Last Saturday, the Wadesboro Police Department hosted its annual Shop with a Cop Motorcycle Ride, which benefits the charity it is named after. Each year, a dozen or more kids are picked up in police cars and taken to Wal-Mart to shop with a cop for anything they want for Christmas. Before the shopping, the kids and officers go to a local restaurant to have lunch.
Each year, the amount of money each child is given to spend on gifts is completely dependent upon donations and fundraisers such as this one. The Wadesboro Police Department has been providing this service for many years, and has high hopes to continue it each and every year.
To make such a thing possible, it takes more than just one person, or even one agency — it takes a community of people who come together to support one another and a cause that benefits those in need more greatly than one could ever imagine. I want to take a moment and thank a few of those who have made all of this possible.
First and foremost, I want to thank all of the riders who came out and participated in the ride that took a route that encompassed both Anson and Stanly counties. I want to thank my officers who came and provided traffic safety assistance, the Anson County Sheriff’s Office, and all the other agencies that helped, including Albemarle Police, Norwood Police, Oakboro Police and the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office.
I want to thank our dedicated and loyal sponsors also, who each year make it possible to have these events and this charity. They include Cobb-Vantress, Anson Sign Company, A Unique Auto Source of Albemarle, The Solution Store of Cheraw, South Carolina, Wal-Mart and Cox’s Harley Davidson of Asheboro. I also want to thank our media partners, including The Anson Record and The Express for coverage of the event.
I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Steve and Pam Tarlton for preparing our meal for the riders, along with Mr. and Mrs. Tim and Lynn Barbee, Jennifer Tarlton and Karen Isenberg. I want to thank my wife, Mrs. Stephana Spencer, and Sgt. Gerald Cannon’s wife, Mrs. Denise Cannon, for helping with the event and keeping us on track and organized. I want to especially thank Sgt. Gerald Cannon, who year after year selflessly works to make this event happen. Thank you, Sgt. Cannon, for all that you do.
This event was a huge success, with riders coming from both near and far to take part in it. I want to honor this year’s ride in remembrance of Mr. William Lafayette Sturdivant, or as we called him, “Gumby.”
Gumby and his wife, Anson County Commissioner Vancine Sturdivant, have always been huge supporters of our event. Not long ago Gumby passed away, and we missed his smiling face this year. We will never forget you, nor what you stood for, nor how great of a man, citizen and husband you were. You were and always will be missed.
I’m sure there are others whose names I have omitted, and I want to thank you as well. Please know that your omission is not intentional. So many people do so much to continue to make this charity and ride successful that there is no way I could name you all, but know that I do not appreciate your help any less.
In conclusion, I want to point out how this fundraiser and the Shop with a Cop charity are shining examples of what is possible when a group of people with a common cause come together. The impossible become the possible. All it takes is a little hard work, commitment and the belief in something far greater than we are ourselves.
On Dec. 12, we will be having our Shop with a Cop Polar Bear 5K, another annual fundraiser that supports our charity. I encourage everyone to go to our Facebook page and find the link to sign up. Once again, thank you all for all that you do.
