150 participate in Fallen Heroes Ride in memory of slain deputies

BY JAMES LOEWENSTEIN

TOWANDA - A total of 150 people from 12 different states came to ride in Saturday's Sixth Annual Fallen Heroes Ride, which raised thousands of dollars for local charities in memory of slain Bradford County Sheriff's Deputies Chris Burgert and Mike VanKuren.

The 80-mile motorcycle ride, together with last year's Fallen Heroes Ride, raised a total of $15,000 for local charities, said Nick Hurley, general manager of Hurley's supermarkets, which sponsored the ride.

The amount of money raised by the ride over the last two years is "phenomenal," said Mike Powers, owner of Wiggle 100 and The Bridge radio, who served as master of ceremonies for the event. "In this economy and world, to reach in your pocket and donate at this time is beyond any recognition."

The riders began their trip in Towanda and traveled through Sullivan and Wyoming counties before returning to Towanda.

Chris Burgert's father, Paul Burgert, said it was good to see that the community still wants to come together and remember his son and VanKuren more than five years after their deaths, and he praised those for donating money toward the charities.

"I'm very proud of this community for standing up like this and doing what they are doing," said Burgert, who, along with his wife, Dorothy, rode in a Bradford County Sheriff's Department car at the front of the motorcycle procession.

He also said it was nice that his son and VanKuren are still able to help others after their deaths by helping to attract donations toward charities.

Chris Burgert's widow, Kim Burgert, was riding on a motorcycle that she owns, with her 8-year-old, Christian. as her passenger.

She said that she has ridden in the Fallen Heroes Ride every year that it has been held and that this is the first year her son has ridden in it.

"He's been looking forward to it all summer," she said.

"I love that they have a ride in honor of Chris and Mike every year," Kim Burgert said. "It's good that they are remembered," and that it raises money for charities.

Powers noted that before the ride started at 10 a.m. Saturday, the weather "did not look all that good."

While it had rained the night before, it did not rain during the ride itself, said Nick Hurley, one of the main organizers of the ride.

Chris Burgert and VanKuren "were two fine gentlemen and outstanding sheriff's deputies. They were top shelf," said C.J. Walters, chief deputy of the Bradford County Sheriff's Department.

Ron Hunt of Towanda, who had been a sergeant in the Towanda Police Department when VanKuren had worked there as a part-time officer, said that VanKuren was "a cop's cop."

"He was dedicated to law enforcement," said Hunt, who participated in Saturday's motorcycle ride. "He was very knowledgeable. He knew what he was doing."

Former Towanda Police Chief Dale Cole said that VanKuren "was a really good guy" and "a great kid."

"People respected Mike," Cole said. If you were doing police activity, "Mike was the guy you wanted with you."

Bradford County Sheriff's Deputy Denny Welch said that Burgert was "a great guy" who "knew what he was doing" on the job.

The $15,000 raised by the last two Fallen Heroes Rides will be donated to Abuse and Rape Crisis Center, the Youth Hunter Education Challenge in Rome, the Towanda Police Department, the Wysox Emergency Medical Services, and the Bradford County Sheriffs' Department, said Nick Hurley, general manager of Hurley's supermarkets.

There are several more charitable organizations that will receive a share of the money, but it has not yet been determined which ones they will be, Hurley said.

The money donated to the sheriff's department will be used toward the purchase of Tasers, Hurley said.

Among the sponsors of the ride who gave cash donations this year were the Hurley family, Henry Dunn Inc., Gannon Associates, Bozzutos Wholesale out of Connecticut, DeArmond Bit Service, and Beck Oldfield Supply Inc., Hurley said.

Hannum's Harley-Davidson of Media, Pa., donated many door prizes for the riders, he said.

James Loewenstein can be reached at (570) 265-1633; or e-mail: jloewenstein@thedailyreview.com.

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