The facial expressions Ron Wallin sees when he pulls up in the Fanbulance continue to amuse him.

“When people see it they’re just kind of shocked,” Wallin said. “They can’t figure it out.”

Wallin, president of P & L General Contractors and longtime Oak Harbor resident, is one of two drivers of the de-commissioned ambulance decked to capacity with Seattle Seahawks decor.

Since September, he and paramedic Richard King have parked the rig around Whidbey Island and other parts of Western Washington, including venues near CenturyLink Field one gamedays, to draw exposure to a raffle ticket fundraiser that benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County.

For $20, one may purchase four tickets. So far, several thousand tickets have been sold.

To some people’s dismay, the green Fanbulance, a 2001 Ford-350 diesel turbo, and all its Seahawks-themed contents is the prize.

“It’s like a Christmas stocking with all things Seahawks,” said Penny Perka, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County.

The Fanbulance will be parked near F.X. McRoy’s Steak Chop and Oyster House in Pioneer Square in Seattle this Sunday, Nov. 9, and will make its next public appearance in Oak Harbor the morning of Nov. 16 in the Walmart parking lot.

The drawing for the Fanbulance will take place Dec. 7 at Flyers Restaurant and Brewery in Oak Harbor at halftime of the Seahawks’ road game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The idea was a brainchild of Wallin’s six months ago when he saw the ambulance parked at Whidbey General Hospital earmarked for salvage. He serves on the board of directors at the hospital.

A Seahawks fan since the franchise’s inception in 1976, he got to thinking about possible uses and the idea struck him.

He knew he was onto something when he later learned the ambulance served as unit 12.

“It had a 12 on it,” he said. “It was sort of destined to be our rig.”

Parts from three de-commissioned ambulances were used to create the Fanbulance, a project embraced by several businesses that donated services.

Central Collision handled all of the painting, while Midway Tire & Muffler helped with mechanical work, including the engine and tires.

NorthStar of Chehalis spearheaded the project of customizing the ambulance to all things Seahawks.

Wallin, who’s also on the board with Big Brothers Big Sisters, said an attorney who represents the Seahawks gave the Oak Harbor nonprofit permission to use the franchise’s name, logo and colors as a one-time–only fundraiser.

Wallin has had to remind people that the Fanbulance is not the real thing.

“We’ve had people ask, ‘What happens if you get a call?’ ” he said.

“It’s been hugely successful,” said Tamra Sipes, president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County.

“It’s not even just the money. It’s the PR we’re getting and putting the name out there in the community that we’re here.”