FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Buddy Christian Foundation Announces Inaugural Buddy Christian Memorial Bike Tour
Athens, Georgia — The Buddy Christian Foundation announced today that it will host the first annual Buddy Christian Memorial Bike Tour on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
The fully escorted ride will cover 61 miles at an average pace of 15 mph, with planned stops at local Police and Sheriff’s offices along the route. Designed as both a physical challenge and a public act of remembrance, the tour honors law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while strengthening bonds between agencies and the communities they serve.
The Buddy Christian Memorial Bike Tour is intentionally styled in the fashion of the Police Unity Tour (PUT), giving participants the opportunity to experience a PUT-like ride firsthand. From the escorted format and disciplined pace to the emphasis on honor, fellowship, and remembrance, this local inaugural tour mirrors the spirit and structure of the national Police Unity Tour, offering riders a meaningful introduction to the experience.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Buddy Christian Foundation in support of the Police Unity Tour, a cause the Foundation has actively supported since 2012. The Police Unity Tour is a three-day, 250-mile bicycle ride from Norfolk, Virginia, to Washington, DC, where riders wear honor bands bearing the names of fallen officers and personally present those bands to the officers’ families at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
Funds raised through the Police Unity Tour directly support the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. The memorial receives no government funding and exists solely through private donations, standing as a permanent tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s fallen law enforcement officers.
“This ride is deeply personal, but it is also about something much larger than one family,” said Melissa Christian-Griffeth, surviving spouse of Elmer Basco “Buddy” Christian, who was killed in the line of duty in 2011. “Since 2012, the Buddy Christian Foundation has supported the Police Unity Tour to ensure that fallen officers are never forgotten and that their families know they are not alone.”
The inaugural Buddy Christian Memorial Bike Tour reflects that long-standing commitment. This year, Team Buddy Christian will include eight riders, including members of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, who have collectively pledged to raise $14,250 in support of the Police Unity Tour.
“The Police Unity Tour is one of the most powerful ways we honor our fallen officers,” Christian-Griffeth added. “By modeling this local ride after the Police Unity Tour, participants will experience what it means to ride with purpose, carry names, and stand in remembrance alongside fellow officers and supporters.”
The Buddy Christian Foundation invites riders, supporters, and community members to participate in the memorial ride and support its continued work honoring fallen officers through fellowship, remembrance, and service.
Additional information and registration details are available at Buddy Christian Memorial Bike Tour Online Registration.
Media Contact:
Melissa Christian-Griffeth
melissa@buddychristianfoundation.org
+1 (903) 224-2370
