MILWAUKEE — More than a dozen Milwaukee firefighters recently rode their bicycles 183 miles. It was all for a fellow firefighter who gave her life to save others.
It was the first-ever Pedal for the Brave.
"We have people joining us that never cycled before two months ago, but then to do a 100-mile ride one day is just a testament to the kind of grit and will that they have," said Milwaukee firefighter and Ignite the Spirit president, Joe Flick.
Flick, 12 of his fellow firefighters, and a couple of civilians rode from Milwaukee to Wisconsin Rapids- the site of the Wisconsin State Firefighters and EMS Memorial.
It's a trip that would take a little over two hours by car but took two days by bicycle.
"We may have all gotten more than we bargained for," joked Flick.
Money raised from the ride helped set up a scholarship in honor of late Milwaukee Fire Lieutenant Kristen Ciganek-Schroeder. She passed away from duty-related cancer.
"Lieutenant Kristen's the girl who passed away in December 2017 and ultimately led to us forming Ignite the Spirit, and that's going to be used to set up a scholarship in her name to help support women entering the fire service."
Ignite the Spirit is planning on doing the Pedal for the Brave again next year. If you are interested in taking part visit the Ignite the SpiritFacebook page for more information.
