Indian Fort Inn, in Tilden Twp., honored first responders and raised funds for the Redcay Strong fund during their First Responders Day on Saturday, Sept. 20.
The event was organized by Sandra Bixler, Indian Fort Inn manager, whose father was part of the Fleetwood Fire Department. Part of Bixler’s job is to come up with events to bring more people to the restaurant and create new business. It was her father who suggested holding an event to honor the first responders in the area.
“We wanted to show appreciation to our first responders,” said Bixler.
Bixler took the suggestion and began to create such an event. She reached out to the local fire companies not only about the event, but in hopes of finding a family or individual that the funds from the event could benefit. It was a customer that overheard her speaking about the search and suggested donating the proceeds to the Redcay Strong fund.
The fund is for Derrick Redcay, who suffered a rare stroke to his spinal cord on April 24 of this year and currently has no sensations or movement below his neck. At the time of the stroke, Derrick was a senior at Muhlenberg High School (has since graduated) and was part of the varsity baseball team as well as a volunteer firefighter with Goodwill Fire Company. He had been accepted to the University of New Haven to study Fire Science.
“We raised some money for an extraordinary young man and his family,” said Bixler in a post to the restaurant’s Facebook page.
The Redcay Strong fund had a table set up with various items to help raise money to aid Derrick in his continued recovery. Andrea Swift, co-chair of the fund, said that Derrick is doing well and still plans to attend college and work toward a degree in the fire related field.
“He gives all of us inspiration,” said Swift who shared touching stories of Derrick before and after the stroke. “The community has been incredible. Derrick demonstrates what an amazing young man he is.”
Currently the group is raising funds to help Derrick get the adaptive devices needed for him to successfully complete his college degree. Redcay Strong not only tells Derrick’s story, but also provides information on strokes.
Joining the Redcay Strong team were firefighters and trucks from Goodwill Fire Company including co-chair of the Redcay Strong fund and Derrick’s fire chief Brian Kissinger, Shartlesville Fire Company and Union Fire Company.
The goal of the event was to bring first responders and their families out for a fun filled day of great food, beverages, games for kids and adults and live music. There were raffles, a Chinese auction and 50/50 drawings throughout the event as well as face painting. Ten percent of the total food sales benefited the Redcay Strong fund.
Bixler is hoping to make the First Responders Day an annual event.
For more information on the Redcay Strong fund visit www.redcaystrong.org and for more on upcoming events at the Indian Fort Inn visit theindianfortinn.com.
