Brotherhood Ride stops in North Fort Myers
With staff and officials of many local safety agencies greeting them, cyclists participating in the Brotherhood Ride stopped in North Fort Myers at the Shell Factory Thursday, July 23, for a short rest before completing their journey in honor of fallen Fort Myers Police Officer Andrew Widman.
A group of 36 cyclists made up of firefighters and law enforcement officers from across the state and as far away as Texas opted to take part in the six-day ride. It was a long, summer-heat bicycle trek, which ended later that day in downtown Fort Myers.
It was a 413 mile ride.
Jeff Morse of the North Naples Fire District is the president and founder of the organization, Brotherhood Ride.
“The ride has been a life-changing experience,” he said. “When people say they are going to dedicate something to a person, there is always a time on our ride where the guys have to rededicate themselves and dig deep to complete the journey because of some type of adversity.”
The heat and the rain were the diversity this year.
“It was 26 miles of rain when we went into Wauchula,” Morse said. “Every person said, ‘Let’s do this for Andy,’ and we got the miles done for the day.”
The ride benefits fallen Widman’s family who was shot and killed when he responded to a disturbance July 18, 2008.
People who worked with him shared his personal experiences.
“Mrs. Widman also gave us some highlights of his life,” said Morse.
Officer Keith Curr of the Fort Myers Police Department was part of the ride. He worked with Officer Widman.
“I worked with him on the day shift for a couple of months,” he said. “He was a beautiful person – that’s all that needs said.”
Bob Branch from the Houston Fire Department, Ladder Co. 77, joined in the local ride.
“It’s just like the title implies – brotherhood,” said Branch. “It doesn’t matter where it happens, firefighters and police officers will be there when support is needed.”
He said he drove here from Texas, a long trip, and did the charity ride last year.
Candy Morse, wife of Jeff and a fellow cyclist said, “It’s been an amazing journey so far. We started on the one-year anniversary of Officer Widman’s death. We did a loop through Arcadia, Winter Haven and Wauchula, and through Cape Coral, Punta Gorda and Fort Myers.”
She reported this after being on the road for the six days.
Shawn Stromdahl is the treasurer for the organization.
“This is one of our many stops,” he said. “We’re trying to stop every 10 miles, and the Shell Factory hosted us last year.”
Bicyclists were also spotted at the Hope Chest Parking lot next to SunTrust Bank in North Fort Myers before they finished their journey.
Brotherhood Ride stops in North Fort Myers
With staff and officials of many local safety agencies greeting them,
cyclists involved in the Brotherhood Ride stopped in North Fort Myers today
for a short rest before completing their journey in honor of fallen
Fort Myers Police Officer Andrew Whitman.
A group of 36 cyclists made up of firefighters and law enforcement
officers from across the state and as far away as Texas opted to take
part in the six-day ride The long, summer-heat bicycle trek,
ended today in downtown Fort Myers.
Jeff Morse of the North Naples Fire District is the president and
founder of the organization, Brotherhood Ride.
“The ride has been a life-changing experience,” he said. “When people
say they are going to dedicate something to a person, there is always
a time on our ride where the guys have to rededicate themselves and
dig deep to complete the journey because of some type of adversity.”
The heat and the rain were the diversity this year.
“It was 26 miles of rain when we went into Wauchula,” Morse said. “Every person said, ‘Let’s do this for Andy,’ and we got the miles done for the day.”
The ride benefits Widman’s family. Widman was with the Fort Myers Police Department and was shot and killed when he responded to a disturbance on July 18, 2008.
People who worked with him shared his personal experiences.
“Mrs. Widman also gave us some highlights of his life,” said Morse.
Officer Keith Curr of the Fort Myers Police Department was part of
the ride. He worked with Officer Widman.
“I worked with him on day shift for a couple of months,” he said. “He was a beautiful person – that’s all that needs said.”
Bob Branch from the Houston Fire Department, Ladder Co. 77, joined in
the local ride.
“It’s just like the title implies – brotherhood,” said Branch. “It doesn’t matter where it happens, firefighters and police officers will be there when support is needed.”
Candy Morse, wife of Jeff and a fellow cyclist said, “It’s been an
amazing journey so far. We started on the one-year anniversary of
Officer Widman’s death. We did a loop through Arcadia, Winter Haven
and Wauchula, and through Cape Coral, Punta Gorda and Fort Myers.”
Brotherhood Ride stops in North Fort Myers
With staff and officials of many local safety agencies greeting them, the Brotherhood Ride stopped in North Fort Myers Thursday, July 23 for a short rest before completing their journey in honor of fallen officer Andrew Whitman.
A group of 36 cyclists made up of firefighters and law enforcement officers from across the state and as far away as Texas opted to take part in the six day ride. It was a long summer-heat bicycle trek, which comes to fruition today in downtown Fort Myers.
Jeff Morse of the North Naples Fire District is the president and founder of the organization, Brotherhood Ride.
“The ride has been a life changing experience,” he said. “When people say they are going to dedicate something to a person there is always a time on our ride where the guys have to rededicate themselves and dig deep to complete the journey because of some type of adversity.”
The heat and the rain were the diversity this year. “It was 26 miles of rain when we went into Wauchula,” Morse said. “Every person said, ‘Let’s do this for Andy’ and we got the miles done for the day.”
The ride benefits fallen officer Andrew Widman’s family. Widman was with the Fort Myers Police Department and was shot and killed when he responded to a disturbance on July 18, 2008.
People who worked with him shared his personal experiences. “Mrs. Whitman also gave us some highlights of his life,” said Morse.
Officer Keith Curr of the Fort Myers Police Department was part of the ride. He worked with Officer Widman. “I worked with him on day shift for a couple of months. He was a beautiful person – that’s all that needs said.”
Bob Branch from the Houston Fire Department Ladder Co. 77 joined in the local ride. “It’s just like the title implies – brotherhood,” said Branch. “It doesn’t matter where it happens, firefighters and police officers will be there when support is needed.
Candy Morse, wife of Jeff and fellow cyclist said, “It’s been an amazing journey so far.” “We started on the one-year anniversary of Officer Widman’s death. We did a loop through Arcadia, Winter Haven and Wachula, and through Cape Coral Punta Gorda and Fort Myers.”