By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Fire services are steeped in tradition. One of those traditions is the passing of the boot when someone is in need. Great Bend firefighters have long found ways beyond the call to give back the community. Thursday’s exhibition basketball game between GBFD and the Harlem Wizards recently took on extra special meaning, but Fire Chief Brent Smith said the event was actually planned months ago.
“The Shriners contacted us about playing in a benefit game for a fundraiser for them,” he said. “We said yes, of course. Anything we can do to help the community and bring awareness to issues they’re supportive of. We put together a team, and we’ve been practicing.”
GBFD would have used proceeds from Thursday’s game to benefit the community regardless, but the unexpected death of 14-year-old Rubi Paulina Perez on April 8 gave the firefighters a special purpose to play. Firefighters voted to match the first $1,000 donated Thursday to give to Rubi’s family.
“Our community has blessed us in so many ways and supported us,” Smith said. “We sat down as a group and voted to use some of our Social and Charities outreach amongst the community. We thought what better way to do that than to put our own money where our mouth is and offer to match the first $1,000. Hopefully, the family will benefit well from that.”
A large portion of the Great Bend High School gymnasium was filled, mostly with screaming kids, for Thursday’s exhibition. The Great Bend community won the game.
