EMS Memorial Bike Ride treks through Surry County

The National EMS Memorial Bike Ride honors Emergency Medical Services personnel by organizing long distance cycling events that memorialize and celebrate the lives of those who serve every day, those who have become sick or injured while performing their duties, and those who have died in the line of duty.

The Southern Leg of the Memorial Bike Ride gets underway Sunday in Roanoke, Virginia, and will roll all the way down to Myrtle Beach to conclude the ride on May 11.

Surry County Emergency Services Director Eric Southern said he is excited to be on board for what will be his seventh year participating in the event.

He said the ride will be traveling through Surry County on Monday, May 6, and the riders are planning a rest break in Mount Airy.

The second day’s route starts in Hillsville, Virginia, before the Mount Airy pit stop and then it’s on to Forsyth County making a roughly 68-mile day of riding.

During the pit stop the group plans to stop for the ubiquitous photo with Andy and Opie outside the Andy Griffith Playhouse.

Southern said the riders will arrive at EMS Station 2 at the Surry County Resource Center, behind Holiday Inn on Highway 601, around 10:30 a.m. for a rest stop. He thinks they will linger there and rest for a half hour or so before continuing on.

To learn more about the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride or how to support the effort, visit their website: https://nemsmbr.org/.