Motorcycle riders will raise money for Goldsboro officer
By Nick Hiltunen
Published in News on April 15, 2010 1:46 PM
When family members approached Brandon Massey about Goldsboro police Officer James Serlick, they told him the situation was dire.
Serlick has been suffering from a rare form of leukemia and recently had a relapse. Massey has organized a motorcycle ride to ease the family's financial burden.
On April 17, the Golds-boro Police Department and the Wilson County Sheriff's Office are holding the "Officer James Serlick 'Pass the Hat' Ride."
"Pass the Hat," means just that -- passing a cap that participants can fill with cash or other offerings to help Serlick's cause.
The ride will begin at 11 a.m. at the Forest Hills Road Wal-Mart in Wilson County, and bikers will travel 42-some miles through the countryside to the Goldsboro Police Depart-ment, organizers said.
Massey explained why he organized the ride -- he has participated in other charity rides, but this is the first where he played a supervisory role.
"He and his family are members of a church that I grew up in," said Massey, a Wilson County Sheriff's Office corporal who rides a motorcycle for his law enforcement unit.
"I knew James' situation through family members that are members of (Pikeville Pentecostal Free will Baptist Church)," Massey said, adding that Goldsboro officers told him Serlick was in a daily struggle for his life.
Massey, who has been working with Goldsboro Capt. Al King, said if the phone calls he has gotten prior to the ride are any indication, the event should be well attended.
"It'll probably be one of the biggest rides that I've been involved in," Massey said.
He said many groups had expressed interest.
"I've had agencies, pretty much from all over the state calling, wanting to know details on it," Massey said.
The corporal said those calling were not limited to law enforcement, either. Biker groups of all kinds have phoned asking for the details.
Massey said he felt it was his duty to help a fellow officer.
"This young man has been willing to go out and put his life on the line for the people in his community," he said. "It's up to us to try to make his fight a little easier. As much stress as we can take off his wife and his family, that's what we're here to do."
To get involved with the event, call either King at 580-4236 or Massey at 252-205-0887.