Upcoming Fundraisers Announced for New Bedford Police Cycle Team

NEW BEDFORD — Two events are scheduled in the next two weeks to benefit The New Bedford Police Union's Cycle Team.

The team is participating in the 2018 Police Unity ride to continue to raise awareness for law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Members of the New Bedford Police Union Cycle Team have participated in this ride for the past several years, and have always raised the necessary funds required by hosting numerous events leading up to the ride.

Each May the team drives to Florham Park, New Jersey. Then, for the next four days, team members pedal their bicycles 320 miles, riding an average six to eight hours a day, to Washington, D.C. to kick off National Police Week at the National Law Enforcement Memorial.

The event draws about 2,500 law enforcement officers from throughout the country and surviving family members of officers killed in the line of duty. This impressive group, all wearing Police Unity Tour cycle uniforms, forms a procession of bicycles, police motorcycles, cruiser escorts and support vehicles that is about four miles long and takes about 20 minutes to travel through intersections.

This moving procession is followed by several events, including an emotional candelight vigil in the center of Washington, D.C. honoring fallen brother and sister officers.

Each Cycle Team member is required to raise $2,000. The funds go to the Police Memorial, a new Law Enforcement Museum being built in D.C., and helps to bring the surviving family members down to witness their loved ones names being inscribed into the memorial wall.

Two upcoming events in New Bedford will benefit this worthy cause.

A spaghetti supper will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 29 at the Moose Lodge, located at 119 Rockdale Ave. Tickets are $10, are available at the door.

A wine and beer tasting will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 6 at the Waterfront Grill, at 36 Homer's Wharf. Tickets are $25 and are available at the door.

--New Bedford Police