RV manager yams it up for turkey drive

Cindy Daly of Sun City RV stood below an RV suspended 40 feet in the air, laughing at General Manager Danny Graham as he carefully made his way inside.

"I'll tell you one thing about Danny," Daly said. "He's kind of a crazy guy."

He would have to be, to agree to sit inside a 40-foot high vehicle for as many as three days. Especially given his very inconvenient phobia.

"Yeah, I'm afraid of heights," Graham said. "But it's worth it."

Graham will sit inside that RV, at 8833 N. Black Canyon Highway in Phoenix, until Sun City RV receives 500 frozen turkeys, which will be given to John C. Lincoln Hospital's Desert Mission Food Bank. Graham said he is committed to staying in the RV for up to three days.

Danielle Wilderman, a flight nurse with AirEvac, will be in the RV with him to make sure he is alright, although her presence is more for effect. Wilderman said she got involved when she called John C. Lincoln about a turkey drive AirEvac is currently running.

"They told me on the phone what Danny was doing and that he was afraid of heights, and I joked, ‘Oh, he should have a nurse up there with him,'" Wilderman said. "And they said, ‘oh, we're so glad you volunteered!' So here I am."

As for conquering his fears, Graham admitted it was not really that bad. Leaning in and out of the RV and dangling his legs off the side, Graham appeared to be the picture of relaxation.

"The RV isn't really that bad," Graham said. "It's the lift you have to take up here that's scary. I hate that thing."

Donors are asked to give frozen turkeys, 15 pounds or less, and frozen if possible. In addition to turkey donations, all other non-perishable goods are also appreciated. Daly said frozen turkeys may be delivered to either Sun City RV location, 8833 N. Black Canyon Hwy. in Phoenix or 9045 N.W. Grand Ave. in Peoria.

"And anyone who can't make it out to one of our locations can donate on our Web site through PayPal," Daly said.

For more information or to donate, visit www.suncityrv.com.

Visit www.yourwestvalley.com throughout the day to see how many turkeys have been collected.

Jeff Dempsey may be reached at 623-876-2531 or jdempsey@yourwestvalley.com.

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