Road to Hope riders head to Pennsylvania

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  The Palmetto Patriots are hitting the road. In support of Law Enforcement United's 5th annual "Road to Hope," a trailer filled with bicycles and gear towed behind an SUV left the Manning Police Department today headed for Reading, Pennsylvania. Once there, the local bicycle team will ride 250 miles to Washington, D.C. from May 10 to 12 to honor fallen law enforcement officers and their families. It's all part of National Police Week and will culminate in a candelight vigil in our nation's capital during which time thousands of officers from all over the country will read the names of fallen brothers and sisters and pay tribute to the ultimate sacrifice. Pete Surette, an invesigator with the S.C. Department of Corrections and former Clarendon County Sheriff's Office deputy, purchased a Trek road bike from e-Bay a few years ago and has put plenty of miles on it. He's been training and is ready to ride. "I'm going to miss my daughter's prom," he said, as well as Relay for Life, an event he's been part of for 15 years. For Surette, though, it's important to remember the family members who have lost a loved one. He also wants to raise awareness of COPS and ODMP -- Concerns of Police Survivors and Officer Down Memorial Page. Joining Surette are Carroll Harrington and Scott Danback -- both lieutenants with the Manning Police Department -- Inv. Eric Rosdail from the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office and Gene Morris, who retired from the Department of Natual Resources and now works part-time asĀ  police officer in Summerton and holds the rank of firefighter with Clarendon County Fire Department. They will all wear wristbands honoring Sam Tobias, a local constable killed in the line of duty in 1899.