Spartanburg, SC - May 20 marks the start of National Emergency Medical Services Week, a tradition of honoring a critical segment of first responders in the U.S. for more than forty years. This year’s celebration theme is EMS Strong – Stronger Together. During EMS week and every week, Mary Black Health System-Spartanburg is grateful for the local and regional EMS professionals – and all first responders – for the lifesaving roles they play during crises both big and small.
To recognize the sacrifice of fallen EMS professionals, a brief memorial service is planned on the hospital campus this Saturday, May 19 at 7:45 a.m., just before cyclists begin the second day of the 9th Annual S. C. EMS Memorial Bike Ride at 8 a.m..
Each year, the three-day, long-distance ride honors and celebrates the Emergency Medical Services personnel lost the previous year. The significance of those lost cannot be minimized, and while they will be dearly missed, their legacy lives on in the spirit of those who continue to serve. More than 30 bicyclists and hundreds of support personnel will honor EMS as the riders pass through ten South Carolina counties – including Spartanburg - May 18 - 20. They will be escorted by EMS county services, city and county police, state highway patrol and fire departments.
This year, the bicycle route begins at the York Fire Department, in York, South Carolina on Friday, May 18, and ends on Sunday in Sandy Run, South Carolina at the EMS Memorial in Calhoun County. Rain or shine, the riders will begin the second day of the journey from the Mary Black hospital campus in Spartanburg. If weather permits, Regional One will fly over the start of the race, where there will be SEMS (Safety & Environmental Management Systems) and transport trucks, ladder trucks holding a flag for the start of the ride, and Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office escorts.
The community is invited to join us Saturday, May 19 at 7:45 a.m., to help us say thank you.