Cyclists, Slosberg Foundation, GEICO honor fallen Boca firefighter

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA-   On Saturday, March 12 at about 1:30 p.m., dozens of cyclists stopped at Boca Raton Fire Rescue Station #5, 2333 West Glades Road, to honor the memory of Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services Driver / Engineer John Wilson.

On February 7, Wilson was struck and killed while riding his bicycle near his home in Jupiter.

Speakers at the Boca Raton stop included the Wilson Family and Nicole Van Den Bergh who is the mother of honor student athlete Melissa Bergstein, who passed away on February 14 after a car crash in which she was a passenger.

The dignitaries and officials who spoke about the importance of road safety were Representative Irv Slosberg, Boca Raton Fire Chief Tom Wood, Boca Raton City Council member Mike Mullaugh, Palm Beach State Attorney Michael McAuliffe, Commissioner Steven Abrams, Assistant Chief of the Boca Raton Police Department Edgar Morley and Captain Patrick Kenny from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

Representatives from the Dori Slosberg Foundation presented a check to Mary Wilson and the riders dedicated that portion of their ride from Boca Raton to Jupiter in memory of John.  T

Three Boca Raton Firefighters, Tory Buckman, Richard Rafalski and Stephen Wright rode in memory of their fallen friend.

As part of Florida Road Safety Week, an initiative of the Dori Slosberg Foundation, and in partnership with the FSU Police Department, Florida DHSMV, Florida DOT, and the event sponsor GEICO, the riders completed nearly 600 miles of cycling in six days.  This tour was a multi-day bicycle tour sponsored by the Geico Philanthropic Company across Florida to increase awareness regarding drunk, drugged and distracted driving, and other pertinent traffic issues.

The ride demonstrated that through a collaborative effort, public safety, citizens, businesses, and educational institutions can construct and execute a significant traffic safety campaign.