9463 Foundation For Florida’s Fallen Officers
There are two great reasons to ride your motorcycle this spring. If you own a motorcycle and want to pay tribute to a fallen hero, you can join in on one of two motorcycle rides traveling through Polk County this March and May.
First, the “9463 Foundation For Florida’s Fallen Officers” will launch their state memorial ride at the Pompano Beach Harley-Davidson in Pompano Beach on March 27, 2010. According to their website (www.sgtchrisreyka.com): “The foundation unwittingly began on August 10, 2007 at 1:20 AM, when Broward Sheriff’s Sergeant Christopher Reyka came upon two suspicious vehicles parked to the rear of a Walgreen’s drug store in Pompano Beach, Florida. Upon initiating an investigation, Sgt. Reyka was shot and killed by assailants who have yet to be brought to justice. Our mission is to remember fallen heroes, educate the public, and support and assist the families who have lost loved ones while they were serving our community.”
This year the ride will include a tour through Polk County, in honor of Sgt. Ronnie Brown of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. Brown died on September 8, 2009, as a result of injuries received in the line of duty. Those who are interested in joining the ride through Polk County to honor Sgt. Ronnie Brown can meet fellow riders at Champions Gate, located at exit 58 off I-4 at the Orlando-Polk County line at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 1, 2010. From there, riders will travel to the Polk County Jail former work camp, located behind the Central County Jail at 155 Gunn Highway in Bartow, around 5:30 p.m. PCSO will be hosting a hot dog and hamburger meal for the riders, and the family of Ronnie Brown will be there to greet the riders and members of the 9463 Foundation, and to be presented with gifts from 9463 Foundation members.
For more information about the ride, or to register, contact Brian Donnelly at 954-695-0260 or briandonnelly11286@gmail.com, or visit www.sgtchrisreyka.com.
Secondly, the “Fallen Firefighter Survivors Foundation” will again attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for holding the World’s Largest Poker Run on Saturday, May 1, 2010. The goal of the ride is twofold – to honor fallen firefighters, and to raise awareness of and money for the Fallen Firefighters Survivors Foundation (being in the Guinness Book of World Records is just an added bonus!).
Last year, 9 states in 22 locations participated in the ride – clinching their spot in the Guinness Book. Last year’s ride raised over $50,000 for the foundation. This year, 18 states have already signed up to participate, along with two countries.
The Fallen Firefighter Survivors Foundation was started by Sherri Lang, the mother of Benjamin Lang, a Polk County firefighter who was killed in the line of duty on August 23, 2004, when an ambulance in which he was assisting EMS with administering to a patient crashed on Dundee Road in Winter Haven. Ben was just 22 years old and had been a firefighter for 3 years.
This year’s ride begins at Honda of Winter Haven, 3699 US Hwy 17, on Saturday, May 1, 2010, and ends at the Auburndale Speedway, 5640 CR 542 West. If you are interested in participating in this ride, please contact Matt Nichols, President of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club, at RedKnightsFL10@msn.com or call 863-412-1098. Or visit www.ffsfusa.org for more information.
