CHESAPEAKE, Va. - Chesapeake police officers are raising money this weekend to help families of officers killed in the line of duty.
Sgt. David Chadwick and Officer Mike Jones are planning to join hundreds of others for the Road to Hope bike ride when it leaves from Chesapeake for Washington, D.C. on May 10.
The ride organized by Law Enforcement United honors fallen officers. Riders are either sworn or retired officers themselves or survivors of fallen officers. They each must raise $1,500 to participate; money that helps support family members fallen officers leave behind.
"We'll stop along the route at different places where officers actually died in the line of duty. We'll do a memorial service for them right there while we're still in our helmets and holding our bikes up," said Sgt. Chadwick.
To help reach their goal, Sgt. Chadwick and Officer Jones are holding a fundraiser Saturday, April 10.
The fundraiser will be at CrossFit Chesapeake at 1009 Scenic Parkway from 8 a.m. to noon, and includes a CrossFit-inspired workout.
Teams of two will work together to complete a circuit including the Assault bike, burpees, sit-ups and kettle bell swings.
The suggested donation at the door is $10 and a raffle will be held. Both officers are also collecting donations on their respective pages, here and here.
The Road to Hope bike ride itself kicks off May 10 and runs until May 12. It totals 250 miles, but organizers say the cause is so important.
"One of the main charities we support is Concerns of Police Survivors, also known as C.O.P.S.," said Sgt. Wallace Chadwick, David's cousin, who not only also works for the Chesapeake Police Department, but is one of the founders of Law Enforcement United. "C.O.P.S. provides that support for law enforcement and the survivors that are there."
In February, Virginia State Trooper Lucas Dowell was shot and killed during a shootout with a narcotics suspect.
Click here for more information about the ride.
