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Memorial ride and scholarship to mark 10th anniversary of Fabian

Ten years after Hurricane Fabian, the September 5 Foundation are again set to ride in remembrance of those lost in the storm.Foundation president Jonathan Smith said 2013 not only marks the tenth anniversary of the tragedy, but also the first year the Foundation has awarded its scholarship.“The first four-year educational scholarship has been granted in the amount of $50,000 to Stephen Symons Jr, who begins his undergraduate studies at Philadelphia University this month,” Mr Smith said.“The initial beneficiaries of the Foundation’s efforts are the surviving children and grandchildren of the victims; Zen-Paul Pacheco, Stephen Symons Jr, Kayuntae and Nazyia Saunders. Going forward, the Foundation will assist children of any future victims within the Bermuda Police Service ‘family’.”The Foundation was founded after police officers Stephen Symons, Nicole O’Conner, station duty officer Gladys Saunders and mason Manual Pacheco were killed in Hurricane Fabian. All four were swept off the Causeway as the storm battered the Island.Since then, the charity has organised annual Memorial rides and created an endowment fund to help the children and grandchildren of those killed seek postsecondary education.The Tenth Annual Memorial Day Ride is set to take place on Sunday, starting at 2pm at Hamilton City Hall.The riders will travel to the Memorial Bench on Kindley Field Road for a tribute and remembrance ceremony, before continuing to St George’s and then Prospect Police Recreation Club where a reception will be held.“The Foundation encourages friends, family members and concerned residents to participate in the ride, or join us at the Memorial Bench for a short memorial tribute or at the reception afterwards,” Mr Smith said.Limited edition Tenth Anniversary commemorative pins will be available for purchase on the day. Special prizes to be awarded to those who have collected all anniversary pins.Those interested in making donations to the September 5 Foundation are asked to mail cheques made payable to the September 5th Foundation and mailed to the Foundation at PO Box 530, Hamilton, HM CX.Useful website: www.september5foundation.com