The Blue Knights, an International Law Enforcement motorcycle club, rides to provide money for different charities. We are a non-profit organization currently consisting of thirty-two members, and our tax ID number is 20-8492379. 

In January 2007, a group of riders formed a new chapter, North Carolina Chapter XX, which consists of members representing the following counties: Anson, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond and Scotland. Upon forming the club, the charter members agreed that the rides’ proceeds would be equally split among the counties. Members of each county decide the benefactor for their portion of the proceeds. This year, however, the club decided to give all proceeds to one family with a special need.

While chasing a suspect, Hope Mills police officer Sgt. James Heath Hardin age thirty-five, suffered a heart arrhythmia and died. The chase was a result of the suspect stealing gas, and Sgt. Hardin assisted a canine officer by foot for over 2.5 miles before suffering heart failure. Because Hardin died-and was not killed-in the line of duty, his family was denied the usual compensation for an officer killed.  The club members, therefore, believe it most appropriate for his wife, Shelly, his nine-year-old son Mason, and his thirteen-year-old daughter Samantha to benefit from this year’s ride.

North Carolina Chapter XX will conduct its first annual ride for charity on Saturday, August 25, 2007, with registration starting at 9:30 am at Cole Auditorium on Business US 74 in Hamlet, North Carolina. The club’s riders will ride through all five counties that morning. After returning to the Cole, the members will sell t-shirts and food, and a concert by the Eastern Seaboard Band will follow inside the auditorium.

The general public is invited. Tickets for the concert will be $15.00 per person. For the bikers this ticket includes participation in the ride and the concert.

I ask you for your support and donations to sponsor this event. After the event, all sponsors will be listed in the local newspaper. We are trying to raise enough money to cover the expenses of the band, t-shirts, Cole Auditorium, and cost of the food (law enforcement volunteers will prepare the food). If we can accomplish this, all proceeds would go to the Hardin family.

Thank you,

President of North Carolina Chapter XX
Det. Capt. Bob Steele Hamlet Police Department