Firefighters bike across country in honor of 9/11

By Sasha Lekach
FireRescue1 Staff

MILWAUKEE — A group of firefighters is hitting the road on a cross-country 4,500 mile bike ride to New York City to honor fallen firefighters and the 10-year anniversary of 9/11.

“Fire Ride: Tribute 2011" is scheduled to begin in San Francisco on July 18 and end 60 days later in New York City on the morning of Sept. 11. The bicyclists are biking from station to station throughout the country, picking up firefighters for parts of the ride and recuperating at local firehouses.

The ride started as something Mount Horeb Volunteer Firefighter Chris Rupp, 22, a nursing student at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, wanted to cross off his bucket list, but it grew into something much bigger and meaningful.

Firefighter Rupp has been a volunteer firefighter-EMT since 2006. Shortly after joining his department, a local firefighter died, which prompted his fundraising idea.

“Firefighting is known for its family atmosphere,” he said. “I saw how tight the firefighter family truly is.”

September 11 is a critical date for the firefighter family. After many firefighters sacrificed their lives in New York City, Rupp decided he would be a firefighter. Now that he has achieved his goal, he is still supporting the World Trade Center fighters.

“September 11 was the single biggest moment for firefighters. More people became more aware of what of firefighters do,” Firefighter Rupp said, explaining why he is encouraging donations to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and FDNY Foundation in honor of the ride and cyclists.

An anonymous donor gave more than $12,000 to Firefighter Rupp and Fire Ride last fall, which has helped with planning, mapping and GPS equipment, and logistics. Rupp will be the only rider to complete the whole distance; most firefighters and volunteers have signed up for 1- to 3-week rides.

Firefighter Rupp knows parts will be tough — he’s dreading Mt. Whitney through the Death Valley stretch — but come Sept. 11, he will be eager for the final leg of journey. Biking from Trenton, N.J., to New York City in an all-night bike ride, the group will enter the city in the morning.

Firefighter Rupp has coordinated the final arrival with FDNY and has invited firefighters who worked on 9/11 to bike the last stretch to the historic WTC site, hoping to arrive exactly 10 years after the tragic disaster.

For more information on the tribute ride, email Chris Rupp at chrupp@uwm.edu.

“Fire Ride: Tribute 2011" Route Schedule