| “It Involves You Kansas ~ Watch for Motorcycles Everywhere”
One family’s mission to make the roads safer for you
May 2008
“Watch for Motorcycles Everywhere”, the safety message first brought to Wichita , Kansas , in 2007 through a partnership with Purdue University ’s “It Involves You” motorcycle safety campaign, will come to life again in 2008, via a gift from the Gary Kroeker Memorial Fund.
This year the Memorial Fund has produced 250 great-looking t-shirts bearing the “Watch for Motorcycles Everywhere” safety message intended to remind drivers to keep an eye out for and yield to motorcycles on the road.
The shirts will be given away at outdoor concerts during Wichita ’s annual River Fest, and at radio remotes during the month of May. The Memorial Fund hopes that the more people who are seen out and about wearing the shirts – the more the message will sink into driver’s awareness, thus preventing needless death and injury caused by drivers who fail to yield to motorcycles on the road.
Funding for radio promotion of this year’s shirt give-away is provided by MidWest Powersports and The Accident Recovery Team. Shirts will also be available for purchase and special order again this year at Apple Graphix.
Anyone interested in making a contribution to the Gary Kroeker Memorial Fund for the 2009 campaign can do so through a donation to the fund at Emprise Bank.
May 2007
Gary Kroeker was killed last November when a truck pulled out in front of him on the highway as he was riding home from work on his Harley Road King. Gary had been riding motorcycles for years. He was a safe driver and never had a ticket or been involved in an accident. Family and friends were devastated by the loss of such a good-natured, talented and loving man.
Yet, rather than focus on the empty spot in their hearts, they created the Gary Kroeker Memorial Fund with the intention of educating motorists to be conscious at all times that they share the road with motorcycles, and of the importance of taking the time to notice all oncoming traffic before changing lanes or pulling out onto the road.
After Gary’s death, a cousin of Gary’s wife, Barbara, sent her an article on the “It Involves You” campaign at Purdue. Barbara contacted Marifran Mattson and the two decided to combine efforts – making Kansas the first satellite location for the Purdue safety campaign.
Months of hard work are now paying off, as a multimedia campaign for driver awareness kicks off in Kansas the beginning of May, which is National Motorcycle Safety Month. The campaign features commercials on local TV and radio stations that emphasize the importance of watching out for motorcycles on the road, and of spreading the campaign message by wearing a t-shirt.
The campaign has created two great-looking t-shirts – one for sport bike enthusiasts and one for Harley riders – that carry the “Watch for Motorcycles Everywhere” message. T-shirts are just $20, and a portion of the proceeds from every t-shirt sold in Kansas will be donated to the Gary Kroeker Memorial Fund for continuing its mission with a 2008 campaign.
Wearing a t-shirt will not only support an ongoing campaign, but will also carry the safety message wherever you go. Gary’s family encourages everyone to wear a shirt, around town and when you ride this season, to spread the word, get the message out on the streets, and make drivers more aware of motorcycles.
Download Media for the 2007 Kansas Campaign
You can contact the Kansas campaign at itinvolvesyou@gmail.com
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