Fredericton Member Supports Disaster Relief Fund, Wins Signed Guitar

November 5, 2009 -- A member of Fredericton, NB Local 1053 who downloaded a rockin’ country tune to support the IAFF Disaster Relief Fund is the lucky winner of a special piece of music memorabilia.

Captain Todd Nichol won a guitar signed by country music legend Ronnie Milsap, whose song “My First Ride” is the debut single on a new BLEVE Entertainment Group recording. The song is a duet with fellow country star Trace Adkins and the title track of a compilation CD.

The contest was the result of a partnership between the IAFF and BLEVE, whose founder and CEO Mickey Milam is a retired Nashville police officer who is dedicated to assisting fire fighters and police officers.

A significant portion of the sales from every My First Ride, download or concert ticket sold will benefit the IAFF Disaster Relief Fund and the Fraternal Order of Police Disaster Relief Fund. The IAFF Disaster Relief Fund helps IAFF members and their families who suffer losses during disasters such as September 11 and Hurricane Katrina.

IAFF members can support the new recording by purchasing or downloading it from itunes, CDBaby or Amazon.com and by calling or emailing country music radio stations to request they play the tune.

Nichol, who entered the drawing through the blevemusic.com web site, says he was thrilled to have won the hand-signed guitar. “I was telling the guys at the station I thought it was a hoax at first, because I never win anything!” he says, adding that his dad, who’s also a Ronnie Milsap fan, was excited too.

Nichol is a guitarist and country music fan who used to be shy about playing in front of other people, but that changed after he played at a fire fighters’ cottage party. He has a friend who works at a country music radio station, and hopes the connection will lead to some more air time for “My First Ride” and more support for the IAFF Disaster Relief Fund. “That’s what it’s all about,” he says.

For more information about how to support My First Ride and the IAFF Disaster Relief Fund, click here.