Aug. 28--On his bike ride from San Francisco New York City for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Jeff Moore stopped at the Perrysburg fire station on Wednesday for lunch and bonding.
Mr. Moore, a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin, had been a firefighter in Madison, Wisc. for four years. The Saline, Mich. native decided to do the ride after graduating in May to help raise funds for the foundation and in respect for and honor of firefighters.
"We've raised a couple hundred thousand," Mr. Moore said of his trip. "I've always wanted to see the country and do a trip, and this is an effort to support a great cause."
He's stopping and spending the night at fire stations across America. He said it helps raise awareness to the foundation as well as encourages and compels people to donate. He went from San Francisco to Sacramento, through Nevada and ended up back home in Wisconsin before going to Chicago.
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation gives money to families for funerals of fallen firefighters and scholarships.
While Mr. Moore was visiting in Perrysburg, an emergency dispatch call came to the station to respond to an automobile accident, so the firefighters on duty rushed away. But several firefighters thanked Mr. Moore for his trip and the organization he supports.
"It is great to be able to help him," said Pete Scarborough, Perrysburg firefighter. "He's doing this for a good cause."
His next night stay will be in a Findlay fire station, then one in Columbus, and then heading east. His goal is to make it to the World Trade Center "ground zero" area for a Sept. 11 remembrance.
All of his proceeds, he said, will go directly to the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation. They can be accepted here https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1492472.
Contact Matt Thompson at: [email protected], 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.
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