Guns ’N Hoses aids officers in financial need

Hundreds of motorcyclists will be hitting the roads for a good cause next weekend.

Police officers, firefighters and members of the public will participate in the annual Guns ’N Hoses Benefit Ride next Saturday. The event is a 65-mile police-escorted motorcycle ride that raises money for Kansas City area public safety officers in financial need because of medical illness.

It starts at 10:30 a.m. at Westside Church in Lenexa and ends at the Worth Harley Davidson in Kansas City, with a hog roast and live music.

“Our goal isn’t to be the biggest ride in Kansas City, but the best,” said Butch Diekemper,president of the Kansas City Guns ’N Hoses committee. “We want people to just have a good time and feel good about helping out our brothers and sisters in uniform.”

The ride began in 2001 with a group of law enforcement friends who wanted to make a difference. In 2011, the ride was reorganized with nonprofit status and a committee of volunteers.

Each year, 100 to 300 motorcyclists participate in the ride.

Last year, $24,000 was raised and was evenly split among three families.

Each year, the number of recipients varies.

This year, both chosen recipients are battling cancer.

Gary Wilson, a training chief with the Overland Park Fire Department, was recently diagnosed with Stage Three esophageal cancer. He has been receiving chemo and radiation treatments and will soon undergo surgery to remove the tumor.

Jim Cossairt, a detective supervisor for the Johnson County Sherriff’s Department, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He will be undergoing chemo.

Diekemper said that while the donations raised from the benefit ride might not pay for all the medical bills, it will certainly ease the financial burden considerably.

Past recipients, such as Randy Neher, agree.

Neher, a Kansas City, Kan., firefighter and paramedic, was the recipient of an $8,000 donation from the benefit ride last summer.

The money helped pay for several back-and-forth trips required to get his infant son, Harvey, specialized medical treatment in New York City.

Harvey was born with lymphatic malformations in the floor of his mouth, a rare condition that can lead to infection, blockage of airway and facial deformities.

Fortunately, there are specialists for the condition, but only out of a clinic in New York City. The discovery was a godsend for the Neher family, but also presented them with a dilemma.

“My wife and I were agonizing over do we stay here and go to doctors who rarely deal with this condition, or do we go across the country to a group of doctors who handle it on a daily basis?” Neher said. “This donation, plus ones made from family and friends, made our decision for us and saved us from going into debt with travel costs. It took a weight off our shoulders, which is unimaginable.”

Witnessing the ride itself is another amazing feeling, he added.

“Watching the motorcycles pull up at once was pretty overwhelming,” he said. “Harvey was only five months old at the time, but he was wide-eyed and just taking it all in. He loved it. He loves people and he loves getting attention.”

Harvey — who is now 17 months old — is in good shape right now. He’s had five treatments and will still need more later on, but for now, he’s just enjoying being a typical toddler.

“He’s climbing over everything in sight and getting into things he shouldn’t,” Neher laughed. “He’s a handful, but he’s a lot of fun.”

The father of two is thankful for all the hard work done by the Guns ’N Hoses committee and volunteers.

He used to ride in the event until his daughter was born three years ago. Seeing it from the other side has been humbling.

He hopes the ride will remind people never to take anything for granted, since life throws unexpected curve balls.

“Sometimes on the route, people will hold up signs from overpasses, thanking the riders, and it almost brings tears to your eyes,” Neher said. “But it didn’t really hit me, how much this ride helps, until my own family received our donation last year. We’re so grateful beyond comprehension.”

This story was originally published June 1, 2015 at 10:24 AM with the headline "Guns ’N Hoses aids officers in financial need."