Not all of the 100 motorcycles that made a pit stop in Troy on Saturday morning were Harleys but every one of the motorcyclists had a heart of pure gold, said group leader, Michael Smith of Montgomery.

“We’re on the way to Geneva to give a hug to the hurting heart of one of our own,” said Smith, who is a member of the Seven Bridges Road Chapter of the Iron Warriors Motorcycle Club that is made up of active, former and retired firefighters and law enforcement officers. “Our club is hosting a ride from Montgomery to Geneva which will benefit the Josh Myers Family Tragedy Relief Fund.”

Myers, a Geneva County deputy sheriff, lost his wife, Andrea, and 19-month-old daughter, Corrine, in the deadly shooting spree, which began in Coffee County and continued through Geneva County on March 19.

“Josh was among the officers dispatched in the multi-agency manhunt for the gunman who, after a shootout with police, turned the weapon on himself,” Smith said. “Sadly, Josh later learned that his wife and daughter were among the shooter’s 10 victims.”

Smith said Myers is now left to raise his other two children, 4-year-old Isaak and Ella, four months, on his own. Ella was shot and wounded in the attack.

“The chapter membership of the Iron Warriors Motorcycle Club Southern Region is deeply saddened by this senseless tragedy,” said Jim Alston, club president. “While many of us don’t know Josh personally, we consider him to be one of our brothers and we are heartbroken over the loss of his wife and daughter.”

Bikers from the Montgomery area and much of Southeaster Alabama joined the ride to benefit the Geneva County deputy sheriff.

“When we arrive at the courthouse in Geneva, we will present a check in the amount of $6,000 to Josh Myers,” said Smith, who is director of business and government sales for ride sponsor Southern LINC Wireless. “Our neighbors in Southeastern Alabama have suffered a tremendous loss in their communities. I can only hope that the financial and emotional support generated by this ride will help the Myers family in their time of grief.”