This year the 17th annual Florida Tour De Force ride is scheduled to begin April 7, 2014 and run through April 11, 2014.  As it does every year, the race begins at the Denny’s Restaurant in Sunny Isles Beach located at 17550 Collins Avenue.  North Miami Beach Police Detective Craig Catlin and Officer Michael Mundy are featured in an article published on January 31, 2014 in News-Press.com, Area Denny’s restaurants take part in fundraiser for police.  The article states that four Fort Myers-Naples area Denny’s will kick-off a month-long fundraiser for Florida’s Tour De Force, a Miami-based organization that provides financial support to the families of the four Florida law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2013.”

Denny’s is one of the sponsors of the Florida Tour De Force.  During the month of February, Denny’s patrons who donate $3.00 will receive $9.00 in coupons in return.  One hundred percent of the proceeds will be given directly to the four designated families.

Detective Catlin is the executive director of Tour de Force, and he organizes the annual “270 mile charity bicycle ride from North Miami Beach Police Department to Daytona Beach Shores Public Safety Department. The ride is done to honor and raise money for Florida’s Law Enforcement Fallen Heroes. The ride is organized and manned by devoted volunteers and every single dollar raised is donated to the families of our fallen heroes,” as described on its website.

Officer Michael Mundy designed this year’s charity bike patch, which honors the fallen officers, and can be purchased for $5.00 each.  If you are interested in purchasing a patch, please contact:

Craig Catlin
North Miami Beach Police Department
craig.catlin@nmbpd.org

For more details of the ride please click here:  Tour de Force 2014

Anyone who is interested can participate in the ride individually or as part of a group.  In addition, you can choose to ride for one or more days up to the entire week of the event by applying online and clicking here:   http://www.floridatourdeforce.org/index.html

Participating in the 2014 Florida Tour de Force, either by donating or riding – or both, is one of the best ways we can show our appreciation for all the men and women who dedicate their lives to serving and protecting us, and to help the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

We can also take great pride in the fact that two of the major players in this event are our from our very own North Miami Beach Police Department – Detective Craig Catlin and Officer Michael Mundy.  Please join me in thanking them for all their hard work in organizing the Tour de Force and for their dedication to our city.

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”