Why Ride? Susan Erwin

October 10, 2007 - Eric Hanson was tragically killed in the line of duty. This was sobering to many of us who work in EMS. It reminded us that this job is not only physically and emotionally difficult but is dangerous as well. When the opportunity to ride 600 miles in 6 days from New York City to Roanoke, VA in memory of Eric was offered I was honored to ride. Though I never met Eric, I feel a great sense of dedication to committing his name in the National EMS Memorial. Together with my team we are riding for Eric Hanson.

Without the support of friends & family and colleagues & teachers, I would not be were I am at today. I ride for you.

I ride for my EMT instructors Maxine and Darryl and for my Paramedic instructors Jane, Dan, and Karen - without their patience in a young kid I never would have made it out of Paramedic school. Thank you for your confidence in me! This ride is for you.

I ride for Marty, Shawn, Russ, Kris, Molly, Nash, Terry, Scott, Gale, Traci, Dan, Desira - my classmates from the Austin Community College class of 1990 - this ride is for you.

I ride for the best partner I ever worked with, Dave Kingdon – Aloha, Dave, I hope you are living the dream in Maui! I will see you next year on the ride, but for now this ride is for you.

I ride for the best boss I ever had who taught me “we aren’t makin’ pencils here” - when I get done with this ride I think I will be ready to fish for awhile. This ride is for you.

I ride for all the strong women at Austin-Travis County EMS - Vikki, Dani, Cathy, Carol, Jan, Millie, Traci, Teresa, Heather, Kelli- You ladies are awesome and an inspiration to women in EMS! This ride is for you.

I ride for the late but never forgotten Mike Becker who taught us “there is no cryin’ in EMS.” This ride is for you.

I have many blessings and need to thank several people who have helped me train for the grueling 6 days 600 miles:

First off my team. Tree, Cheryl, Mark and Aaron you are the greatest!

Jason - Thanks for the great advice on how to get through a 6 day, 600 mile ride “just keep peddling.” Your spirit and dry humor will most definitely be with us on the ride.

Marie - you rock even though you can’t count. Thanks for pushing me beyond my capabilities to help me achieve this adventure.

Stacy and Shana - you are the 2 best friends a person can have. Thanks for always being there, your friendship means the world to me.

To my riding buddies, Tina and Kris - when I get back I think I will take up swimming for the summer.

To everyone who bought a Memorial Pin - your support will be the reason we will make it into Roanoke.

To Austin-Travis County EMS, Austin-Travis County EMS Employee Association, Bicycle Sport Shop, Jo’s Coffee, and CLEAT for supporting the team.

To my family, Nathan, my son, Mary, Joe, David and Daniel - my brothers and sister – Yes, I have lost my mind but thanks for supporting me anyhow. Nathan, you are the best son a mom could ever have! To my siblings, you rock - Clay and Deb, Vonda and Tanya I didn’t forget about you - thanks for being there, too!

And finally a big thanks to MJ - without your support I would never made it out of Paramedic school - Thanks for always being there through all the broken bones, surgeries, and enduring my dysfunctional family. Much love to you! When I get back I will be ready for some of your homebrew and a day at the spa.

Madonna del Ghisallo the patron saint of cyclist we pray to you - be with us while we ride. Protect us on the long roads, relieve us from dange r and lead us to safety. Amen.

Susan Erwin

The Highlander Newspaper Ride Coverage (Marble Falls, TX)

Paramedics plan memorial bike ride
Eric Hanson reason for Eastern seaboard ride

By Angela Timmons
Highland Lakes Newspapers

Enrolled in Austin Community College’s paramedic program, Eric Hanson was a quiet student.
But everything he did was kind and generous, said Tree Marsoobian, who graduated ACC’s program with Hanson in 2005.
“His passion for others was evident every day,” Marsoobian said.
Now, Marsoobian, an Austin-Travis County paramedic, has borrowed from that passion and formed a team to ride from New York City to Roanoke, Va., in May in honor of her classmate.
Hanson, a Marble Falls Area EMS paramedic from Austin, died Oct. 10, 2006, at the age of 26 while returning from an emergency call to Austin. With him was fellow MFAEMS paramedic Kyla Wilson, also of Austin, who suffered multiple injuries and has since elected to move to Oregon.
The MFAEMS ambulance Hanson was driving westbound on SH 71 early that morning was struck by Spicewood’s Troy McVey, 36, who was driving east on the highway and lost control of his pick-up truck. Hanson died at the scene and McVey died later that morning from accident-related injuries.
The May ride is part of an EMS Memorial Bike Ride which Marsoobian became aware of about a week after Hanson’s Oct. 13, 2006, funeral.
An avid cyclist, Marsoobian saw the memorial ride as a perfect way to commemorate her fallen classmate.
“On a personal level, I wanted to do this for Eric and I’ve always enjoyed taking something that affected me personally and coupling that with an incredible physical challenge,” Marsoobian said. “I think we were all affected by this one.”
So Marsoobian assembled colleagues Randy Vickery, Aaron Langford, Susan Erwin, Cheryl Bakhtiari and Mark Hawkins to form the team.
Also riding with Marsoobian is Heather Bucklin, a Guardian EMS paramedic. The team also welcomes additional riders for the May 20-26 event.
“I thought this was a great way to do something in honor of Eric,” Marsoobian said.
In the meantime, the team seeks donations to fund its participation in the ride. The team is selling pins in honor of Hanson and accepting tax-deductible donations.
“We need to raise as much as we can,” Marsoobian said.
The team updates its blog almost every day, Marsoobian said, and checks for donations.
MFAEMS Operations Director Johnny Campbell said the bike ride is an appropriate way for Hanson’s peers to commemorate his life.
“I think it’s great that they’re doing that,” he said. “It’s a wonderful tribute to Eric and his family.”

Why Ride? Aaron Langford

I have had the privilage of being a paramedic for the past 5 years. In that time, I have met a lot of amazing people and have been a part of two uniformed funerals. I didn't know Eric personally, but his influence and strong spirit is evident when talking with his coworkers and classmates. When I heard about this ride, I immediately knew it was something I wanted to be a part of! What an amazing and special way to commemorate and honor those paramedics who have died in the line of duty. Although this year we will ride with Eric's memory foremost in our minds, we will carry with us in our hearts the memories of all those brave souls who have answered the calls on those dark, dreary nights… and who have made the ultimate sacrifice. It's participating in events like this that make me realize what an honor and privilage it is to be a part of this crazy, hectic, always changing and very often maddening life-style we know as EMS.

Aaron Langford