Main Street Cruises for a Friend

Sheri Allen Rider is someone many people know by voice, if not in person.  If you only know her by voice, then she is someone you have relied upon in your life, just as she is for the hundreds of people who turned out at the Liberty dealership on Saturday to support her battle against cancer.  Rider is a dispatcher, and has been at least as long as Dan Squires has been the Chief of Police.

The thing about dispatchers, fire fighters, police officers, and EMTs is that it’s very difficult to directly quote much of what they have to say in a family-friendly paper.  

The Main Street Cruisers have been putting on a Cruise for a Cause event annually, to honor one of their own, or one who quickly becomes their own, who is dealing with a serious medical situation.  

This is the fourth year that the group has held the event, and each time for those facing cancer.  Sheri joins Tyson, Marty, and Krew on the esteemed list.  One of the organizers, Ryan Carpenter, explained that the Cruise for a Cause had started pretty organically.  “We did it for Ty and we were like ‘Man, that was cool.  We need to do it again.’”

Another member of the Main Street Cruisers, Dan Squires, was also involved in making this year’s event for Sheri.  “Squires, when he started as the Fire Chief, Sheri was the dispatcher on his very first fire, and they’ve been together ever since.  One day he told me that Sheri had cancer, and I asked what we could do.  So he said, ‘Cruise?’ and I said ‘Absolutely—why not!’”  

Afterward, there was a period of putting the word out and gaining some raffle item donors, which happened in short order.  “And it all came together pretty quick, and that’s what’s awesome about this community.  Probably half of the people here might not recognize Sheri, but they just want to help.  There are other groups doing some other fundraising, and it’s just awesome.” 

Emergency responders are a tight knit group, and the presence of so many of them at the fundraiser was a testament to that fact.

The food, space, and cooking skill was donated by Liberty.  As a fundraiser sponsored by the Main Street Cruisers, the location was spot on and a great facility for managing crowds that size with an indoor and outdoor component to the event.  “I know the guys that run the Car Club,” Liberty general manager Evan Wilson said.  “And we agreed this would be a great place for it.  It used to get used when it was an empty lot, and this is even better.”

Depending on who you talk to, Sheri is either very shy or…not so shy.  In any case, she explained a bit about a catchphrase she has adopted for her battle, and one that many of those at the event were happy to shout along in encouragement.  According to Sheri, the phrase originated with Chief Deputy Russ Roper, who, in the course of a call which is being redacted for purposes of the public record and my own skin, he said that he needed to “put that b**ch in the ditch,” referring to his vehicle.  It’s an evocative phrase, and it certainly captures the complex mix of emotions—defiance, anger, frustration, courage, and hope—that go along with a serious medical fight.

“I go do my sixth treatment starting Tuesday,” Sheri Rider explained.  “I just took his phrase, and that’s what I’m calling this cancer.  So, after Friday this b**ch will go in the ditch!” Sheri said.  “Hunter Goodenough—I can’t thank that kid enough.  He’s the one who saved my life.  He was my doctor and said ‘we’re going to do this and this and this and get you taken care of.’  And I personally think and feel that the reason that I’m still here is because he moved so quick.  I go back for my last treatment, and right now one of the tumors is completely gone, and the other is shrinking.”

Before too long, shy or not, Ryan Carpenter brought Sheri up to the microphone.  “There’s a lot of people out here you don’t know,” he said.  “And that’s what makes Caribou County and Soda Springs so special.  There are so many people who wanted to come out and help, and show you that you aren’t alone.  You’re not in this on your own.  We sent out the call and they answered it.

For those of you who don’t know, Sheri’s given a lot of her life and work years to service.  She’s been an EMT, and a dispatcher for 26 years.  As a dispatcher when people are having probably one of the worst days of their life, hers is the first voice they hear when they need help.  And so, we just want to let you know we love you, we’re here for you, and whatever way we can help you we will.  Tonight, that happens to be money, and you’re going to accept it and you’re going to be happy about it, and we’re happy to give it!”

Sheri said, “Let me tell you a little story.  The day of the Car Show, Dan walked up to my brother and said ‘we need to talk.’  And Mike’s like, ‘oh no, what did the boys do?’  But no, he said ‘about your sister.  What can we do to help her?’  And Mike said, ‘don’t ask her what you can do, and don’t piss her off.’  So Dan says, ‘we want to help you because you were my dispatcher when I first joined twenty-five years ago.  Dan and I have been together twenty-five years.  This is a tough road, and I just want to thank Dan and everyone for all of your support and coming out here tonight.  This Friday, let’s put the b**ch in the ditch!”

“We love to do this for people who don’t want help,” Carpenter said.  “Sheri said to just put together a gift basket or something. But we’re not gift basket people.  You’re pretty important to a lot of people here, and some of them don’t even know it yet.”

Members of law enforcement from the local police and the sheriff’s were out in force to support Sheri, and there were a number of other civic leaders at the event from the city, county, and state government as well.

Additional popcorn and organizational support was provided by the Main Street Cruisers, who put the whole thing together.  Item sponsors were the Fraternal Order of Police, who donated the kayak, Gritton’s, who donated the pistol, Search and Rescue, and Justin Winthrop, who donated the rifle, and Travis Kunz, CPA, who donated the motorcycle. 

The raffle goods were all hot items, and the tickets still need to be confirmed as of press time.  One winner that can be confirmed is Principal and City Councilmember Rod Worthington, who won the Gullwing on the strength of his many tickets and a firm belief in statistics.  He also did not expect to win, and he politely declined an offer to be pictured riding off into the sunset with his flowing mane trailing behind him.