Brotherhood Memorial Ride returns to Zelie
Dozens of motorcyclists will ride through Zelienople again this year for a cause as part of the Harmony Fire District’s Brotherhood Memorial Ride on Aug. 28.
The annual event was started in 2010, in honor of three young firefighters who died that January — Sam Bucci, Elijah Lunsford and honorary member Trevor Barkley. Funds raised through tickets and raffles at the event are donated to the Zelienople Skate Park as well as to a fund for first responders in the area.
Paul Reynolds, chairman of Brotherhood Memorial Ride, and a life member with Harmony Fire District, said the funds are used for police, EMS and firefighters.
“That includes fire, EMS and police, for basically any tragedies or hardships, whether it’s fatalities, or loss of a fireman, or their family is in a hardship,” Reynolds said. “We donate monetarily to different people within the area, not just within our fire service area; we’ve gone out to Cranberry Township and down into Beaver County, Butler and Evans City. If there’s a need out there, we try to help the families that need it.”
Signups for the event are $20 on the morning of Aug. 28, and $10 for any passengers, from 9 to 11 a.m. The ride will leave from the Zelienople Skate Park at 11:15 a.m.
Reynolds expects a higher turnout this year than for last year’s ride.
“Last year I think we had about 80 to 90 bikes, and the year prior, with COVID, the numbers were down. I think the year prior there were about 70 bikes,” he said. “But we have had numbers upwards of 120-150 bikes. This year, we’re expecting about 110-120 bikes with about 150 riders, with passengers counting.”
This year, a luncheon will be held at a pavilion in the Zelienople Park, a portion of the event that had been postponed the past two years due to the pandemic. A 50/50 raffle and basket raffle will also be held at the pavilion.
Reynolds said the event is open to all riders, not just firefighters.
“It’s anyone and everyone, whether it’s two wheels or three wheels,” he said. “We have people coming from Allegheny County, Beaver County and all over Butler County. Anyone and everyone, not just if you’re a firefighter or in a riding club. We do get some riding clubs that participate and support us."
