Sanibel Fire & Rescue District Deputy Chief John DiMaria and Capt. Mike Martin will participate in the 2026 Brotherhood Ride from Oct. 17-23. PHOTOS PROVIDED<\/p>\n
Two of Sanibel\u2019s own will take to the road this week to participate in the 2026 Brotherhood Ride. <\/p>\n
Sanibel Fire & Rescue District Deputy Chief John DiMaria and Capt. Mike Martin will ride approximately 600 miles across Florida from Oct. 17 through Oct. 23 to honor 22 Florida first responders who died in the line of duty in 2025 while protecting the communities they served. <\/p>\n
\u201cOne is too many,\u201d DiMaria said of lives lost. <\/p>\n
This is Martin\u2019s fifth year participating and DiMaria\u2019s third year. This year they began training in May for the ride, as the distance they travel is anywhere from 60 to 100 miles a day. <\/p>\n
Martin said he started in 2020 after Sanibel Police Officer Anthony Neri died in a line of duty training exercise. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about really letting the families know that their loved one won\u2019t be forgotten,\u201d he said. \u201cIt gives you a feeling of pride that you are able to do that and complete the ride. It\u2019s all about the brotherhood with other riders, other agencies that come together to all support the cause.\u201d <\/p>\n
Martin said there are participants from other states \u2014 some that formally worked in Florida, or retired someplace else. He said some of them have joined because they rode in honor of some of their co-workers. <\/p>\n
DiMaria said they do stop throughout the day\u2019s ride as they do honor stops for the firefighters, police officers, EMS, and this year two K9s, at either their station or department to honor them and provide a plaque for the family. <\/p>\n
Martin said they will honor a local firefighter from the City of Fort Myers and another from North Port this year. <\/p>\n
\u201cTo me, it\u2019s spending time in the saddle, on the bike, and time on the road,\u201d DiMaria said. \u201cEvery stop is the same moving feeling that we have. I don\u2019t think that feeling ever changes.\u201d <\/p>\n
Martin said the ride starts at the Fort Myers Fire Department fire station located off Jefferson Avenue in Downtown Fort Myers. He said from there they travel north to Brooksville, through Orlando and the east coast before heading south to Miami. <\/p>\n
DiMaria said there are more than 40 participants for the ride, as well as a huge support team that travels ahead of them, as well as follows them. He said those that travel ahead set up a portable concession stand when they break, and those that follow help with such things as if a biker goes down, has a flat tire or broken spoke. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are fully supported by local and state law enforcement,\u201d DiMaria said. \u201cThey travel with us the entire way. FHP works with us the entire time and (when we enter) different jurisdictions, other local law enforcement agencies join in.\u201d <\/p>\n
He said the entire team is riding in unison. <\/p>\n
Most of the time, the areas they are riding into, DiMaria said, people know they are coming. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey are all out there waving. They know what the team is about. The support we get from the ride \u2014 all the counties and cities we go to \u2014 is tremendous,\u201d he said. \u201cIt gives you a sense of purpose.\u201d <\/p>\n
DiMaria said the Elks Club is one of the biggest supporters for the Brotherhood Ride. He said they open up their doors at each stop for a place to sleep and eat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we go there, their entire club, all members, are there. They make us dinner, give us a place to sleep, and breakfast before we leave,\u201d he said. \u201cThey join us for our ceremonies. We could not do it without the Elks Club. It\u2019s a tremendous help to be able to know you are welcome to come, lay your head down. They are great.\u201d <\/p>\n
DiMaria said anything that is raised in excess of the cost of putting on the ride goes directly to the families through the charity. <\/p>\n
The community can support the riders, support the team, and donate to the actual ride itself by visiting www.brotherhoodride.com. <\/p>\n
\u201cEvery little bit counts. It supports families of our fallen brothers and sisters,\u201d DiMaria said.<\/p>\n