Staff Reporter

staffreporter@alltel.net

The City of Hazard and Perry County along with the Hazard Fire Department donated funds to the Perry County Ambulance Authority Friday to purchase 250 bicycle helmets that were given out Sunday during the charity bike ride at Perry County Park.

"This is a great thing," said

Hazard Mayor Bill Gorman. "We're proud to be a part of this. The City and county work together to improve the quality of life for all people. These 250 helmets will hopefully save lives."

"If it saves one kid's life it's worth one million dollars or more to the City and county. You can't put a price on a child's life," Judge Executive Denny Ray Noble said.

Matthew Couch, Director of the Ambulance service, sees this as an opportunity to get the message out that children's safety is a top priority. "We see a lot of injuries to children that could have been prevented by the use of protective equipment," he said.

"I see many tragedies of young children and am very interested in trying to help prevent that type of thing happening in the county," said Assistant Director Wanda Noble. Noble is a grandparent of two children.

The helmets were handed out Sunday at Perry County Park on a first come first serve basis during the Dustin Buckner Charity Bike Ride.