.
A girl from Mazatlan had spent a year in New Zealand, is now 20 years old and attending college – we had long talks with her about the program and the impact it has had on her life and outlook, especially how now as a young adult she sees her country and its needs.
A boy from Mazatlan who spent a year in Australia and speaks English with an Aussie accent, reminding us of Travis. Two girls presently in Mazatlan on exchange from Ontario and Brazil.”
Their trip started out the first day with 801 Km on the road, arriving in Lethbridge at 7 p.m. The next day they travelled 643 km from Lethbridge to Dillon, Montana, the day after that 886 km to Beaver, Utah via Salt Lake City.
Another day saw them arrive in Lake Havasu after 606 km. on the road, the next day only 346 km because they had to have the vehicles inspected in Phoenix before taking them across the border. Day six they travelled from Phoenix to Nogales AZ (295 km) with a stop at the hospital after one member of the party fell ill and another fell when he missed a step on the fire truck, breaking his wrist.
Day seven was 272 km from Nogales to Hermosillo, Mexico – spending five hours at the Mexican border, then day eight they travelled from Hermosillo to Mazatlan (888 km).
After eight days on the road they took one day for a bit of rest – catching up on sleep and doing a little swimming and sunbathing.
The next day they re-arranged and distributed the fire gear, attending a Rotary breakfast the following day. Day 12 they were in a parade of vehicles in Mazatlan with sirens blaring, lights flashing and flags waving to city hall for ceremonial presentation of keys and speeches.
The following three days they actually delivered fire trucks and ambulances to the communities that will be using them Fire trucks to Rosario, Escuimapa, Cuiliacan, two ambulances and a fire truck to Mazatlan. Day sixteen it was time to turn around and head home.
Broddle says, “The need is so great for this project. Over 13 years 66 vehicles (firetrucks, ambulances, schoolbuses) have been delivered to Mazatlan and area, most are used daily and are maintained with pride in top condition.
Request for 40 school buses - working with Mexican government to amend the specs on buses to be delivered (max. age of bus and gas vs diesel). These buses are not only used by the schools, but for handicapped programs/community groups etc.
Firefighters (bomberos) and ambulance operatives are all volunteers and have to raise their own funds for fuel expenses. One group (Cobras) operates six small ambulances, their base is out of an administrator’s home and he is an air traffic controller in his day job. Others are students or have regular jobs. Dispatch is out of Mexico City – a long way away!
Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) – we met five exchange students and saw the way their year as RYE has changed their lives. Pauline spent a year in Edson – she was translator for our Rotary breakfast with Mazatlan clubs.
A girl from Mazatlan had spent a year in New Zealand, is now 20 years old and attending college – we had long talks with her about the program and the impact it has had on her life and outlook, especially how now as a young adult she sees her country and its needs.
A boy from Mazatlan who spent a year in Australia and speaks English with an Aussie accent, reminding us of Travis. Two girls presently in Mazatlan on exchange from Ontario and Brazil.”
Their trip started out the first day with 801 Km on the road, arriving in Lethbridge at 7 p.m. The next day they travelled 643 km from Lethbridge to Dillon, Montana, the day after that 886 km to Beaver, Utah via Salt Lake City.
Another day saw them arrive in Lake Havasu after 606 km. on the road, the next day only 346 km because they had to have the vehicles inspected in Phoenix before taking them across the border. Day six they travelled from Phoenix to Nogales AZ (295 km) with a stop at the hospital after one member of the party fell ill and another fell when he missed a step on the fire truck, breaking his wrist.
Day seven was 272 km from Nogales to Hermosillo, Mexico – spending five hours at the Mexican border, then day eight they travelled from Hermosillo to Mazatlan (888 km).
After eight days on the road they took one day for a bit of rest – catching up on sleep and doing a little swimming and sunbathing.
The next day they re-arranged and distributed the fire gear, attending a Rotary breakfast the following day. Day 12 they were in a parade of vehicles in Mazatlan with sirens blaring, lights flashing and flags waving to city hall for ceremonial presentation of keys and speeches.
The following three days they actually delivered fire trucks and ambulances to the communities that will be using them Fire trucks to Rosario, Escuimapa, Cuiliacan, two ambulances and a fire truck to Mazatlan. Day sixteen it was time to turn around and head home.
No comments:
Post a Comment