9 Arizona law enforcement officers to ride bikes 250 miles for charity

PHOENIX — Nine Arizona law enforcement officers have a 250-mile bicycle ride ahead of them as they raise money for good causes.

Starting Friday, hundreds of officers from around the U.S. will bike the “Road to Hope” for three days from Chesapeake, Virginia, to Washington, D.C., while in their full ballistic body armor.

Five members of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, three members of the Peoria Police Department and Arizona Department of Public Safety Trooper Brad Kudler are participating in the ride.

One of the causes championed by the fundraiser is supporting a summer camp for children of fallen officers.

“They just get to go have a week of fun and understand that there are other families out there that are feeling the same things that they are,” Kudler said.

Another cause is helping law enforcement officers get access to potentially life-saving protective gear.

“There are some agencies that don’t provide ballistic armor for their officers, and their officers are required to purchase it to protect themselves,” Kudler said.

Each rider was required to raise a minimum of $1,500 to participate.

Donations can be made to Team Arizona using the form on the fundraiser’s website.

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