2014 Brotherhood Ride cycles for fallen heroes

UPDATE:

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS -- The Brotherhood Ride consisting of firefighters, police officers and EMS personnel, are on their way to Montgomery, Texas, where the Montgomery Fire Department at Station #51 at 20590 Eva St., will be their next host and provide the hospitality to those who are riding bicycles across Texas to honor emergency responders who died in the line of duty in 2013.

ORIGINAL STORY:

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS -- The Brotherhood Ride organization consists of Firefighters, Police Officers and EMS personnel who ride bicycles to honor emergency responders who died in the line of duty. Their mission is to provide emotional and financial support to the families on or near the anniversary of their death.

Over the past six years they have honored the memory and sacrifice of a total of 444 First Responders which includes; firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency medical personnel. They have traveled on bicycles over 4,700 miles, through sixteen states and have been hosted and assisted by over forty Elks Lodges nationwide.

Through year-round fundraising efforts, the Brotherhood Ride has been able to honor the memory of fallen heroes and provide emotional and financial support to their families. Past Brotherhood Rides include cycling to Charleston, SC in 2008; Florida in 2009; Houston, TX in 2010; New York City (Ground Zero) in 2011; Florida in 2012 and Tennessee in 2013. In the past six years they have proudly donated over $191,000.00 to the families left behind.

The 2014 Ride will honor 19 Firefighters from Texas; (1) from Dallas, (2) from Bryan, (12) from West and (4) from Houston, who died in the line of duty in 2013. Their journey begins on May 22, 2014 traveling from Louisiana, up to Dallas then down through West, Bryan and ending on May 30, 2014 in Houston. Pedaling over 750 miles in 9 days and averaging 80-100 miles a day.

The Brotherhood Ride is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public charity organization . Other than the cost of conducting the rides, all donated proceeds go directly to the beneficiaries designated. No one is compensated for their time in order to maximize the impact of donations.

The 2014 Ride will be dedicated to our fallen brothers and sister from Texas.

Dallas Fire – Last alarm 5/20/13
Firefighter Stanley Wilson - Dallas Fire Rescue

West Fire - Last Alarm 4/17/2013
Captain Kenneth Harris Jr. - Dallas Fire Rescue
Captain Douglas Snokhous - West Fire Department
Captain Robert Snokhous - West Fire Department
Firefighter Morris Bridges - West Fire Department
Firefighter Perry Calvin - Navarro Mills Fire Department
Firefighter Jerry Chapman - Abbott Fire Department
Firefighter Cody Dragoo - West Fire Department
Firefighter Jimmy Matus - West Fire Department
Firefighter Joey Pustejovsky - West Fire Department
Firefighter Cyrus Reed - Abbott Fire Department
Firefighter Kevin Sanders - Bruceville-Eddy Fire Department
Firefighter Buck Uptmor - West Fire Department

Bryan Fire – Last Alarm 2/15/2013
Lieutenant Gregory Pickard - Bryan Fire Department
Lieutenant Eric Wallace - Bryan Fire Department

Houston Fire – Last Alarm 5/31/2013
Captain Matthew Renaud - Houston Fire Department
Engineer Operator Robert Bebee - Houston Fire Department
Firefighter Robert Garner - Houston Fire Department
Firefighter Anne Sullivan - Houston Fire Department

En route, 41 riders and their support team of 20; will meet with local fire departments and law enforcement agencies to show the spirit of Brotherhood.

This year, the ride will make overnight stops in Eunice, LA; Jasper, TX; Alto, TX; Tyler, TX; Dallas, TX; West, TX; Bryan, TX; Montgomery, TX; Houston, TX. The cyclist will average 80 - 100 miles a day. Using “SPOT”, a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) a link is established on the website (www.brotherhoodride.com) that is following the procession of cyclist in real time as they make their trek heading north.

Overnight Accommodations with next morning 8:00 a.m. departure:

May 22, 2014 - Eunice, LA
Louisiana State University
2048 Johnson Highway
Eunice, LA 70535

May 23, 2014 - Jasper, TX
First United Methodist Church of Jasper
329 N. Bowie St.
Jasper, TX 75951

May 24, 2014 - Alto, TX
Alto Community Fellowship
595 S. Marcus St. (Hwy. 69-S)
Alto, TX 75925

May 25, 2014 - Tyler, TX
Tyler Elks Lodge #215
13618 State Highway 31 W
Tyler, TX 75709

May 26, 2014 - Dallas, TX
Dallas Elks Lodge #71
8550 Lullwater Dr.
Dallas, TX 75238

May 27, 2014 - West, TX
West Texas EMS Headquarters
411 S. Meadow Dr.
West, TX 76691

May 28, 2014 - Bryan, TX
Bryan Elks Lodge
304 Mobil Ave.
Bryan, TX 77801

May 29, 2014 - Montgomery, TX
Montgomery Fire Station #51
20590 Eva St.
Montgomery, TX 77356

May 30, 2014 - Houston, TX
Houston Fire Station #68 (ride in to meet family, friends & community)
8602 Bissonnett St.
Houston, Texas 77074

Houston Fire Training Academy (overnight accommodations)
8030 Braniff St.
Houston, TX 77061

Rider & Support Participation Information:

• Florida Fire Departments (22)
• Florida Police Departments (1)
• North Carolina Fire Departments (1)
• South Carolina Fire Departments (1)
• Arizona Police Departments (1)
• Texas Fire Departments (24)
• Lousiana Police Departments (1)
• Massachusetts Fire Departments (1)
• Civilians with support (6)

To help support the loved ones who are left behind; they rely on donations, support, and sponsorship as the sole means of obtaining their goal. This year’s proceeds will go to the families of the nineteen firefighters they are honoring.

To help the Brotherhood Ride reach their goal, visit the website at the link provided, to make a donation, purchase T-shirts, or for more information on becoming a sponsor. Also follow the organization on Facebook (see link).