By Tracy X. Miguel
Naples Daily News
TAMPA, Fla. — The two-day ride will also honor a Fort Myers police K-9 named Rosco, who was shot and killed in September during an armed robbery in Fort Myers.
A ceremony is slated for 8 a.m. today at North Naples fire station No. 45 and riders will depart at 9 a.m., traveling along U.S. 41. The riders’ route includes a stop at Fort Myers police headquarters.
The more than 160-mile ride ends Saturday at Tampa police headquarters. Riders are expected to arrive about 4 p.m.
“Our goal is to raise emotional and financial support for the families,” said North Naples firefighter Jeff Morse, president and founder of the Brotherhood Ride.
This year, the group is embarking on two rides.
The other Brotherhood Ride is to honor the 9/11 fallen officers and emergency responders on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack.
The 22-day, more than 1,600-mile ride will leave from Naples and end in New York. Riders will leave North Naples fire station No. 45 on Aug. 20 and head to Ground Zero in New York.
Morse said the group had already committed for the 9/11 ride, but there was no way they would not honor the two Tampa police officers.
An estimated 40 firefighters and law enforcement officers from Southwest Florida and around the country are expected to take part in the ride.
For the past four years, bicyclists have been riding throughout the state to raise money for the families. Morse funded the ride four years ago to honor nine firefighters who died in the line of duty battling a blaze in Charleston, S.C.
Since then, riders have been honoring those who have died in the line of duty by riding bicycles into their hometown.
Since its inception, the Brotherhood Ride has donated more than $68,000 to families.
Copyright 2011 Collier County Publishing Company