Saturday, Oct. 13th 2024 dawned cold and rainy but couldn’t cast a dark cloud over Rotary’s 5th Annual JEEP INVASION fund raiser for Veteran causes in Geauga County.
All but a couple of Jeeps that had registered showed up to enjoy a day of fun in their favorite vehicles.
Almost a hundred entrants enjoyed the cruise through Geauga County led by sheriff Scott Hildenbrand and his deputies.
Again this year the tour took a slow short drive on the Maple Highlands Trail which is normally closed to vehicles of any kind. The day started out very wet from over night rain but by 7:30AM Jeeps of all description began to arrive like it was a sunny fall day. A couple of Jeeps, sans tops, rolled in with their damp but hardy drivers. There’s die-hards in every crowd.
Goody bags were handed out to all entrants with coffee, donuts and later hot dogs and snacks from the Mayfield Road Drive-in concession stand kept everyone going. Raffle baskets and a 50/50 drawing kept entrants busy until the Jeeps rolled off at 10:00AM on the tour. Event Chair Andrew Pleso from event major sponsor Junction Auto Family did an incredible job putting this whole event together and running it smoothly.
The Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield has made this an annual fund raising event to fund their donations to many Veteran causes in our great Geauga County, this year netting over $17,000 through sponsorships and entry fees. Andrew and his staff of 13 club members and 4 volunteer guests pulled off another successful event to keep Rotary a leader in humanitarian work in our Geauga community.
Bob Johnson
Secretary
Secretary
The RC of Burton-Middlefield