MADISON – Teams of concerned volunteers, firefighters, police officers took their places along a strong rope in the second annual “Pullin’ for Partnership Fire Truck Challenge.”

A severe weather threat led to rescheduling the event from Oct. 25 to Nov. 10. Rescheduling prevented some registered teams from participating, but the spirited competition to take home a trophy was still strong while raising funds for Partnership for a Drug-Free Community.

The event generated $17,000 for Partnership. “Everyone who supported this event and who came out and participated is a hero in our book,” Wendy Reeves said. Reeves works as Partnership’s Executive Director.

“(The contest) was a lot of fun, but it also helps Partnership fulfill its serious mission to provide drug, alcohol and tobacco prevention and education to youth, along with adult recovery resources,” Reeves said. “As a nonprofit, we depend on donations. With the opioid, fentanyl and vaping epidemics, our programs are in demand now more than ever before in the agency’s 34-year history.”

The Partnership for a Drug-Free Community and Madison Fire and Rescue event is designed to bring attention to the substance use problems facing the community. The event raised funds to provide services for individuals looking for help with Partnership programs.

Huntsville Police Department, STAC 12, had the Fastest Time with 14.65. Adtran with 16:01 reached the Fastest Time for a Community Team.

Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church won the awards for Most Team Spirit; they dressed in costume as Biblical characters. Gurley Volunteer Fire Department ranked as Slowest Pull with time of 16:68.

The fastest overall time went to the Dale Strong for Congress team. Members included Strong and a group of Madison County Sheriff’s deputies. Strong serves as a volunteer fireman, and he is the new U.S. Congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives for this area. Strong’s team completed the pull in 14:89.

“Our Partnership team included staff and board members, along with some of our volunteers, and we actually had the fastest time of the day with 14:46 seconds,” Reeves said. “However, our team had more than 10 people, so it didn’t count for a win. That team effort represents the way we all pull together every day to educate our community and help people find the recovery resources they need.”

“We are so thankful to Mayor Paul Finley and Madison City Council for supporting this event,” Reeves said. “We also appreciate Madison Fire Chief David Bailey, Deputy Chief Brandy Williams, Deputy Chief Dustin Spires and Capt. Ryan Gentry. They see overdoses on a regular basis, so having them help us with this event to support our programs that try to impact the problem really brings us full circle.”

Madison City Schools played a big role in the event, too, Reeves said, by allowing use of a parking lot at Madison City Schools Stadium on Celtic Drive.

Pullin’ for Partnership resulted in a big success, Reeves said, from support of Partnership’s many sponsors, including top donors Adtran, Colsa Corporation, Huntsville Havoc, Huntsville Housing Authority and Geraldine Tibbs.

For more information, call 256-539-7339, email info@thedrugfreepartnership.org or visit partnershipforadrug-freecommunity.org.