PIKEVILLE – Friday was check day for Hillbilly Christmas in July, which raised a total of $81,500 this year for the Lexington Shriners Hospital.
While the 19th annual Randy Jones Memorial Hillbilly Christmas in July ride was held July 20, the event wrapped up on Friday at the Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville.
The whole event started 19 years ago when Jimmy Kinney wanted to take some toys to the Shriners Hospital and did so, but when he got there, they were beyond grateful for the gifts, especially since a lot of times they run out of toys around July of each year for all the kids who seek treatment at Shriners.
Kinney came back and with his friend, Randy Jones, “The Voice,” who has since passed away, and they jumped right to it. Randy spread the word with his radio listeners, and the next trip they delivered 2,000 toys. Building on that, the next year they raffled away a motorcycle, donated by Wes Blackburn, and since they’ve donated 17 Harley-Davidsons for the annual event.
This year, a good friend of Blackburn’s, Bill Vanhoose, won the motorcycle, but he didn’t take it home.
“Him being a big friend of Wes, he donated the motorcycle back to us in memory of Wes Blackburn, and now where we’ve in the past worked until April – Hillbilly Days – to make enough money to pay for a motorcycle,” Kinney said. “We’re going to start out in the black right off the bat. I think next year is going to be huge because we’re starting out without being in the hole – that $15,000 we had to pay. With Bill Vanhoose doing this and donating it back, that really helped us.”
Wes Blackburn passed away, then they had a man named Don Ford, who was a natural salesman and helped the organization, with Kinney attributing both of them with the success they’ve had, even since their passings.
Hillbilly Christmas in July has taken more than 50,000 toys to the Shriners Hospital in Lexington. They’ve donated the $300,000 all-access playground back to the city of Pikeville, the first of its kind in the state of Kentucky. With the money from this year, they have raised $957,500 for the hospital, collecting $81,500 this year alone, setting them up to hit their goal of $1 million in 20 years.
Kinney announced some changes to next year’s ride, being the 20th annual Hillbilly Christmas in July, partnering with Appalachian Wireless Arena, which will also be celebrating 20 years. Next year’s ride will start in Pikeville at the MineShaft Harley-Davidson on July 19, 2025, and they will leave the Harley store at 1 p.m., do their routes through Prestonsburg, Paintsville, and Salyersville, then coming back to the Appalachian Arena, planning to have one of the largest “bike nights” Pikeville has ever seen.
“We want to shut this town down,” Kinney said. “We want to make a show of it next year and I think it’s going to be a super year.”
Big Sandy Road Runners, Thacker Memorial Family, Gearheart Communications, along with all the people who individually donated, bought tickets, or helped out with the events in any way, all came together to help this year’s Hillbilly Christmas in July top last year’s numbers.
Jason Baker, UK Shriners Hospital Director of the Office of Philanthropy, said, “This group, along with their generous giving, also, of course, donates their time, they spread the word as Jimmy often says, ‘to get the word to that one child.’ I can give you an example of something I witnessed just this week. Years ago, they provided for a playground that’s sitting on the entrance of our medical center there in Lexington. Just this Wednesday morning, I was walking up, starting my day, cup of coffee in hand, I see a mother and a father sitting in the playground. I know it’s the time of day, my feel is the child is probably in surgery. They found a comfort in that space. I walk in through the double doors and here comes a little feller, not much higher than my knee, and he’s got a prosthetic leg, but with that leg, he is running, he’s out in front of nurse and out in front of momma, and he has the biggest smile because he’s heading to that playground. There’s obviously a lock on there. The mom and dad sitting there unlock that door for him, and he’s off and running. Not only do they provide for the children and the families, they also provide for peace and comfort and that’s of what we do at Shriners, is put a hug around families. Not only provide them healing, but provide them a life in a manner that is comfortable and welcoming. This group is a ‘We’ group and that comes from their heart.
They say they want to raise a million dollars, and they’re going to get there, but he truly means it when he says ‘We.’ This group cares so much -such a passionate group.”
Kinney also reminded the public of what the ride is all about – helping the children.
“If you know of a child who needs help, you do not have to have a referral from a doctor or anyone,” Kinney said. “Call the hospital direct and they’ll set you up and, if you don’t have transportation, they will call the local Shriners club and get you transportation for your child. There’s no reason why, if you have a child you’re concerned about you don’t have it checked out by Shriners Hospital and it’s all free. If you have insurance, they’ll take it, and if you don’t have insurance, you’re fine. You don’t pay a co-pay or anything. We need to find that child who needs help and let’s get it help.”
To request a new patient appointment at Shriners Hospital for Children in Lexington, call 859-268-5675 or 800-444-8314.
