After IAFF Local 27 – the Seattle firefighters’ union – sent word of seven firefighters starting a fundraising long-distance bicycle ride tomorrow, we asked if any of the firefighters on the ride are based in West Seattle, and found out that one is! First, the announcement:

Fire fighters from all over Washington State are helping actor Gary Sinise, (Lt. Dan Taylor from the movie Forrest Gump), raise funds and awareness for the Gary Sinise Foundation. One of the foundation’s programs, known as “R.I.S.E.,” builds “smart homes” that accommodate the specific injuries of severely wounded military service men and women returning from war.

This team of fire fighters would like to announce their “Fire Fighter’s Ride 4 R.I.S.E.” bicycle benefit ride starting prior to the Seattle Fire Department annual Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Ceremony on October 6th at 08:00 AM located at Occidental Park near Pioneer Square in Seattle and ending in Los Angeles on October 29th. This event will include 24 stops at predetermined cities in WA, OR, and CA, where they will participate in dinners and benefit auctions to raise additional funds and awareness for the program.

To date, the Gary Sinise Foundation has built 39 “smart” homes for Veterans and will have 60 homes completed by the end of the year. Two of the veterans receiving “Smart Homes” from the Gary Sinise Foundation are from the state of Washington.

There are 7 fire fighters riding the entire 1500+ miles from Seattle to Los Angeles with additional riders joining them along the route to support our severely wounded veterans in their quest to have a normal lifestyle.

Check out the foundation and donate (here).

IAFF Local 27’s Tina Clere responded to our followup inquiry and tells WSB that one of the seven firefighters is based at Station 29 in North Admiral, Tim O’Mahony.