Update to fundraisers for paralyzed Roanoke officer Bryan Lawrence

A benefit car “cruise,” concert and wine festival are planned as a fundraiser for Roanoke police officer Bryan Lawrence, who was paralyzed from injuries he sustained while making an arrest.

The event will be based at the Virginia Mountain Vineyards in Fincastle.  The car “cruise” will begin at the winery.  The parade cars will be escorted by police from the winery down route 220 to Route 11 South.  The parade of cars will make its way down Williamson Road to downtown Roanoke and return on the same route.  The cruise is 50 miles long and is expected to take approximately 3 hours. 

Following the “cruise” will be the wine festival portion of the event.  “The annual wine festival was already scheduled,” said David Gibbs, owner of the winery and also a worker at the state forensic lab in Roanoke.  “When we heard about officer Lawrence we decided to make it bigger and make it a fund raiser.”  Gibbs is partnering with friend and co-worker Andy Johnson to put on the event.

Gibbs said a portion of the proceeds from the festival would also go to the fund for Lawrence’s family.  He said there would be music by local band, The Blue Chips.

The event begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 with the car “cruise.”  The wine festival runs from 6-9 p.m..

For more information call (540) 473-2979

———

There are some changes to the benefit motorcycle ride planned to raise money for Officer Bryan Lawrence.

The start time has been moved back to 10:00 a.m. on June 14th, at the Roanoke Civic Center, due to the large number of riders expected.  Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.

Also, the event will be $20 per motorcycle, not per person.  So two people can ride on one bike, and it would only cost $20.