The Limestone County chapter of TRIAD is urging the public to buy tickets as part of a rifle raffle to raise money for Project Lifesaver, a program designed to help find patients with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Down’s Syndrome and autism if they are lost.

The Henry Golden Boy .22 rifle will be given away at the Limestone County Sheriff’s Rodeo May 20. Tickets are $5 for one and $10 for three.

The winner will need to pass a background check before receiving the rifle, said TRIAD co-chair J.D. Jones. Anyone interested in buying tickets can do so at the Sheriff’s Office at 101 W. Elm St., Athens, or call Jones at 256-233-7933.

About Project Lifesaver

When a person is wearing the Project Lifesaver bracelet and leaves their family or home, the Sheriff’s Office can transmit a signal directly to the bracelet to find him or her. Those enrolled in the program don’t pay for the bracelets.

Jones said the group started with 18 bracelets and two tracking devices and are now up to 23 bracelets with three tracking devices.

Law enforcement can transmit a signal from either a helicopter, drone or car and find the person quicker than rounding up volunteer crews.

“It’s like a GPS tracking device,” Jones said, adding that even if a patient is in a different area of the state, families can give the area sheriff’s office a bracelet code which can find the patient.

“The bracelets are free to the public — all they have to do is go to the sheriff’s department and fill out a form and a trained deputy will come out and fit the bracelets,” he said.

The only thing families are responsible for is the cost of batteries, which run about $10 a month. Jones said if someone is unable to afford them, special funds are available for assistance.

For more information about the program, visit http://www.limestonesheriff.com/content?lifesaver.