County motorcyclists have charitable reasons to ride this spring

MCs in the News

Motorcycle riders and owners can pay tribute to a fallen hero on one of two rides scheduled to pass through the county.

The 9463 Foundation For Florida's Fallen Officers will launch its state memorial ride at the Pompano Beach Harley-Davidson in Pompano Beach on March 27.

The foundation's 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. Brown died on Sept. 8, 2009, as a result of injuries received in the line of duty.

Those interested in joining the ride to honor Brown can meet fellow riders at Champions Gate, located at Exit 58 off Interstate 4 at the Osceola-Polk County line at 4:30 p.m. on April 1.

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.

The Polk Sheriff's Office will host 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.

For more information about the ride or to register, call Brian Donnelly at 954-695-0260 or e-mail him at briandonnelly11286@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit www.sgtchrisreyka.com.

The Fallen Firefighter Survivors Foundation will again attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records mark for holding the world's largest poker Run on May 1. The goal of the ride is to honor fallen firefighters and to raise awareness of and money for the Fallen Firefighters Survivors Foundation.

Last year, 22 locations in nine states participated in the ride, clinching their spot in the Guinness Book.

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 Aug. 23, 2004.

Lang was in an ambulance and assisting emergency medical personnel with a patient when the ambulance crashed on Dundee Road in Winter Haven.

Lang was 22 years old and had been a firefighter for three years.

The Fallen Firefighter Survivors Foundation ride will begin at Honda of Winter Haven, 3699 U.S. Highway 17 N., and will end at the Auburndale Speedway, 5640 County Road 542 W.

If interested in this ride, contact Matt Nichols, president of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club, at RedKnightsFL10@msn.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 863-412-1098.

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