SARASOTA COUNTY – A Sarasota cycling club is helping first responders cope with stress and PTSD with a bike ride.
The Club, which was founded back in 1985, started as a group of friends cycling but has evolved into something with a purpose.
“Basically we’ve kind of grown into the fact that we’re for first responders, between the police, the fire, and also lifeguards, we focus on fitness, that saves lives,” said First Responder Cycling Club, Florida Chapter Coordinator, Bill Spitler.
The club is open to anyone that shares the belief, that fitness, saves lives by helping its members deal with stress and PTSD. The rides usually range from 32 miles to 50 miles across the Suncoast.
“If someone just wants to show up and say hey bill, this is my first ride, I can’t do 50, I’d be more than glad to do whatever level, at whatever level speed to encourage them for fitness and promote first responders,” said Spitler.
They do require all riders to bring a helmet, a bike and obey all traffic safety rules.
“We’re very fortunate, here between, the two great sheriff’s we have here in this county, our local police chiefs, our fire chiefs, and our head of the life guards, all great people, we just encourage that people come out and participate,” said Spitler.
The cycling club will have races on the Suncoast this weekend, for more information, you can visit their website here.
