Baker ready to push the pedals across North Carolina | People

SALISBURY - Thirty firefighters, including several from our area are climbing off the fire engines and hopping on two wheels for a good cause and an amazing ride.

It's called the Carolina Brotherhood Run, a bicycle journey from Wilmington to Asheville to benefit the family of a fallen firefighter.

"For an old guy like myself I'm sure it's going to be a lot," said Salisbury Fire Department Batallion Chief Jay Baker. "I'm looking forward to it, I've trained well for it."

Baker usually rides from his home in Spencer to his job at the Salisbury Fire Department and back home again.

But next week he will join other firefighters from across the state for a ride across the state. It's a trek of nearly 400 miles, with the incentive being that it will help a family in need.

"We're raising funds for the family of Captain Jeffrey Bowen who died in the line of duty in Asheville last year, he was an Asheville fire captain," Baker added. That's what drives Baker to push the pedals, and he knows it won't be quite as easy as riding through downtown Salisbury.

"Some of things you can't train for is the elevation climb it's 6000 feet, so that's going to be something to look forward to and get past I promise you," Baker said.

Each rider had to raise at least $400 to take part. Their arrival in Asheville will coincide with the eve of the deadly fire that took the life of Captain Bowen. The group will gather in Charlotte on Sunday, then drive to Wilmington to start the ride on Monday morning.