Crime & Safety
DA and Local Police Ride for Charity
The "Wheels of Justice" raised almost $50,000 in the Irish Pub Tour De Shore charity bike run.
On Sunday morning, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman took a break from putting away bad guys and led a team of 180 county law enforcement officers through the Irish Pub Tour De Shore charity bike run.
"I'm here with the Montgomery County Law Enforcement team, and we're here to raise money for police charities," said Ferman, who swapped out her suit for a cycling uniform.
The Montgomery County team, which goes by the moniker "Wheels of Justice," was joined by an additional 1,120 riders from various other law enforcement agencies throughout the region, bringing the total to 1,300 riders ready to make the 65-mile journey.
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"The ride is from Irish Pub to Irish Pub. Philadelphia to Atlantic City. Hopefully, it's not too hot," said Ferman.
The teams staged their bikes and equipment around 6 a.m. at the intersection of 20th and Walnut streets in Philadephia. Members of each group posed for team photos in front of the Irish Pub before inflating their tires and tightening their handlebars.
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As a requirement, each participant in the race must raise a minimum of $150 for the various police charities, but "Wheels of Justice" went above and beyond the call of duty, shattering its collective requirement of $27,000.
"We're about $45,000 in, and I'm hoping that with a few more donations, we might reach the $50,000 mark," said Ferman.
After the singing of the national anthem at 7 a.m., riders mounted their bikes and began the long journey to "America's Favorite Playground."
As a whole, the fundraiser fell 4 percent short of its overall goal of $400,000, but not for a lack of effort from "Wheels of Justice," which certainly did its part.
