The 5th Annual Jimmy’s Truckin’ Tribute Pig Roast and Poker Run, a volunteer-driven event dedicated to raising funds to honor the life of an extraordinary young man, will take place on Saturday, August 3.
The event will take place at the Thomas Bull Memorial Park, 211 St. Rt. 416 in Campbell Hall with registration beginning at 11 a.m. and tailgates up at 12 p.m. Entry is only $10 per person for the all-day event that starts with the scenic country truck ride, followed by a Pig Roast and Bar-B-Q with LIVE entertainment provided by The Bunker Boys. It will also include a 50/50 Raffle, Tricky Tray, Cash Prize for Best Poker Hand, and a cornhole tournament! A truck is not required to participate in the poker run and participation in the poker run is not required to come out for food, music, and to gather together with family and friends to celebrate James’ life.
The committee is headed by family and friends of James Holbert. This year, our fundraising efforts are not only to help support the James Holbert Memorial Scholarship Fund which has given out since 2014 more than $3,500 in scholarship funds to graduating Valley Central High School students, but also to support the newly founded 501(c)(3) organization called Jimmy’s Helping Hands, Inc. In efforts to continue Jimmy’s legacy of assisting others, his parents had the idea to create Jimmy’s Helping Hands, Inc., which is a not-for-profit to help others in need in the community. Be it a family suffering from an unexpected illness and experiencing difficulties with medical bills, or a student unable to afford supplies, Jimmy’s Helping Hand will carry on Jimmy’s dedication to help others in need.
“Making a difference in the lives of people who need it is exactly what Jimmy would do,” explains longtime friend and event committee member Gregory Bliss, “it is an honor to continue his legacy in our community.”
The words of Bob Jurgens, a teacher at Valley Central High School, describe James perfectly: “On March 3, 2013 the Valley Central community lost one of its biggest heroes in Jimmy Holbert. A mountain of a man, Jimmy had a heart just as big as he made friends with people of all backgrounds. He was known by many names such as James, Jimmy, “Dude”, “Dawg”, “Big Country”, Holbert or “Redman”. His main mission in life was to help anyone he could and asked for nothing in return. His passion was leaving others better off than when he found them and he left an indelible mark on hundreds of people. Winners of this award possess the same spirit with a love of nature and an endless wit that makes people want to be around them. This is the fifth winner and as the years go by it means a lot to remember someone who did so much in so little time. He changed the culture around here and made us laugh at ourselves and not take things so seriously.”
To learn more about Jimmy’s Truckin’ Tribute or Jimmy’s Helping Hand including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, or to make a donation, please email us at jimmystruckintribute@gmail.com or visit us the Jimmy’s Helping Hands Facebook page.