Gary Hurt, a survivor, is focus of coming car show in Plymouth
PLYMOUTH — A special event, scheduled for the end of October, called “Walk, Roll or Cruise – It Takes A Village”, has been organized in honor of Gary Hurt's 60th birthday. So what’s so special about Gary?
About three decades ago, in relative youth, he was struck down by Guillain-Barre Syndrome that left him wheelchair bound since. Even his chances of survival at the time weren’t all that good. But he beat those odds.
Hurt regrouped his life. Along the way he developed an interest in car shows as an avocation.
He uses leg braces to help him to transfer from his vehicle to either a standard or electric wheelchair. But that isn’t all he does. You will often see him onboard his riding lawn mower, doing chores around the village to help out. Nothing seems to deter him.
If he isn’t doing something for the village, where he is a member of the village board as a trustee, you might see him transporting Amish to their various job sites in the area. Catching up with him can be a challenge.
He is particularly well known in the local area for his car show organizing which includes a spring show on his own property and the Old Settlers’ Car Show.
Samantha Farlow is serving as an organizer for this event. Farlow is, to a degree, a story of tenacity herself. She survived a bad bout with COVID-19 while she was pregnant. She was in a coma for a period, but fought back. She gave birth to a healthy child.
She became determined to pay ahead for the help she received in her crisis and was likely the impetus for this month’s special event.
So here’s the deal on this special event. Registration deadline for the event will be on Oct. 18, with the event being held on Saturday, Oct. 29, starting at 9 a.m. with starting point at 1881 Pleasant Alley (just off Plymouth Square) in Plymouth.
The event will include a 5K and one mile fun run, walk/run.
Registration is $25, with that including an event T-shirt. The shirts are also available for $3 each. Registrations can be dropped off at either KD’s Coop in Plymouth or the Marine Bank in Augusta, with the racer’s name and shirt size. They also have the option of calling Farlow at 309-333-4564 for more details.
Proceeds from the event will be given to provide equipment and technology upgrades for Gary, with any remaining funds being donated to the Guillan Barre Syndrome/Chronic Inflammatory Dymyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy Foundation to assist the victims of this debilitating illness.
This article originally appeared on The McDonough County Voice: Gary Hurt, a survivor, is focus of coming car show in Plymouth
