Thousands Pedal From Philly To Atlantic City For Annual Tour de Shore
By Tim Jimenez
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The excessive heat and humidity did not stop thousands of cyclists from biking their way from Philadelphia to Atlantic City for an annual ride benefiting children in need and families of fallen first responders.
The 28th annual Tour de Shore raised $820-thousand for the nonprofit Irish Pub Children's Foundation.
"This money goes back to the community," says organization president, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Joe Sullivan, "and it does incredible work."
Sullivan says participants of the 65-mile bike ride are fueled by the comradery.
"When you start to think you're not going to make it any further, the people around you rally around you and cheer you on," he says, "and somehow you find a way to make it to Atlantic City."
There is strong law enforcement presence for the event, with some of the money going to families of the fallen.
Colby Cassidy lost her father back in 2007, Philadelphia Police Officer Chuck Cassidy.
"You ride for them and you ride in honor of them," Cassidy says. "It gives you an extra push when you don't think you're gonna make it to the next rest stop. They do all of this for us, the least we can do is just push ourselves to the limit."
The largest team is Wheels of Justice, a 250 member squad led by Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman. She says many groups are represented, but most importantly they're all one.
"On race day we're all one team," Ferman says. "We're all riding together, all in solidarity for those who put their lives on the line for us."
The race began at the Irish Pub in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square and ended at the Irish Pub at St. James Place in Atlantic City.
