Charleston Firefighter's Association IAFF Local 61

“The Charleston 9” WE WILL NEVER FORGET 6/18/07

September 13, 2007

Re: News release

Laddie Williams, a member of the Augusta Professional Firefighters Association Local 3357 has undertaken a challenge that is truly heroic. He has begun a bicycle ride that started in Palm Springs, Calf. and will end in Charleston on October 13^th, 2007.

Laddie was in Charleston several weeks before the start of his ride and made arrangements with the Charleston Firefighters Association IAFF Local 61 to assist him with this endeavor.

He will be staying in firehouses across the country and his goal is to have every state he passes through, to raise at least $10,000 that will be donated to the IAFF Charleston June 18^th Fund that will be distributed to all nine families of our fallen brothers in Charleston.

His website is www.ride4c9.com where he is keeping a daily log of his trip. Donations can also be made to families on this site.

We plan to give him a special welcome when he arrives in Charleston. Our plan is to have him end his ride at the Super Sofa Store site where we will have a beautiful wreath for him to place at the site. We will then proceed to a meeting place where we will have a reception for him and our firefighters. We will have more information on the reception site soon.

The Charleston Firefighters Association is so proud to have a member in the IAFF that is so giving and courageous. This is a huge physically challenge for anyone to do. We have the utmost respect for Laddie Williams and the Augusta Professional Firefighters are very lucky to have a man with such character in their ranks.

Roger L. Yow

President

IAFF Local 61