About Us
Our Story
For many local firefighters, June 18, 2007, was a well-deserved day off when the news broke that nine Charleston firefighters lost their lives doing what they love to do, fighting fires and saving lives. Although firefighters may become callous and numb to the news of a comrade’s death when nine lives are lost it becomes significant and hits home. When firefighters feel a loss or pain they gravitate to their second home, their fire station, not to work but to be among those that would also be experiencing the same feelings.
On June 18th, 2007, when I arrived at Station 45 it was quiet. I found the shoes of the men and women from the station that were responding to a call. They left behind their shoes to put on their gear. For nine Charleston Firefighters, their shoes would never be worn again. They would forever be left at their fire stations representing nine fathers, husbands, brothers, friends, and loved ones who would never return.
As time went on, a small group of firefighters gathered at the station. This is when the concept of the Brotherhood Ride was conceived. It was at this time that we decided to honor these nine members of the Charleston Fire Department. We wanted to help the families of these brave professionals. We wanted to provide financial as well as emotional support to them. We wanted them to know that their loved ones would not be forgotten in the days, months, and years to come. We didn’t want these unsung heroes to just become a statistic of being a part of the single deadliest disaster for firefighters since 9/11. We knew whatever we did to honor these heroes should not and would not be easy. Whatever we did would be representative of the pain and loss that the families of these nine brothers would be feeling. This is when we decided to ride bicycles nearly 600 miles from Naples, Florida to Charleston, South Carolina. We knew it wouldn’t be an easy ride but then again it would be nothing compared to the ultimate sacrifice the Charleston 9 made. The training and ride would be grueling, time-consuming, and challenging.
We decided that this would be a yearly event. Each year we would select an unsung hero or heroes from around the country to honor by riding our bicycles to their hometown and providing financial and emotional support to their families, friends, and coworkers. The ride would take place about a year after their death as a reminder that they have not and will not be forgotten.
The Brotherhood Ride continues the tradition of Honor, Dedication, and Pride. Over the past fifteen years, we have honored the memory and sacrifice of a total of 707 Emergency First Responders which includes; firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical personnel. Our team has traveled on bicycles over 12,000 miles, through sixteen states, have been hosted by over forty Elks Lodges nationwide, and assisted by countless emergency first responders who have shown the true meaning of Brotherhood.
Through year-round fundraising efforts, the Brotherhood Ride has been able to honor the memory of fallen heroes and provide emotional and financial support to their families. Past Brotherhood Rides, we have honored our fallen brothers and sisters from SC, TX, NY, FL, TN, VA, PA, NJ, CT, and MA and we are very proud to have donated over $840,000.00 to the families left behind.
Thank you to everyone who sponsors and supports us. With your help, we are able to show the families and friends of those who have died in the line of duty that their loved ones will not be forgotten.
Jeff Morse
Founder – President
Brotherhood Ride
Why We Ride
Why We Ride
Why ride to honor those who have fallen in the line of duty?
When I heard the news that one of my brothers had died, I felt so low.
We had never met, I never shook your hand, our spouses did not know each other, nor did your kids call me uncle. But I knew I had lost a brother.
You were a total stranger to me, but there was a lump in my throat and a hole in my heart.
Why did it bother me so much, how could my wife tell that I had lost another friend?
Why did I feel I needed to show how firefighters, police officers, and emergency responders are all brothers?
You had worn the same uniform as mine, that of an emergency responder. You had taken the same oath to protect lives and property, to serve and protect, care for the sick and you knew that the oath was more than a bunch of words to get on the job.
You knew from the day that you repeated those words that you would have to put your life on the line to save others. You knew that if you had to, you would risk everything to save someone who you never met.
We are not like other workers; we expect to be in danger from the start of our shift until we are relieved by another emergency responder. We will defend and protect anyone who calls us without hesitation.
I wonder what you thought as you made the ultimate sacrifice. I can only hope that as you lay in the dark smoke-filled hallway or on the dark lonely street, I hope that you were comforted knowing that your brothers and sisters were coming to get you.
We know that they were unable to reach you in time, but rest assured brother they finished the job you started. They made your community safe again.
Other fallen brothers lost their lives because they sacrificed their bodies throughout their careers. They fought the fires and saved lives and property despite the repeated risk to their health. Those brethren bore the burden of their illnesses with courage and fortitude. They had to endure physical pain as well as the mental anguish of knowing their lives were coming to an end far earlier than they had control over. I hope that they were comforted with the knowledge that we would watch over their families and remember their spirit long after they left this physical world.
So, my brother, I was not able to be with you when you paid the ultimate price, but my brothers and I have come here to honor you. We know that you will say “I was only doing my job.” No, you were doing the work of God, and we will not apologize for reminding everyone that you gave your life to protect their community.
So why do we train so hard to ride for a total stranger? Why do we ride in all different kinds of weather: rain, wind, cold, heat? Why do we sleep wherever we can find space on the floor? Why would we do this for a total stranger? We wouldn’t, but we will for our brothers.
We always say NEVER FORGET, but time moves on and people will forget about that day. Rest assured we will remind them that there are families and co-workers who still have a hole in their heart that will never be filled.
We are not heroes, but we are proud to wear the names of the heroes on our backs for all to see.
So stand down my brother, you have completed your shift. Let our legs carry your memory and remind all who will listen that “You gave your life to save a total stranger and protect your community”.
Jeffrey Morse, Founder/President
Brotherhood Ride
Our Story
For many local firefighters, June 18, 2007, was a well-deserved day off when the news broke that nine Charleston firefighters lost their lives doing what they love to do, fighting fires and saving lives. Although firefighters may become callous and numb to the news of a comrade’s death when nine lives are lost it becomes significant and hits home. When firefighters feel a loss or pain they gravitate to their second home, their fire station, not to work but to be among those that would also be experiencing the same feelings.
On June 18th, 2007, when I arrived at Station 45 it was quiet. I found the shoes of the men and women from the station that were responding to a call. They left behind their shoes to put on their gear. For nine Charleston Firefighters, their shoes would never be worn again. They would forever be left at their fire stations representing nine fathers, husbands, brothers, friends, and loved ones who would never return.
As time went on, a small group of firefighters gathered at the station. This is when the concept of the Brotherhood Ride was conceived. It was at this time that we decided to honor these nine members of the Charleston Fire Department. We wanted to help the families of these brave professionals. We wanted to provide financial as well as emotional support to them. We wanted them to know that their loved ones would not be forgotten in the days, months, and years to come. We didn’t want these unsung heroes to just become a statistic of being a part of the single deadliest disaster for firefighters since 9/11. We knew whatever we did to honor these heroes should not and would not be easy. Whatever we did would be representative of the pain and loss that the families of these nine brothers would be feeling. This is when we decided to ride bicycles nearly 600 miles from Naples, Florida to Charleston, South Carolina. We knew it wouldn’t be an easy ride but then again it would be nothing compared to the ultimate sacrifice the Charleston 9 made. The training and ride would be grueling, time-consuming, and challenging.
We decided that this would be a yearly event. Each year we would select an unsung hero or heroes from around the country to honor by riding our bicycles to their hometown and providing financial and emotional support to their families, friends, and coworkers. The ride would take place about a year after their death as a reminder that they have not and will not be forgotten.
The Brotherhood Ride continues the tradition of Honor, Dedication, and Pride. Over the past fifteen years, we have honored the memory and sacrifice of a total of 707 Emergency First Responders which includes; firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical personnel. Our team has traveled on bicycles over 12,000 miles, through sixteen states, have been hosted by over forty Elks Lodges nationwide, and assisted by countless emergency first responders who have shown the true meaning of Brotherhood.
Through year-round fundraising efforts, the Brotherhood Ride has been able to honor the memory of fallen heroes and provide emotional and financial support to their families. Past Brotherhood Rides, we have honored our fallen brothers and sisters from SC, TX, NY, FL, TN, VA, PA, NJ, CT, and MA and we are very proud to have donated over $840,000.00 to the families left behind.
Thank you to everyone who sponsors and supports us. With your help, we are able to show the families and friends of those who have died in the line of duty that their loved ones will not be forgotten.
Jeff Morse
Founder – President
Brotherhood Ride
Why We Ride
Why We Ride
Why ride to honor those who have fallen in the line of duty?
When I heard the news that one of my brothers had died, I felt so low.
We had never met, I never shook your hand, our spouses did not know each other, nor did your kids call me uncle. But I knew I had lost a brother.
You were a total stranger to me, but there was a lump in my throat and a hole in my heart.
Why did it bother me so much, how could my wife tell that I had lost another friend?
Why did I feel I needed to show how firefighters, police officers, and emergency responders are all brothers?
You had worn the same uniform as mine, that of an emergency responder. You had taken the same oath to protect lives and property, to serve and protect, care for the sick and you knew that the oath was more than a bunch of words to get on the job.
You knew from the day that you repeated those words that you would have to put your life on the line to save others. You knew that if you had to, you would risk everything to save someone who you never met.
We are not like other workers; we expect to be in danger from the start of our shift until we are relieved by another emergency responder. We will defend and protect anyone who calls us without hesitation.
I wonder what you thought as you made the ultimate sacrifice. I can only hope that as you lay in the dark smoke-filled hallway or on the dark lonely street, I hope that you were comforted knowing that your brothers and sisters were coming to get you.
We know that they were unable to reach you in time, but rest assured brother they finished the job you started. They made your community safe again.
Other fallen brothers lost their lives because they sacrificed their bodies throughout their careers. They fought the fires and saved lives and property despite the repeated risk to their health. Those brethren bore the burden of their illnesses with courage and fortitude. They had to endure physical pain as well as the mental anguish of knowing their lives were coming to an end far earlier than they had control over. I hope that they were comforted with the knowledge that we would watch over their families and remember their spirit long after they left this physical world.
So, my brother, I was not able to be with you when you paid the ultimate price, but my brothers and I have come here to honor you. We know that you will say “I was only doing my job.” No, you were doing the work of God, and we will not apologize for reminding everyone that you gave your life to protect their community.
So why do we train so hard to ride for a total stranger? Why do we ride in all different kinds of weather: rain, wind, cold, heat? Why do we sleep wherever we can find space on the floor? Why would we do this for a total stranger? We wouldn’t, but we will for our brothers.
We always say NEVER FORGET, but time moves on and people will forget about that day. Rest assured we will remind them that there are families and co-workers who still have a hole in their heart that will never be filled.
We are not heroes, but we are proud to wear the names of the heroes on our backs for all to see.
So stand down my brother, you have completed your shift. Let our legs carry your memory and remind all who will listen that “You gave your life to save a total stranger and protect your community”.
Jeffrey Morse, Founder/President
Brotherhood Ride