July 4th events to benefit injured biker

By Debbie Ingram

Published: July 2, 2008

Locals are expected to fire up grills en masse over the next few days as part of a Fourth of July weekend which celebrates not only America’s independence but also summer itself.

While there will be fireworks shows, backyard barbecues and pool gatherings, the members of a local Internet discussion board are hoping area residents will also turn out in support of a Dothan man injured in motorcycle accident June 2 on Ross Clark Circle.

A portion of the scheduled activities Friday at the Kiwanis Club’s Family Fourth Celebration at the National Peanut Festival fairgrounds include a bike show, bake sale and drawing to benefit Mark Muldoon, a service writer at Harley-Davidson of Dothan.

On Saturday, July 5, Harley-Davidson’s annual July 4th ride is also a benefit for Muldoon. Saturday activities will also include a bake sale and drawing for various gift baskets, gift cards and other donated items.

Muldoon was critically injured after colliding with a car as he was merging into traffic on the Circle at West Main Street. A car pulled out in front of Muldoon.

The 46 year old spent nearly three weeks on a ventilator in a drug-induced coma in the Intensive Care Unit of UAB’s trauma unit. Anna Muldoon said her husband suffered internal injuries including severe abdominal wounds, multiple fractures to his ribs, vertebra, and wrist, and he had enormous blood loss.

“He has had eight or nine surgeries and will have to have several more,” She said.

Muldoon has health insurance and short-term disability, but the family has other expenses including lodging for Anna who has stayed by her husband’s side almost exclusively since the accident.

The bake sale, bike show and drawing are all sponsored by WiregrassLive.com. Anna is a member of the Internet forum, and said she is grateful to all the volunteers who have organized and are contributing to the fundraisers.

WiregrassLive moderator Debbie Trueblood said she hopes the benefits will also bring awareness to the dangers motorcycle riders can face. Her husband was also seriously injured in a motorcycle accident last year.