More than 100 law enforcement officers from Texas will ride 150 miles this weekend in honor of their fallen brothers and sisters in blue.
Local DPS troopers, a McLennan County Constable and a McLennan County Sheriff's Office Corporal are joining in on the Texas Peace Officers Memorial Ride.
"We've ridden quite a few miles and we've trained hard so we'll be okay," McLennan County Constable for Precinct 1 Walt Strickland said.
It will be the first year Strickland and McLennan County Sheriff's Office Corporal Ben Burch have participated in the race.
"The thin blue line. We're all one family. It supports all the families of the fallen officers," Burch said.
Burch said the last year has been hard on law enforcement. In November 2017, DPS Troopers Thomas Nipper and Damon Allen were both killed. Burch said this year hits close to home.
"It hits pretty hard every time you see something on the news about an officer getting killed," Burch said. "And then knowing the families, the kids that are left behind. It hits you pretty hard."
Burch, Strickland and 5 others, including Strickland's wife, are riding 150 miles to Austin this weekend to support the Texas Peace Officers Memorial Ride.
"We do this to support each other, support the families who have been left behind, if you will, and the officers themselves are remembered through the memorial," Strickland said.
The ride will end just in time for riders to attend the Texas Peace Officers candlelight vigil ceremony on Sunday.
"We've raised quite a bit of money for families. I just hope it would give awareness to people that riding 150 miles for this cause, that's a lot [of miles]."
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