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Show Head of PG 911 Dispatch Rides for Fallen Officers --. 'J i - " ' . " ,V ,1 ?f ' r mm:-, j, . by Geri Taylor Respect, Honor, Remember Remem-ber are words engraved on a special spe-cial Utah challenge coin Sherri Atwood will carry with her when riding in the 15th annual Police Unity Tour (PUT) next month. These words reflect her sentiments senti-ments for fallen police officers, but Sherri adds the word reverence rever-ence to the list, stressing that all officers and their families deserve de-serve our gratitude for their sacrifices sac-rifices in the public's behalf. For the past 25 years, Sherri has been riding with the Olympians on their final leg of the torch run which goes from the Point of the Mountain to BYU for the Special Olympic Games. Three years ago, while biking next to Sergeant Randy Crowther of Orem, he suggested suggest-ed she consider doing the Police Unity Tour, which piqued her interest in the yearly 300-mile bike ride. Sherri said the way he expressed the value and emotion emo-tion of the event kindled a desire to try it. After researching PUT she felt compelled to show her appreciation ap-preciation and respect to the entire law enforcement community com-munity and participation in the tour would be the beginning. Their mission is to raise awareness aware-ness of law enforcement officers offi-cers who have died in the line of duty and to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial and Museum Muse-um in Washington D.C. Each participant is expected to contribute con-tribute $1,800 to the memorial and pay their own expenses for the trip. Sherri began training daily, both at home and on the road, to build her stamina for the grueling ride and last summer attempted her first 100-mile ride, the ULCER (Utah Lake Century Epic Ride). Not long into the journey, Sherri needed some lip balm and reached into her Docket for the tube. The slight change in position caused her tire to veer and bump into a co-workers bike in front of her. She was thrown to the ground For the past 25 years Sherri Atwood has been riding with the Olympians on their final leg of the torch run which goes from the Point of the Mountain to BYU for the Special Olympic Games. This year she heads to Washington D.C. to help raise awareness of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. and the impact gave her a concussion, con-cussion, broke her cheek bone and cracked several ribs. For three days she laid in a coma, unaware of how serious her injuries in-juries were. Fire Chief Mark Sanderson was on the ride and said when the paramedics turned her over to put her on the board, Sherri was still holding the lip balm and tried to put it on. Needless to say she has been constantly ribbed about the chapstick episode. What would have deterred many from getting back on a bike seemed to increase Sher-ri's Sher-ri's determination, not only to be the safest biker, but prove she could make this run. In November she completed com-pleted her own century ride "911" continued on Page 6 "911" continued from Page 1 from Saratoga Springs, ending end-ing at the Cracker Barrel in Springville. The 101.7 mile trip was especially difficult without co-riders to motivate and push her on, but she finished fin-ished in 10 hours and knew she could go for the big one. The PUT begins May 9 in Newark, New Jersey with an NYPD escort to Ground Zero for a special memorial, then back to Newark where the actual tour starts. The 80-mile round trip into New York will make the first day a 120 mile ride. An estimated 1,200 riders, rid-ers, from all areas of law enforcement, en-forcement, are expected to ride in this year's event, covering cov-ering the 300 miles in four days. Sherd's group has opted to take the challengers course which has less riders but more hills to traverse. There are eight going from Utah, but Sherri hopes to bring her experience home to encourage others to participate. partici-pate. Besides selling the challenge coins as a fund raiser, there have been several sev-eral generous sponsors who have donated her required contribution and much of the expenses for the trip. She feels indebted to these people and will share their names after returning from the tour. Good luck Sherri. We look forward to your report. |