Riders on the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride’s Midwest route stopped to fuel up with breakfast catered by Winona Health and connect with their Winona Area Ambulance Service (WAAS) colleagues.
The EMS Memorial Bike Ride honors Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel who serve their communities every day, those who are injured or have health issues as the result of performing their duties and those who have died in the line of duty.
“This is a way to honor and remember those who have made a sacrifice doing the work we do,” said Andrew Teska, director of operations at WAAS. “It’s not an easy job. It can be difficult and stressful, and we want to recognize that and show our support. No one knows when they’ll need emergency medical care, but we’re here to care for our community, and we hope our community is here to support us.”
Participant Stacy Ukestad explained that riders wear two dog tags for each person in the Midwest region who lost their life as a result of their EMS work. If they meet a family member or co-worker of any of those people along the route, they give them one of the tags.
Asked why she got involved in the EMS Memorial Ride, Ukestad paused. “I do this to honor them,” she said. “We ride because they can’t.”
This year’s Midwest route with more than a dozen participants plus support people, takes riders from Chicago, Illinois, to St. Paul, Minnesota. To learn more, including information about EMS caregivers who have lost their lives, visit https://nemsmbr.org.
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