3rd annual Fergus Fallen Memorial Ride & Benefit
The third annual Fergus Fallen Memorial Ride & Benefit is coming up Aug. 26. The ride was established in 2021 after the murder of Jimmy Noplos of Fergus Falls. Noplos was a man who was bigger than life and, lived every day to the absolute fullest. He was a son, brother, uncle, nephew, father, and husband. He left behind his wife Marie (Roggenkamp) Noplos, children Jaiden Noplos, Ariana Noplos & Nicole Fladeland. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army where he served as a medic and after a few short years received a medically honorable discharge of duty. For the next 20 years, he continued his career in healthcare.
Noplos had dreamed of one day starting a memorial ride called The Fergus Fallen. This ride would be a way to give back to the service community: military, veterans, police officers, firefighters, sheriffs, EMS, doctors, and nurses, etc. along with a way to help a family that was going through a hard time, that had “fallen.”
Kim Booth, left, holds 18-month-old Sibella, Nolan Booth, Jason Trinkle, Mellissa Trinkle, Alex Trinkle, 4-year-old Phoenix, Jasmine Prairie, holds 1-month-old Sariyah, 23-moth-old Cassius, Jayden Prairie gather with friend and favorite race car driver Brad King, #13 who is sporting new decals on his car for the rest of the race season promoting The Fergus Fallen Memorial Ride & Benefit.
Friends, family, and the community came together to help Marie bring his dream of The Fergus Fallen Memorial Ride to life on July 30, 2021. In the first two years, they raised more than $35,000.
This year’s nominated to benefit from The Fergus Fallen Memorial Ride & Benefit family is very familiar with the service community. Alex Trinkle, 16, of Fergus Falls, is a typical teenager who loves the outdoors, bowling, four-wheeling, fishing, hunting, all things military and learning about WWII history. His favorite tanks are the Tiger I & II. His great grandfather was a WWII POW MIA, his grandmother has been a CNA at the local hospital for more than 30 years, and his brother-n-law is currently serving in the Army National Guard.
Trinkle had pain in his leg since last fall. After numerous chiropractic visits, doctor appointments, and testing, they just could not seem to figure it out. Some days the pain in his leg was so disabling that he couldn’t even walk and had to stay home from school. He turned 16 on April 5, got his driver’s license on April 10 and just two days later his parents Melissa Trinkle and Jason Trinkle received a call that their son had a rare form of cancer called Ewing sarcoma. Ewing sarcoma is a rare form of bone cancer affecting children and young adults. It accounts for about 1% of all childhood cancers, affecting approximately one in a million individuals.
Three months of checkups, scans, appointments, tests and seven rounds of chemo have consumed their family. Alex will be an inpatient during all his treatments, which are 72 miles away from home and will require several trips a month. He will have six rounds of chemo, followed by surgery on his leg, and eight more rounds of chemo. Alex’s journey is going to be a long one. “Alex and his family have been through so much, and if we can help take a load off of them so they can focus on their son then I would say it is a success,” Noplos said. “100% of the proceeds will go to the Trinkle family to help with medical costs, travel expenses to-and-from treatment, compensation from missing work and allowing them to be there with their son as he fights. I know how proud Jimmy is of the work we have done so far,” Noplos said, with tears in her eyes.
The Friends of The Fergus Fallen Memorial Ride will be accepting donations and selling tickets at their booth at I-94 emr Speedway, 2001 W Fir Ave, Fergus Falls, MN 56537 from 5-7 p.m. on Aug. 18 & 25.
The Ride & Benefit is set for Aug. 26 at the Eagles Ship #2339, 120 S Peck St, Fergus Falls, with registration starting at 12:30 p.m. All vehicles are welcome for the fun run. Three fleets, motorcycles, Jeeps, and others will hit the scenic roads of Otter Tail County. A shirt fundraiser, gun raffle and silent auction will also be held during the event. “We are so grateful for the businesses, friends, family and our communities support of this event,” said Noplos.
If you are interested in donating to The Fergus Fallen Memorial Ride there is a fund set up at Bell Bank in Fergus Falls, Go Fund Me account or by reaching out to Marie Noplos at [email protected]. For more information on this year’s event find them on, Facebook.
