Nine members and supporters of local law enforcement will participate in The Road to Hope Bike Ride, taking them 529 miles from Shelby to Raleigh in May 2018. The bike riders will tally a total of 4,761 miles with a goal of raising $5 per mile for a potential total of $23,805. All funds will be utilized by Law Enforcement United, which supports 15 programs that range from Kids Camp to Project Active Armor.
Local riders are Shelby Mayor Stan Anthony; Officers Shannon Porter, Steve Seate and Craig Earwood of the Shelby Police Department; Stephen Brackeen, Chaplain for the Shelby Police Department; James Brackeen, father of Stephen and the late SPD Officer Tim Brackeen; Daniel Howell of the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department; Chad Owens of the Gaston County Police Department and one other unnamed officer. The riders will leave Shelby May 4, 2018.
Riders have begun their fund raising efforts by asking churches to participate in Blue Sunday when congregants will view a video of The Ride to Hope participants and learn the fallen officers in whose names they are riding. Churches wanting to participate between now and February should contact roadtohopeshelby@gmail.com and one of the officers will respond. Riders hope to raise 50 percent of their goal before the end of 2017. Businesses displaying The Road to Hope Bike Ride posters have agreed to accept donations, also.
Small Business Saturday is November 25 and officers will be in Uptown Shelby riding and taking donations. Their command center for donations will be the fountain at 311 South Lafayette Street across from Pleasant City from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.
Anyone interested in keeping up with the donations can watch the progress on a Road to Hope banner on the side of the Shelby Police Department building at 311 South Lafayette Street. The eight-foot by 10-foot banner shows miles on the left and dollars pledged on the right.
The mission of Law Enforcement United is to honor the service and sacrifice of all law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty and remember the survivors left behind. In addition to The Road to Hope Bike Ride, the following programs are supported by Law Enforcement United: Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), Kids Camp, Young Adult Camp, Outward Bound, college scholarships, retreats, training and counseling, Officer Down Memorial Page, K-9, websites and mobile apps, equipment grants and The Spirit of Blue Foundation.
For more information, send an e-mail to RoadToHopeShelby@gmail.com. Checks should be payable to Law Enforcement United and mailed to Road to Hope Shelby, c/o Shelby Police Department, PO Box 207, Shelby, NC 28151. All donations are tax-deductible. Any of the participating riders can provide information, also.
Submitted by Kim Davis