927th ARW Chief coordinates Ride for Hospice charity

Published May 3, 2010
By Senior Airman Anna-Marie Wyant
927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Members of the 927th Air Refueling Wing and 6th Air Mobility Wing here participated in the second annual Ride for Hospice charity event at the Diamond "B" Ranch in Dade City, Fla., April 17, 2010.

Chief Master Sgt. Kymberly Corkum of the 927th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron coordinated the event with the help of members from the Pasco County Sheriffs Mounted Posse. The event involved a trail ride on horseback, lunch, and other various family activities. All proceeds benefitted the Gulfside Regional Hospice of Pasco County, Fla.

The Gulfside Regional Hospice is an organization that cares for people with any end-stage disease and accepts patients regardless of their ability to pay. The hospice offers services in many settings throughout Pasco County, including patients' homes, hospitals, nursing homes and hospice houses. Chief Corkum said charities like Ride for Hospice are important because they help fund care for patients in need.

"Hospice steps in with compassion and knowledge to help us get through the inevitable," Chief Corkum said. "They also provide bereavement services for those in need after the loved one passed. This service is free to anyone who has health care coverage or not."

Ride for Hospice accepted donations from people who participated by riding on horseback or by horse-drawn wagons along a scenic trail at Diamond "B" Ranch. While the two-hour trial ride was the main attraction, there were several other activities within the event, including pony rides and live music by two bands: Influence, and Sarge and the Aeroman, a band whose bass guitarist, Staff Sgt. Michael Daley, is a KC-135 Stratotanker crew chief with the 927th Maintenance Squadron.

"Hospice is a great organization that does great things for individuals and families all over the U.S.," Sergeant Daley said. "This is a truly important organization that means a lot to a lot of people that have been directly involved, it's great to be involved with such a fund raiser knowing that you are helping some people out."

Chief Corkum said she got the idea for this charity event after participating in the Hike for Hospice in Zephyrhills to benefit the Gulfside Regional Hospice in 2008.

"After the Hike in 2008, I have become aware of several things hospice provides other than home patient care," Chief Corkum said. "People raise money for a cure of any end-stage disease and forget that sometimes people do not have the luxury to wait for that cure and pass away."

With the help of friends, Chief Corkum launched her first Ride for Hospice in April 2009, earning more than $7,200 for the organization. That amount was the goal again this year, and it was exceeded, raising $10,000 with more pledges and donations to come, Chief Corkum said.

"We raised the money to help families and to provide a community service of enjoying a day of fun for anyone who loves horses or the countryside," she said.
Chief Corkum's interest in helping raise funds for hospice also comes from a personal experience.

"This is important to me because when my grandfather in Pennsylvania passed away over seven years ago, hospice was there to provide patient care in his home," she said.

Chief Corkum said her husband Donald, a volunteer with the Pasco County Sheriffs Mounted Posse, helped her tremendously with event coordination. Some of her fellow 927th ARW Reservists and 6th AMW active-duty mission partners also volunteered their time and services to make the event a success. She said everyone helped out with tent set up, parking details, registration, children's activities, clean up and serving food.

Recently retired Chief Master Sgt. William Fields, former superintendent for the 927th Maintenance Group, volunteered at Ride for Hospice with his wife and son. He said they worked to set up tents and signs for the event Friday, then worked a booth to sell raffle tickets and memorabilia Saturday. Chief Fields said he was unavailable to volunteer at last year's Ride for Hospice, but he and his family were available and more than happy to help out this year.

"My wife and I strongly support the hospice," Chief Fields said. "They're angels on earth."

Altogether, approximately 120 riders and 280 other people showed their support for the Gulfside Regional Hospice. Overall, Chief Corkum said this event was a great success for a great charity.