CHARLOTTE — Dozens of law enforcement officers will start their trek on Thursday to bike hundreds of miles honoring fallen officers.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department employees and officers from other agencies are taking part in the Bike 2 DC ride.
About 50 cyclists will bike 500 miles from Charlotte to Washington only stopping to eat and sleep.
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They will honor the four officers killed last week in east Charlotte, including CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer.
“This year, our cyclists will be pedaling his public order, his mountain bike, along with his helmet and his vest that carries his number, and those riders will take turns riding his bicycle in memory of him,” Deputy Chief Jacquelyn Hulsey with CMPD told Channel 9′s Erika Jackson.
‘They’re going to push through’
Liz Hollern came to send off CMPD Officer Matt Hollern of the North Tryon Division.
“His partner, Chris Tolley, was the officer that was severely injured and is at home recovering, so he’s really excited to honor Josh, Chris, and everybody else,” Hollern said.
She said her husband and other officers plan to take turns riding Eyer’s bike on the 500-mile ride to Washington D.C.
“Duty bikes are really heavy, so they’re going to really struggle towards the end, they’re going to push through for Josh,” Hollern told Channel 9′s Gina Esposito.
CMPD Detective Thomas Maddox is also riding in Eyer’s memory, and he said he received a special request from Eyer’s father that he plans to fulfill.
“His dad, Pat, called me; he said, please if you get a chance to take a picture today with his bike. His service to his country as a soldier and his commitment to the community meant a lot to his dad,” Maddox said.
Anyone can cheer on the cyclists when they start their trek, which will start at 8 p.m. Thursday at CMPD headquarters.
They’re set to arrive in Washington on Sunday.
VIDEO: ‘My very best friend’: Funeral held for fallen CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer
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