BENTON - TEAM Lafayette Co-Founder Michael Gorham will begin a solo, 90-plus-mile bicycle trip and a 20-mile march as a living memorial to two of Wiscon-sin's fallen soldiers, SGT Jakob Roelli and SSG Jesse Grindey, starting on Monday.
Gorham, 50, of Benton, is a full-time deputy sheriff for the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office and an Advanced EMT with special training in Tactical Emergency Medical Support. Monroe Police Department and Lafayette County Sheriff's Office have joined together to form an Emergency Response Team.
While honoring two of Lafayette County's soldiers, Gorham sought to raise funds for the special trauma first-aid kits for the Monroe Police Department. In 2011, Gorham had personally purchased similar first-aid kits for the patrol deputies at the sheriff's office. The kits care from North American Rescue.
Gorham wanted the kits to contain tourniquets, gauze, emergency trauma bandages and chest seals. The kits are designed for gun-shot wound victims but have other applications.
Gorham received pledges to pay for the medical kits from James Mankowski, JBM Patrol and Protection, a private security agency in the Dane County area. Mankowski, a lifelong friend and colleague of Gorham, offered to donate $15 a mile during his trek.
Timothy Young of American Family Insurance of Monroe and Alex Douglas, of Al's Towing and Recovery, have also provided pledges. Jenna Bocklund, of Crafts for a Cause in Wiota, offered assistance later in the year to assist with getting smaller agencies in Green and Lafayette counties these kits.
Gorham wanted to give donors flags, as a remembrance of their donations and to pay homage to SGT Roelli and SSG Grindey. Gorham assisted with flags donated by Bryan Hopkins, Courtney Fox and Fran Phipps-Grise. Others like Blanchardville Fire Department, EMS Captain Rainelde Raymond and retired special deputy James Kostohrys offered logistical support during the trek.
The first leg of the three-day journey will start in Benton and then to Belmont, jumping on the Cheese Country Trail until he arrives in Gratiot. On Tuesday, Gorham plans to march with a pack from Gratiot to Monroe. On the and final day, Wednesday, Gorham will ride up the Badger State Trail to Madison, finishing at the Law Enforcement Memorial at the State Capitol. The trip is estimated to be a 110-mile journey.
TEAM Lafayette began as an idea between Gorham and James Johnson, a Darlington firefighter and Iraqi War vet. They were later joined by Dean Johnson, James Johnson's brother, and also Iraqi War vets. Gorham served in the Army during peacetime.
It was designed to be a way for public safety officials and their supporters to honor SGT Jakob Roelli and SSG Jesse Grindey.
Gorham, 50, of Benton, is a full-time deputy sheriff for the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office and an Advanced EMT with special training in Tactical Emergency Medical Support. Monroe Police Department and Lafayette County Sheriff's Office have joined together to form an Emergency Response Team.
While honoring two of Lafayette County's soldiers, Gorham sought to raise funds for the special trauma first-aid kits for the Monroe Police Department. In 2011, Gorham had personally purchased similar first-aid kits for the patrol deputies at the sheriff's office. The kits care from North American Rescue.
Gorham wanted the kits to contain tourniquets, gauze, emergency trauma bandages and chest seals. The kits are designed for gun-shot wound victims but have other applications.
Gorham received pledges to pay for the medical kits from James Mankowski, JBM Patrol and Protection, a private security agency in the Dane County area. Mankowski, a lifelong friend and colleague of Gorham, offered to donate $15 a mile during his trek.
Timothy Young of American Family Insurance of Monroe and Alex Douglas, of Al's Towing and Recovery, have also provided pledges. Jenna Bocklund, of Crafts for a Cause in Wiota, offered assistance later in the year to assist with getting smaller agencies in Green and Lafayette counties these kits.
Gorham wanted to give donors flags, as a remembrance of their donations and to pay homage to SGT Roelli and SSG Grindey. Gorham assisted with flags donated by Bryan Hopkins, Courtney Fox and Fran Phipps-Grise. Others like Blanchardville Fire Department, EMS Captain Rainelde Raymond and retired special deputy James Kostohrys offered logistical support during the trek.
The first leg of the three-day journey will start in Benton and then to Belmont, jumping on the Cheese Country Trail until he arrives in Gratiot. On Tuesday, Gorham plans to march with a pack from Gratiot to Monroe. On the and final day, Wednesday, Gorham will ride up the Badger State Trail to Madison, finishing at the Law Enforcement Memorial at the State Capitol. The trip is estimated to be a 110-mile journey.
TEAM Lafayette began as an idea between Gorham and James Johnson, a Darlington firefighter and Iraqi War vet. They were later joined by Dean Johnson, James Johnson's brother, and also Iraqi War vets. Gorham served in the Army during peacetime.
It was designed to be a way for public safety officials and their supporters to honor SGT Jakob Roelli and SSG Jesse Grindey.