Small Kentucky community comes together for local trucker

More than 60 truck drivers came out Saturday, Oct. 26, in Tollesboro, Kentucky, to support a local driver, Tony Corns, who had to hang up his keys earlier this year after being diagnosed with Berger’s Disease, which causes the immune system to attack the kidneys. (Photos provided by Martha McCann)

A group of more than 60 truck drivers came together Saturday, Oct. 26, to help out one of their own in the small northeast Kentucky town of Tollesboro.

Tony Corns is a former truck driver from the town who recently had to hang up his keys following a diagnosis of Berger’s Disease, which causes the immune system to attack the kidneys. He undergoes dialysis three times a week  and is no longer able to drive.

Jim and Jennifer Meadows, close friends of Corns and owners of Rip’s Farm Center in Tollesboro, organized a poker run for local truckers to participate in with proceeds going to Corns.

Tony Corns sold his 2008 Peterbilt 386 about a month ago. After completing the poker run by stopping at five local trucking companies, his truck led a convoy that went by his house.

“Tony has been a friend of ours for a long time,” Jennifer says. “His dad worked for us some, and all Tony, his dad and his brother have ever done is drive a truck. He started getting sick in January, and by May he was almost completely disabled. He’s been on dialysis since May. There was no way he could continue to drive a truck or work anywhere else, so we decided to jump in and help out.”

Jennifer says five local trucking companies volunteered to be the five locations where drivers would stop and get a card for their poker hand, and the person with the best hand when they returned to the Tollesboro Lions Club would win a $200 prize. After the run, drivers were served a meal and participated in a live auction.

Jennifer adds that her goal was for 50 trucks to participate, and the final count was 62. Corns, a former owner-operator, sold his 2008 Peterbilt 386 about a month ago but was able to see it participate in the convoy as it rolled past his house in the lead position. She notes that the event was not only a success with turnout, but also with money raised for Corns.

Family and friends of Corns have also put together a GoFundMe to help cover some of his medical costs.

Darrel Fannin’s 2016 Peterbilt 389 was selected as the People’s Choice favorite truck during the poker run.

This 1998 Peterbilt 379, originally driven by Jackie McCann and now driven by his son and grandson David Ginn and David Ginn Jr., was recognized during the poker run for having the most miles of all trucks participating in the run. It had 2,042,289 miles as of Saturday and is still running strong.