On Thursday, a contingent of peace officers from across Canada will embark on a three-day journey by bicycle from Prince Albert to Regina. The Saskatchewan Ride to Remember commemorates peace officers who have fallen in the line of duty.

One of those riders will be Weyburn Police Service Constable Jeff Bartsch. He participated in the ride last year, when it went from Saskatoon to Regina, arriving at the destination ahead of the Saskatchewan Police Officer Memorial.

“It’s an interactive way for those serving in the province, not only police but peace officers as well, whether it’s conservation, highway transport, to give back to those who have lost their lives or sacrificed themselves during their line of duty,” Bartsch said. “ Just a way for us to remember them and to thank them for their service.”

He has been preparing for the longer distance this year.

“A colleague of mine, Sergeant Pat Barber up in Saskatoon with their police service, decided he wanted to make it a little bit more daunting of a task, and we’re going to start in Prince Albert this year,” Bartsch explained. The ride finishes up on the 23rd.

At the memorial on Sunday, accompanying those honouring the fallen officers will be the family of RCMP Constable Derek Pineo. He died in the line of duty in 2012. The Pineo family is coming from Nova Scotia, thanks to the efforts of Constable Bartsch.

“Earlier this year, (I) initiated a fundraiser to bring that family out here, not only to participate in the memorial service to honour their husband and father, but I learnt that his oldest son Caleb is a cyclist as well, so I thought what a great opportunity to have him come and join us, to remember his dad.”

The Pineo family is expected to arrive in Regina Tuesday and will be staying in the provincial capital until after the memorial service Sunday.

Joining the group travelling from Prince Albert will be Weyburn Police Service Constable Kalin Wiebe. He will be escorting the cyclists on the trip while driving a Weyburn Police Service cruiser.