Gonzo Gurneys

Visitors to Ventura Harbor Village this Saturday will witness some strange goings-on.

The Village Lawn area will look like a disaster area--with firefighters, a SWAT team, nurses, volunteers from the nearby Yacht Club and others feverishly pushing hospital gurneys, some laden with children, trying not to topple the young cargo onto the ground.

Have no fear, though; this is not a disaster drill. It’s a race. You’ll be able to tell it’s not an emergency because some of the people doing the pushing will be oddly dressed--maybe as clowns, giant hearts or entertainment personalities. The folks on the gurneys may be in costume too--but wearing fake bandages and such. All the “jockeys” on the gurneys will be balancing bedpans filled with something watery.

They will be trying not to spill the stuff despite the bumpy, weaving ride in the fifth annual running of the “Livingston Memorial GurneyTurney”, a charity event in which teams pay to enter and the public attends for free.

“Kids make the best gurney jockeys,” explained Faye McDonald, race organizer. “They’re the lightest people some of the racing teams could find, and they can handle being bumped around (as they ride).”

McDonald is also vice president of the Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurses Guild, which produces the event to support programs such as grief counseling for children 8 to 18.

Although its programs are serious and important to children and families, the guild runs this fund-raiser as a lark--a fun event for the whole family. For instance, a costume contest will take place at 9:30 a.m. The race begins at 10.

Past contestants have included a quartet of women--nurses in real life--dressed as “The Village People.” Another crew consisted of men in three-piece suits with signs identifying them as members of “The Insurance Team”--namely a salesman, adjuster and attorney. The jockey, in bandages, had a sign saying “injured party” and another team member, in a white coat, was the doctor.

This time, teams have signed up representing several professional groups that have had real experience with gurneys. Some will be wearing their work gear, such as firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service, and the SWAT team from the Ventura Police Department.

Other professionals will be in costume. One year, a group of cardiac nurses showed up in giant cardboard hearts.

The circular obstacle course, marked with cones, is in the Harbor Village Parking lot. A giant trophy will be awarded to the top team.

BE THERE

“Livingston Memorial GurneyTurney.” Cheer costumed teams pushing hospital gurneys over an obstacle course, Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-noon, Village Lawn at Ventura Harbor Village, 1559 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura. Free. (805) 644-0169.