- November 26, 2024
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When there’s an emergency on the beach, lifeguards depend on their ATVs to get to the scene quickly.
“This is our primary source of rescue,” said Tom Gillin, parks and recreation director and lifeguard-in-chief for the city of Flagler Beach. “It’s the fastest way to get around on the beach, so it's important that it’s reliable.”
The city currently has two ATVs that are used to patrol the beach, both about are about 5 years old. But because of the rough conditions on the beach, the vehicles don’t have long life spans, and are in need of replacement.
That's what prompted Sax on the Beach, a fundraising event that was held Saturday, Oct. 6, at Veterans Park, to raise money toward a new ATV. The Tom Cellie Quintent played jazz music as locals spread out across the lawn and ate a free dinner from Woody’s Bar-B-Q.
Lifeguards accepted donations from attendees and raised about $300 toward a new ATV, which will cost around $5,000.
“Their ATV only works half the time,” said Cindy Turner, a senior account manager for Beach 92.7 FM, which helped facilitate the event along with Mercedes-Benz of Daytona Beach and other local sponsors. “We need to get it replaced.”
