A local resident who organized the area’s first-ever Ride of Honor motorcycle event of veterans and others nearly seven months ago said late last week that the fundraising effort was a success.
The resident, MaryAnn Knarr-Avery, provided a flyer showing that $21,524 was raised, with the money going to the PruittCares Foundation and to be split in half between funding local veterans initiatives and having a Camp Cocoon in Nash County.
The PruittCares Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Pruitt Health, which is an Atlanta-area-based long-term health company. The foundation has Camp Cocoon, which serves children and their families who have experienced the loss of a loved one.
Knarr-Avery said the plan is to have a second motorcycle ride on Nov. 9 to raise enough funds to to continue supporting veterans initiatives and to be able to have more children experience another Camp Cocoon at the same location.
The 2023 motorcycle ride was held on Nov. 11.
The local Camp Cocoon occurred June 1 at Ashlyn Stables off Old Bailey Highway, with 45 children — boys and girls from ages seven to 16 — attending at no charge to them and with 48 adults serving as volunteers.
“And it was fantastic,” Knarr-Avery said.
The camp provided fishing, horseback riding and swimming activities to campers, Knarr-Avery said. She said that at the end, there was release of butterflies, with butterflies being a symbol of peace.
“And they were letting them go in honor of their lost loved ones,” she said.
She also said that a grandmother of one of the children emailed her afterward expressing appreciation because the child had been depressed but was able to open up and have a great time at the camp.
Debbie Braswell, who owns Ashlyn Stables with her daughter Ashley Braswell Beebe, said in a telephone interview Sunday that the camp was well-organized.
“Everybody really seemed to have a good time,” Braswell said.
And Braswell said that Knarr-Avery and the volunteers took good care of and nurtured the children.
“I really liked it,” Braswell said of the camp. “I think it was a real good thing for the children.”
Regarding the veterans initiatives, Knarr-Avery said Thursday that plans call for honors to go to the Veterans of Foreign Wars post off N.C. 97 southwest of Rocky Mount, the American Legion Post off North Church Street in Rocky Mount and the American Legion Post off South Alston Street in Nashville.
Knarr-Avery said that the money for the veterans initiatives is going to include updating facilities among other services.
Overall, Knarr-Avery said that of the inaugural event, there were 89 motorcycles, 80 veterans registered and more than 100 participants.
Knarr-Avery said that the ride’s 2023 fundraising effort surpassed a goal of $20,000.
As for the 2024 fundraising effort, Knarr-Avery said, “My goal is $25,000.”
Mayor Sandy Roberson said in a telephone interview Sunday that veterans have served the nation and have protected freedom.
“They’ve given us the gift of freedom — and anything and everything we can do to support them is phenomenal,” Roberson said. “And I’m glad to see the city of Rocky Mount stepping up and really contributing in a sufficient way.”
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