After the recent wildfires in Napa Valley, three local organizations are joining forces to support first responders who have helped the area survive the recent glass fires and other disasters.
The CLIF family winery in Napa Valley, the Capo Cycling Apparel in Northern California and Italy, and the North Bay cycling race producer Ride Napa Valley have teamed up to launch a customized California Love bike kit.
Riding equipment includes men’s and women’s sweatshirts and shorts, designed specifically to raise funds for First Responders Resiliency, Inc., a non-profit organization based in North Bay.
“Biking and activism go hand in hand,” Rebecca Kotch, owner of Ride Napa Valley, said in a statement.
Ride Napa Valley collaborated with CLIF Family Winery and Capo to launch fundraising #NapaStrong riding equipment for the first time in 2018. This effort raised nearly $13,000 for local non-profit organizations in Napa County. After the 2019 fire, these three groups are once again ready to support the community, this time focusing on non-profit organizations that are dedicated to benefiting people with mental health needs and first responders.
“When you see that your entire state is burning, you know that almost every firefighter or police team is actively involved in managing these disasters, which is as much as mental energy and physical energy,” Koch said.
While researching the benefits associated with first responders, Kotch discovered the First Aider Resilient Company through Congressman Mike Thompson. He is also an avid cyclist and has worked with FRRI on Tubbs, Paradise and Kincade fires.
“Once again, our region and our region are being hit by fires. But I know that we will unite to help each other rebuild, recover, and return in a stronger way. I am proud to support this effort, which will To benefit our incredible first responders and demonstrate the strength and the true nature of the community that unites Napa Valley in difficult times,” Congressman Thompson said in a statement.
First Responders Resiliency, Inc. is a group of first responders and first responders. The non-profit organization is established by paramedics, firefighters, dispatchers, and other law enforcement and medical professionals. FRRI is committed to treating post-traumatic stress disorder and related injuries of emergency personnel and their families.
“Our motto is’Take PTSD out of business™’. Every day, even in fact, we work hard to ensure that we provide emergency responders (and their families) with the support and tools they need to cope with stress. Their profession and Personal life,” Susan Farren, executive director and founder of FRRI, said in a statement.
This new California Love bike kit was originally created after the Northern California fire in 2019, but when the Covid-19 pandemic swept Europe and closed Capo’s Italian production plant in early 2020, the project was shelved. The Italian production plant is now fully operational and Capo is committed to production for late autumn or winter release.
Gary Vasconi, the co-founder of Capo, said in a statement: “We know that many of our cyclists are also police, firefighters and EMTs. The production of this kit is just one of our giving back to them. Small way.”
In 2018, the #NapaStrong kit was unveiled in a large group cycling event at the CLIF family winery, and the California Love cycling kit will be launched together with the virtual event and will be announced later. To order kits, please visit capocycling.com.
The Bohemian is an award-winning alternative news weekly serving Sonoma and Napa counties in California, with a history dating back to 1979. It is published by Weeklys, an independent publishing group owned locally in the Bay Area.
Post time: Jun-04-2021