Downtown Hollister will be less than quiet around noon on
Saturday, May 15, as the Fourth Annual Santa Clara Valley Peace
Officers’ Memorial Run cruises through town.
Downtown Hollister will be less than quiet around noon on Saturday, May 15, as the Fourth Annual Santa Clara Valley Peace Officers’ Memorial Run cruises through town.
Founded by a San Jose police officer and Hollister resident Bucky Harris, the motorcycle ride, which begins in San Jose and ends with a barbecue and entertainment at Bolado Park, has seen continuous support from the community over the years, and the registration numbers keep going up.
“Last year we had around 3,500 and this year we hope to have more than 4,000,” Harris said. “I knew one day it would get this big, but I never had any idea it would happen in four years.”
Held in honor of Santa Clara County’s officers who have been killed in the line of duty, the run is not only a fund-raiser, it’s also a chance for the community to acknowledge the hard work and sacrifies made by law enforcement, Harris said.
“This is basically an ostentatious way of getting people to realize police officers are sacrificing their lives out there to protect others,” he said.
The run requires road closures along the way and includes highways 87, 85, 101, 156 and San Benito Street.
Some of the money raised goes to Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), to financially help families who have lost their loved ones in the line of duty. Another portion is donated to the California Police Memorial Foundation, which maintains the fallen officers memorial wall in Sacramento, and $2,000 of it is split into two high school scholarships. Last year both recipients were from San Benito High School. Jeanie Churchill, a career specialist at San Benito High School, said she’s seen an overwhelming amount of applications for this year’s scholarship.
“It’s wonderful that the event is local and that students from here received the scholarships,” she said.
Bay Area television personality Rigo Chacon will be the master of ceremonies and the band Hog Wild will provide the entertainment at Bolado Park.
On the eve of the run, Friday, May 14, the public is invited to attend the pre-event party from 6 to 9 p.m. at the San Jose POA Hall, at 1151 N. Fourth Street. A 2003 Harley-Davidson 100th year anniversary Fat Boy, autographed by Willie G. Davidson and valued at $22,000, will be raffled off.
Registration for the run will be held Saturday from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Cost is $25 per person or $35 per couple. For registration information, call 408.298.1133 or visit www.leomemrun.com.
