Horsham Police Chief Joins Air Guard Station For Project HERO, Benefiting Veterans

By Master Sgt. Christopher Botzum

Horsham, PA -- Bill Daly, Horsham Township chief of police, is getting in top gear as he teams with bicycling enthusiasts from the Horsham Air Guard Station, Horsham, Pennsylvania's Project HERO program, for a test ride through Horsham and Warrington, Pa. today.

"Today's route, one of three in the area, is a trial run so that we can best assess the route for the safety of the riders in the future," said Daly, veteran Horsham Police Officer, but a self-proclaimed rookie bicyclist.

"Project HERO, working with the Ride 2 Recovery, program is a rehabilitation tool for injured veterans," said Lt. Col. Claudia Malone, 112th Cyberspace Operations Squadron commander at the Horsham AGS. "There are programmed rides scheduled nationwide throughout the cycling season. So, rides through Warrington and surrounding communities help to get riders ready and to engage the public awareness for the needs of rehabilitation for injured veterans.

"The ride was designed to prepare for Ride 2 Recovery's first Philadelphia-area Honor Ride on September 18, which has routes through Upper Bucks County as well," Malone said. "It also demonstrated the support and cooperation emergency responders in neighboring Horsham and Warrington Townships are giving to the ride."

Today's tour of the town was a quick 15 mile run, but Daly will be digging deeper for his upcoming event.

Daly is spinning up to participate in the Tour De Shore on July 17 -- the route, a 65-mile bike journey from Philadelphia to Atlantic City. The ride will help to raise money for children of fallen first responders: fire, EMS [emergency medical services] and police officers in Southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.

This will be Daly's second year pedaling the pavement in the Tour De Shore.

"It was one of the best things I've ever done," he said. When I was finished, just the way I felt was absolutely awesome, a sense of accomplishment. It was for a great cause."