DOVER, Del.- 21 days ago, jeeps revved into the shadow of the monster at Dover International Speedway. The proceeds from ticket purchases for the Jeepers Back The Blue Jamboree would be given to families who lost a loved one that served in the line of duty.
Today, jeep owners gathered in Dover to organize a convoy for a fallen member of law enforcement. Minutes later, the drivers came around the corner to show their support towards the family of Correctional Officer Lamar Robinson-King which includes five children.
Robinson-King passed away in April after suffering from an instant medical problem just after a shift at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna. He worked 17 months at the facility.Â
Ria Wallace, a board member for Jeepers Back The Blue, worked in the same department as the officer and although she never worked with him, she heard great things about his work ethic. She is glad that the organization is helping his family.
"The fact that he has such a large family, he was working hard to provide for them and passed away," Wallace said. "The fact that we can help them financially and ease their burdens is amazing."
The Robinson-King family will be receiving a check for $7500. Jeepers Back The Blue has raised so far this year a little over $100,000. The organization will be looking to help more families across the country.
The next stops are currently being planned by Jeepers Back The Blue Founder Jeff Lehnert and it will definitely be a long trip for Jeep owners.
"We are organizing one of these out in California, another one in Nevada, and we have another one out in Iowa," Lehnert said. "We are just trying to spread the love of the Jeep community all over this country. We are also starting a few scholarship funds for the children of fallen law enforcement officers. We have big plans for the money."
The Jeep community in the first state aiming to reach others around the nation.