In the early morning hours of April 1, 2007, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Officers Jeff Shelton and Sean Clark lost their lives in the line of duty.When Officers Clark and Shelton were killed, there were funerals and grieving and collections of funds to benefit the families of those officers. Yet, some people in the law enforcement community still wanted to do more. We wanted to do something physical in their honor – something we could DO to honor Officers Shelton and Clark. So on May 9, 2007, four cyclists from CMPD, Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, and Charlotte Airport Police got on bicycles and headed out from CMPD Headquarters to ride 370 miles from Charlotte to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC.

We arrived at the Memorial after four days of tough riding. It was a great trip – we felt the support of communities along the way as we explained why we were cycling to honor our fallen brothers. When we arrived at the National Law Enforcement Memorial at Judiciary Square, we were greeted by families of officers who had made the ultimate sacrifice. It was an incredibly moving moment.

In the six years Bike to DC has made the ride from Charlotte to DC, participation has increased to over 60 riders and our mileage has increased too - we now ride 500 miles in four days. Riders in 2012 came from 15 law enforcement agencies across the USA. Officers from as far away as Washington state came to join us as we honored the fallen.

This year (2013) we anticipate having over 100 riders from Charlotte-Mecklenburg and beyond and increased interest from the communities we ride through along the way. We will arrive in DC on Sunday May 12 and attend the evening Candlelight Vigil at the Memorial on Monday May 13. Attending this moving service is the highlight of the ride.

Click here to meet our riders as they explain Why We Ride

In 2013 the ride takes place the week before Police Week, a time set aside for the community to "Honor the Service and Sacrifice of American Law Enforcement." This is not an easy journey. There is little flat ground between Charlotte and DC. But each officer is committed to complete this ride in honor of not only Officers Shelton and Clark, but for all those Law Enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Any funds raised in excess of ride expenses are donated to the Charlotte Mecklenburg FOP Foundation, a well established organization that assists law enforcement officers in need.