Police officers raise money for 250-mile bike ride to memorial

Ormond Beach Observer
Neighbors

Two Ormond Beach Police Officers have begun training for a three-day, 250-mile charity bike ride.

BY MATT MENCARINI | STAFF WRITER

In advance of their 250-mile bike ride to benefit the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum, four Ormond Beach police officers have begun fundraising and spreading awareness.

Lt. Robert "Jesse" Godfrey, Sgt. Jamie Gogarty, officer Keith Feder and officer Richard Rubin, will make the ride from Virginia to Washington D.C. in May, as part of the Police Unity Tour.

“As bad fortune would have it, our memorial in (Washington) D.C. is the only memorial that keeps growing, every year,” Godfrey said.

Each rider must raise a minimum of $2,000 by April 1 to be allowed entry into the three-day ride, and Godfrey said it’s a lot of small donations that will get him and the three others to that goal.

To launch their fundraising campaign, the four gave out hot dogs at the city's Nov. 2 Movies on the Halifax event and collected donations. They've also been reaching out to people in the community, all while training for three consecutive days of riding between seven and ten hours.

During the ride, each rider will wear a wristband with the name of a police officer who died on duty during the previous year.

To donate, visit the individual riders’ donation pages: Godfrey, Gogarty, Feder and Rubin, or call 676-3225 or 566-4865.