Police Unity Tour: Ready to Ride

Editor's note: Centreville resident Kevin Whalen is sending updates for the next several days , a 220-mile bike ride from Richmond to Washington, D.C. He is riding in honor of Virginia Tech's Officer Deriek Crouse, who died after being shot on campus last December.

Ready in Richmond to start the ride at 7:30am Thursday. Bikes are tuned up, bodies are carbed up. We are 100 strong, ready to ride for 163 law enforcement who died in the line of duty in 2011.

Weather is rain now, but will clear up for our ride. It's great that we do not have to ride in the rain, but it will be a challenge of 95 miles of hills to Charlottesville in "10-15mph winds, with gusts up to 25." Praying for the wind at our backs. Temps are forecast at 73 and sun.  

One cool thing we have to motivate us are the laminated rider cards I received this week from the 5th graders and teacher Mrs Abt of in Centreville, and from kids and Principal Robyn Cochran at  in Reston. The cards and kids are awesome. One card says "Keep on Going...You Can Do It" and another with "Keep it up, You Can Do It, Lets go!"  The hand-drawn pictures and messages are great. We can't wait to do it, one day at a time. 

Coming up the Route 29 hill in Centreville is going to be the last and best "speed bump" to accomplish as a team. Your support helps us a lot, especially the kids from Colin Powell and Dogwood. Photo attached of me with three of my fellow riders holding some of the cards.  

Talk to you tomorrow from Charlottesville. Pray for a safe ride.  

Thanks, 

Kevin