EUSTIS, Florida— Honoring his fallen brothers and sisters in blue is something that is close to Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri’s heart and on Saturday he will ride his bicycle with Tour de Force from Boston to New York City to pay his respects to the nearly 3,000 people lost in the terrorist attacks two decades ago.
Capri, an avid cyclist, joined the group nine years ago and has participated in numerous rides, he told Inside Lake. “It raises awareness for (law enforcement officers) killed in the line of duty.”
Along with increasing awareness, the nonprofit organization also raises money for families of officers killed on the job, Capri said. Since its inception, Tour de Force has raised more than half a million dollars.
Tour de Force began in 2002, just one year after the attacks, when retired New York City Police Department Det. Robert De Paolis rode his bike from the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia to Ground Zero, joined by seven members of the NYPD and a member of the Bronx District Attorney’s Office to raise money for fallen officers and never forget 9/11. Four volunteers followed behind the cyclists to ensure their safety, according to the group’s website. In 19 years, the group has grown to more than 250 riders that includes law enforcement officers, firefighters, military personnel and civilians, Capri said. The cyclists are backed up by 40 support personnel with box trucks, vehicles and certified EMTs; due to the complexity of the event, each ride takes nearly 11 months to plan. Participants will consume around 200 cases of water, 125 cases of sports drinks and 120 pizzas, along with fresh fruits and sweets.
Capri and his fellow cyclists are scheduled to be escorted out of Boston on Saturday and will ride to Manhattan, where they will be greeted by additional first responder escorts and pay their respects to those lost.
