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How the Tour De Force Started

Tour De Force began in 2002 when a group of NYPD cops in the Bronx decided to complete an endurance event to remember the victims of 9/11. Nine participants, with the assistance of a four man support team, cycled from the Pentagon to Ground Zero. They completed the ride in four days, riding to the finish through the somber first anniversary gathering at Ground Zero.  Since then the Tour de Force has grown to three hundred participants and forty support team members who feel strongly about the cause and believe it’s a very worthwhile endeavor. We have also incorporated and gained status as a 501(c)3 charity. The dual mission is to raise funds for the families of Police Officers killed in the line of duty nationwide and to remember the sacrifice of those that died on 911. Our participants, volunteer support team along with family and friends have bonded together and raised more than $3 million since the group’s inception. See our website for more information:   www.tourdeforceny.com Clic
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How we all feel!

This video sums up exactly why we all do this.  It contains testimonials from the four Board Members of the Tour De Force; Mike DePaolis, Rob DePaolis, Jimmy Parker and John Gagliano.  There's not another word I can add to their sentiments.  Never Forget! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_p9dxtXBPI
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Jon's donation page

 For anyone wishing to help me reach my goal here is a link to my donation page: https://grouprev.com/loprete Click here for more information on the Tour De Force and my involvement:  https://jltdf.blogspot.com Check out our website:  www.tourdeforceny.com
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2020 Tour De Force goes virtual due to the pandemic

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Each year on or about September 11 th , 200+ cyclists and 50+ support personnel, from around the country, embark on a 4-day bicycling tour.  Past routes have included from Boston to Ground Zero,  The Pentagon to Ground Zero, West Point to Annapolis and Yankee Stadium to Fenway Park.  The 2020 ride was to start at Fenway Park and end at Yankee Stadium.  As a support specialist, one of my duties is to setup and manage several of the many “water stops” along the route.  Unfortunately, the pandemic had forced the organizers to significantly modify the 2020 event.  Instead of the aforementioned traditional group ride, they had decided to host a one-day virtual event on September 12th.  All riders were asked to map out and ride a 75-mile route in their respective city, and submit pictures or a video clip.  There really was no provision for the support personnel.  So, in thinking outside the box I decided to set up a water stop in my neighborhood, as a symbolic gesture to let the riders and o
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How Jon got involved

  How Jon got involved: I joined Tour De Force in 2008 as a truck driver on the support team. That year the group cycled from The Pentagon to Ground Zero.  Immediately, in that year, I realized that this organization is very special. Throughout the ride, we made stops along the way so that we could present checks to the families of officers killed in the line of duty. One in particular was that of the widow of Perth Amboy New Jersey Police Officer Thomas Raji. The route that year was modified so that we could make the presentation at his grave side. This tragedy was still fresh on our minds as it had just occurred weeks before the ride. It also very much hit home to me while I witnessed the presentation as I lived and worked not too far from Perth Amboy. It was at that moment I decided that I needed to continue to help carry on the mission of this organization. And, each year since then I have made every effort to attend the rides. I have met many wonderful people from around the world
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