This summer, the Carolina Brotherhood, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, which hosts an annual cycling event made up of emergency responders and their families from across North and South Carolina stopped at Mitchell Community College during their annual event route. Founded in 2010 by two Charlotte (NC) firefighters and growing to include over 100 emergency responders who have participated over the last decade, Carolina Brotherhood’s mission is to provide financial and emotional support to the families of emergency responders who become sick, injured, or killed in the line of duty.
“Each year we ride in the name of our fallen brothers and sisters from the Carolinas,” said Rob Colvert, a member of the group. “This year we’re pedaling over 620 miles over a 6-day period to provide emotional and financial support for the families of 26 fallen Carolina public safety heroes who have lost their lives in the line of duty.”
On June 20, the Carolina Brotherhood departed Reidsville, NC to pedal 100 miles to Statesville, NC to stay overnight in Mitchell’s Continuing Education Center. Along the route, riders visited Greensboro, Thomasville, Lexington, and other locations to honor families and departments who were impacted by the fallen heroes of whom the ride was honoring.
To finish up their day, the Carolina Brotherhood visited the Statesville Fire Department to honor Lieutenant Mauro Messina who passed May 1, 2023 from occupational cancer. The riders met the Messina Family, including Vinnie, who is a Fire Captain with the Greensboro Fire Department. After spending time with the Messina family and Statesville’s firefighters, the riders ended their day at Mitchell Community College’s Continuing Education Building to spend the night. Members of the ride also met and networked with Mitchell’s Public Safety staff. On Friday, June 21, the ride departed Mitchell with a destination of Spartanburg, SC. The ride concluded on Saturday, June 22, in Columbia, SC.
