Hardee County to host Brotherhood Ride rest stop Oct. 20 honoring fallen first responders

Casey Dasher, Hardee County Public Safety Director, told commissioners on Oct. 16 that the Brotherhood Ride — a nonprofit event of firefighters, law enforcement and EMS personnel that honors fallen first responders and raises funds for their families — will traverse Hardee County on Oct. 20 and include a rest stop at The Bluffs and Fire Station 1.

Dasher described the Ride as a multi‑day event that starts in Fort Myers, travels north through Florida and returns to Miami, and said riders average 70–90 miles per day. He identified two Hardee County riders who participate: Lieutenant Bobby Resperger and Firefighter EMT Javier Fernandez, and said they and other riders will stop in Arcadia and then at Fire Station 1 at 11:11 a.m. on the scheduled day. Dasher invited commissioners and the public to attend and noted the event includes its own traffic control measures to limit disruption.

The Brotherhood Ride honors first responders killed in the line of duty and distributes proceeds to surviving family members, Dasher said. Commissioners thanked the riders for their service and indicated they plan to attend and support the rest stop.