By Julie R. Johnson
Corning Observer
CORNING, California — From sorrow and grief comes generosity. When Ronnie Lee King died in his teen years from a lifelong medical condition, his family was understandably devastated. But like many, Ronnie Lee’s Tehama County family chose to turn their loss into giving through the Ronnie Lee King Memorial Ride hosted by the Lassen Riders Gold Wing Touring Association, of which Ronnie’s grandfather, Dennis Garton, is a member.
During a recent Tehama County Board of Supervisors meeting, the Corning Volunteer Fire Department was the recipient of the commitment to Ronnie Lee’s memory in the form of a $1,000 donation.
Presenting the donation was Ronnie Lee’s grandmother, Jeannie Garton, and mother, Shelley McCullough.
Garton said this year was the eighth annual Ronnie Lee Memorial Ride, and the family has given away from the ride’s earnings a total of $17,000.
In addition to the CVFD donation, this year’s donations went to Tehama County Senior Nutrition and Antelope Volunteer Fire Company, each receiving $1,000, and $250 each to Tehama County Chaplains program, Tehama County Sheriff’s Explorer Post and Tehama County Young Marines.
“Thank you for letting us share Ronnie Lee’s story,” Garton said. “I’d like to say thank you to the local businesses and community who donate, especially the Red Bluff Sunrise Rotary for their $1,000 donation.”
She added, although Ronnie Lee’s life was short, he taught family and friends somethings that “we try to use everyday. A few of those is to be kind, help others along the way, be patient and sprinkle gratitude everywhere you go.”
Corning Fire Chief Martin Spannaus said his department is using the donation to purchase a new pulse oximeter which is used to read a person’s oxygen saturation and heart rate.
“We use pulse oximeters on medical calls,” he added. “The new piece of equipment will be on squad seven, which is our primary medical response unit.”
Spannaus said Ronnie Lee’s family suggested the donation be used for medical equipment and the department’s volunteer firefighters “enthusiastically agreed.”
Garton said, “It was the volunteer fire companies that would respond to help Ronnie Lee and there were many times when they came to help that they didn’t have the proper equipment to help him. It is with great pride that we are able to give these donations and to make sure that the next person the volunteer firefighters help they will have the right equipment.”
Copyright 2016 the Corning Observer