The weather may not have been the best, but it didn’t stop the 34th annual Ben to the Shore bike trek from raising over $1 million for families of fallen or critically injured first responders.

Over 120 members of the Jim Thorpers made the 70-mile journey from Philadelphia to Atlantic City, New Jersey, Sunday as part of the event.

Mike Dugan, the organizer of the Jim Thorpers, was thankful for the members who participated, noting that the group’s numbers were lower than normal due to COVID-19 and the event moving from July to August.

The Jim Thorpers raised a total of $63,655 for the event, the second highest group behind Wheels of Justice.

But while the group celebrated the ride, they also remembered one of their fallen, Bob Ford, who passed away in January from complications of COVID-19. Ford, a staff photographer with the Times News, had been a member of the Jim Thorpers for years, first capturing the moments of the team’s triumphs, and then as a participant in the event.

To pay tribute to Ford, longtime friend Guy Christman of Jim Thorpe carried his jersey with him for the ride and raised it high in the air as he crossed the finish line.

“It is a very thoughtful and kind gesture that Guy (did) his first ride this year to honor Bob as they were very close friends,” Dugan said. “We also want Bob’s wife, Sharon, his family, friends, coworkers, etc. to know that Bob is not, nor never will be forgotten by his teammates.”

Dugan added that Ford’s name is also written across the back of the Jim Thorpers’ jerseys “so each of us will carry his memory with us as we ride.”