Emily T Gail talks with Dr. Frank and Laura Sayre about the Daniel R Sayre Foundation

Emily T Gail Talk Story

Dr. Frank and Laura Sayre's son Daniel Sayre at the age of 25 lost his life in a hiking accident in Pololu Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii 20 years ago. (photo of Danny and Frank and Laura and daughter Laura).
Fire Rescue personnel risked their lives to recover Daniel's body ...
The Sayres learned the county had no program to honor rescue personnel who go above and beyond the call of duty.
They wondered why the Fire Department did not have ropes long enough to into the island’s deep valley, a safer option than using a helicopter in some circumstances.
Laura and Frank decided to buy two sets of rappelling ropes for the county — one for the Hilo side on the east and one for the Kona side on the west — at about $1,500 apiece and honor the fireman who had risked their lives to recover Daniels body.
And that was the start of the community supported Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation to raise funds for much need rescue equipment began. Saturday Sept. 2 they will celebrate 20 years and more than 1.75 million dollars raised and equipment purchased.
Laura and Frank share a lot of interesting and very informative information about the Rescue teams and the community response to all the needs.
Saturday Sept. 2 is the 20th Annual Daniel R Sayre Memorial Foundation dinner. It is one of the Big Island premier events at the Fairmont Orchid at Mauna Lani. Aloha or Evening Attire it includes a Silent Auction-in fact 3 ballrooms of silent auction items beginning at 4:30pm. The 5 star gourmet dinner begins at 6pm, wonderful music, beautiful program honoring some of the fireman for rescues made this year and a chance to meet the hundreds of supporters that attend every year because we all know that any given day could be us that needs a well equipped rescue team.
Go to danielrsayrefoundation.net for information, to donate or for tickets which are $110.
Funds raised have gone towards rope rescue equipment, rescue communication systems, ATV's, rescue boards, automatic defibrillators, jet skis, $38,000 refurbishing of the Rescue Boat, masks with voice communication to command boats and so much more.