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 2008, eight officers representing CMPD, MCSO, and the Airport Police covered a longer route, making a 410 mile trip. We rode the last day from Richmond, VA into Washington, DC with Bike for the Blue, which organizes Richmond Area Law Enforcement cyclists for their ride to honor fallen officers. In 2009 our rider total increased to 18 and we covered 420 miles as we changed our route to end in Danville, VA on Day 2. In 2010 we had 25 riders and added the FBI to our roster of cyclists. By 2011 the group had grown to 62 cyclists representing Law Enforcement agencies across NC and VA..

This year (2012) we anticpate 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 Saturday May 12 and attend the evening Candlelight Vigil at the Memorial on Sunday May 13. With the tragic loss of CMPD Officer Fred Thornton (End of Watch February 25, 2011), the ride has taken on renewed meaning for every officer involved - his name will be added to the Memorial on Sunday May 13, 2012. This year the ride is Five Hundred For Fred.

In 2012 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’s Finest Legacy Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established to organize and raise money for a scholarship in memory of fallen Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers, including Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton. The scholarship is to help those high school seniors who wish to pursue a career in law enforcement.