South Carolina First Responders Cycle More Than 600 Miles to Honor Fallen Colleagues

Dozens of first responders are riding more than 600 miles in six days in the mid-June heat to honor the lives of men and women who died doing jobs like theirs. "It's hot, but that's nothing compared to someone who didn't come home from work one day," said Mark Jameson, a founding member of Carolina Brotherhood. The annual ride began in North Carolina in 2012.   The mission is to provide support for families of those who died serving their communities. "We ride for people killed two years ago because there's always a lot of support for the families at first, but then life goes on," Jameson explained. "So we ride to remind them they're not alone. We're still here for them." This year, they're riding in honor of 19 first responders, including Sgt. Ken Stanton, Sr. of the Sandy Springs Fire Department and Anderson County K-9 Hyco. Jameson said the group formed after the death of an Asheville firefighter. This year's 30 riders, who each raised at least $400 before the event, are about in the middle of their 600 mile journey from Smithfield, North Carolina to Beaufort, South Carolina. They're joined by support staff and escorted by fire trucks and police vehicles from the towns they visit. By Thursday afternoon, the group had surpassed a fundraising goal of $30,000. After a stop for a lunch provided by the Greenville Police and Fire Departments at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, the riders took a moment to remember Officer Allen Jacobs. ...
Source: JEMS: Journal of Emergency Medical Services News - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: News Administration and Leadership Source Type: news