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San Francisco Bay to Los Angeles Ride

FireVelo, Firefighters Riding for Others.

San Francisco Bay to Los Angeles Ride

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EVENT DETAILS

FIREFIGHTER CYCLISTS WANTED
Fire Velo Presents the 2026
San Francisco Bay to Los Angeles
FIRE SERVICE CANCER AWARENESS
BICYCLE RIDE
May 31 to June 6
The cost of this event is a minimum of $1,200 in donations to Fire Velo (plus non-refundable $300 application fee)
The ride includes:
Daily Transportation of rider belongings and bike gear
Hotel Rooms (Double Occupancy)
Most Meals
SAG Support
Bike Jersey(s)
Bike Jacket
SPACE IS LIMITED FOR THIS EVENT
For More Information Contact
Jim Berklite
President, Fire Velo National
(760)221-3988

Each year Fire Velo Cycling Club primarily made up of active and retired Firefighters undertakes a ride over 500-miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles known as the “Cancer Awareness Bicycle Ride”  This event provides cancer awareness and wellness recognition and support to both fire service personnel and the public as the riders travel to various locations on their way to the Santa Monica where the ride concluded.

Along the route riders stop  in remembrance and tribute to those active and retired firefighters who have passed away from cancer.

Monies raised from this ride are utilized by such groups as the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation, Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN), Firefighter Cancer Foundation just to mention a few.   To date well over $300,000 has been donated to various groups dealing with cancer prevention and awareness in the fire service.

There are few people who have not been touched by the effects of cancer in some way. Coping, understanding, and simply dealing with the day to day efforts of battling cancer are often overwhelming, not only for the patient but also for their loved ones. And while many people think the word Firefighter is synonymous with courage or bravery, when it comes to cancer we can be just as lost and devastated as everyone else.

We sincerely want to thank all those who support and encourage us from monetary donations, products, services, food, to cheering us along the ride!

The annual San Francisco to Los Angeles (SF2LA) Cancer Awareness Ride is a weeklong journey with the purpose of raising awareness, education and funds to fight cancer in the Fire Service. Riders, some of whom are also cancer survivors, are primarily active duty or retired Firefighters from throughout the State of California and across the United States.  Follow our Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) posts for day-by-day activities and events!

2026 Travel Route:

Depart 9:00 AM from:

Sausalito Fire Station One 333 Johnson Street Sausalito

Day 1            Sausalito to Half Moon Bay                                        35 miles

Day 2            Half Moon Bay to Watsonville                                  70 miles

Day 3            Watsonville to Big Sur                                                80 miles (approx)

Day 4            Big Sur to Morro Bay                                                  95 miles (approx)

Day 5            Morro Bay to Lompoc                                                 70 miles

Day 6            Lompoc to Oxnard                                                      100 miles

Day 7            Oxnard to Santa Monica Pier                                   50 miles

Depart Oxnard 7:30 AM to Arrive at Noon at Santa Monica  Finish

Finish Noon:

Santa Monica

Online FireVelo – San Francisco to Los Angeles  / Rider Donation Process.

THANK YOU for making a donation to a FireVelo Rider. Your donations go directly to activities and organizations supporting Firefighters and First Responder cancer victims.

This year the donation process has been streamlined and is simpler than ever:

“SF2LA Rider Donation” has been formatted as a product purchase offering donation.  Purchases are in preset increments of $25, $50 & $100.  You can purchase multiples of any amount or combination to tailor your donation to your wishes.  For example, one $25 and one $50 if you want to give $75.  If you’re feeling generous, two $100 and one $50 would give the organization $250.

Once you have made your monetary selection the select the second option and select a rider you wish to donation to go toward.

Items will appear in your cart and you can proceed to checkout.  On the checkout page you can insert text for your donation to go in support or in memory of as well.

It is important that you provide your name and contact info so that we can provide you with important Tax ID information for your year-end tax filing.  If you are affiliated with a Fire, Law Enforcement, Military Branch or other first responder agency, we would appreciate having you give us that information as well.

Simply proceed on through the standard purchase process to complete the donation. We use the STRIPE money transfer system so the transaction may appear on your credit card statement with a reference to STRIPE.

Once again, thank you for your support of the FireVelo organization and their efforts to support cancer victims in the Fire Services.  &

FIREFIGHTER CYCLISTS WANTED

Our SF2LA Ride is Back!

 Fire Velo Presents the 2026

San Francisco Bay  to Los Angeles

“Fire Service Cancer Awareness Bicycle Ride

May 31 to June 6

The cost of this event is a minimum $1200 in donations to Fire Velo

(Plus $300 nonrefundable application fee)

The ride includes:

Daily transportation of rider belongings and bike gear

Hotel Rooms (Double occupancy)

Most meals

SAG support

Jersey & Jacket

On Line Registration begins February 3, 2026:

$300 nonrefundable donation due with application below

(make donations payable to Fire Velo)

* Full donations are required by July 1, 2020*

For further information contact Jim Berklite or (760)221-3988

*Space is limited for this event*

Since the initial San Francisco to Los Angeles Cancer Awareness Ride in 2006, Fire Velo Cycling Club has honored and paid tribute  to  special individuals who have passed away from cancer.  Riders wear on their jerseys the names of the honorees for the year, and along the ride route a custom picture frame with a jersey encased is presented to the family.  Typically, on hand for the presentation ceremonies in addition to the riders, are family, friends, coworkers and the agency from the honoree.

Riders also carry names, pictures and other individuals in support or in memory as a tribute to those close and personal to them!  This ride is a reminder of the impacts of cancer and also an opportunity to provide and share cancer education and awareness to our fire service family along the route.

Monies raised from this ride are utilized by such groups as the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation, Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN), Firefighter Cancer Foundation and a number of other wellness and support groups. Money from the ride has been donated to various groups dealing with cancer prevention and awareness in the fire service.

There are few people who have not been touched by the effects of cancer in some way. Coping, understanding, and simply dealing with the day to day efforts of battling cancer are often overwhelming, not only for the patient but also for their loved ones. And while many people think the word Firefighter is synonymous with courage or bravery, when it comes to cancer we can be just as lost and devastated as everyone else.

San Francisco to Los Angeles Fire Velo Ride Tributes

2026

Brian Tracy Santa Cruz City Fire Department  
Brian Kyono San Francisco Fire Department  
Julio Delucchi San Francisco Fire Department  
Mike Brownlie Los Angeles County Fire Department  
Tommy Minadeo Ventura County Fire Department  

 

2025

Cancelled due to road closures & construction obstacles

 

2024

Cancelled due to road closures & construction obstacles

 

2023

Kenny Renz Los Angeles County Fire Department  
Brock Wells San Francisco Fire Department  
Jerry Murphy San Francisco Fire Department  
Paul Crimmins San Rafael Fire Department  
Jerry Thrasher Marinwood   Fire Department  

 

2022

Dean Hale Murrieta Fire & Rescue  
Bill Cyr Los Angeles County Fire Department  
Gerald Scullion San Francisco Fire Department  
Bill Downing Jr. San Francisco Fire Department  
Denis Elarms San Francisco Fire Department  

 

2021

Ed Banks San Francisco Fire Department  
Russ Edwards San Francisco Fire Department  
Ed Dahlen Los Angeles County Fire Department  
Gary Oliver Ventura County Fire  
Dale Thomas La Verne Fire Department  

 

 

 

2020

Cancelled due to COVID Pandemic

 

2019

Name Agency
John Clare ConocoPhillips
John Walsh Los Angeles County Fire Department
David Lavelle San Francisco Fire Department
Frank Dunphy San Francisco Fire Department
Matthew Plescia San Francisco Fire Department
Mark Tolbert Los Angeles County Fire Department

2018

Name Agency
Debbi Wood Firefighter Cancer Support Network

Wellness Coordinator

 Wife of Steve Wood
Steve Brosig Aptos-LaSelva                                        Fire Protection District
Clayton Ogden Santa Cruz Fire Department
Linual White Lompoc Fire Department
Bruce Mortimer Los Angeles County Fire Department
Herman Wyrsch San Francisco Fire Department
Mark Groshong San Francisco Fire Department

2017

Name Agency
Mike Moses Santa Barbara City Fire Department
Patrick Campbell Federal Fire Department        Ventura County
Russ Van Denmark Los Angeles County Fire Department
Hector Magdalenes Los Angeles County Fire Department

 

2016

Name Agency
John Duff Ventura City Fire Department
Billy Webb Los Angeles County Fire Department
Steve Cota Los Angeles County Fire Department
Richard Faust San Francisco Fire Department
David Amituanai San Francisco Fire Department

2015

Name Agency
Richard “Doc” O’Connor Costa Mesa Fire Department
Steve Gregory Ventura County Fire Department
Wendy Cummings Los Angeles City Fire Department

2014

Name Agency
Lee MacDonald Sausilito Fire Department
David Armenta San Francisco Fire Department
John Murphy San Francisco Fire Department
Clyde Waterai San Francisco Fire Department

2013

Name Agency
Granite Mountain Inter Agency Hot Shot Crew Prescott, AZ Fire Department R-3

2012

Name Agency
Edward Kelly Ross Valley Fire Department
Michael McCuster San Rafael Fire Department
Crystal Golden-Jefferson Los Angeles County Fire Department

 

2011

Name Agency
Scott Carnevale Alameda Fire Department
John Tripodi Watsonville Fire Department

 

2010

Name Agency
Mike Braida San Francisco Fire Department 53rd SFFD Academy Class
Rich Lauer San Francisco Fire Department 53rd SFFD Academy Class
Jim McDonagh San Francisco Fire Department 53rd SFFD Academy Class
Bruce Navarret San Francisco Fire Department 53rd SFFD Academy Class
Pete Seckols San Francisco Fire Department 53rd SFFD Academy Class

2009

Name Agency
Dallas Jones Los Angeles County Fire Department
Steve Herman Los Angeles County Fire Department
First Year with Names on the Cycle Jerseys