Inverell Police Sergeant Darren Wilkins, his stepsons Jack and Ben Goodwin and three Tamworth officers took on the 2018 Remembrance Bicycle Ride.
The 300km cycle, from Sydney to Canberra, supported the work of New South Wales Police Legacy- a charity assisting police families affected by serious injury or death.
Jack and Ben were just nine and six-years old when they lost their father, the late Senior Constable Daniel Goodwin.
On Friday, the boys joined their step dad in the last 20km of the three-day cycle in memory of him.
Sergeant Wilkins and fellow officers from Tamworth made up the team ‘The Peelers’, and together completed the entire cycle event.
“The Tamworth officers knew and worked with Senior Constable David Rixon who was shot whilst on duty in 2012,” he said.
Around 120 riders participated in the event and as a total group they raised over $102,000 for Police Legacy.
Sergeant Wilkins said during the last 20km they rode as one big group where they boys joined in.
“One lane of the highway was blocked off for us to ride into the memorial together. Jack and Ben rode right up the front with us surrounding them.”
The brothers wore the same riding gear as participants with their late fathers’ police badge.
“We had a bit of down time whilst waiting for the last of the riders to arrive and the boys got to mingle with the riders.
“There were people who knew and worked with their father and shared stories about him; it was really special for them to know they weren’t alone.”
There is still an opportunity for Inverell residents to support these local riders by heading to their fundraising page.
