East Central Reporter

Announcing the start of Cycle Across Illinois, Rep. Adam Niemerg said he was "wishing all the riders a safe trip as they honor our fallen officers and raise funds to support the families of these heroes." He made the statement in a July 12 Facebook post.

"Cycle Across Across Illinois riders started in Edwardsville yesterday and will make their way through the state this weekend," said Adam M Niemerg, State Representative for 102nd District (R), according to Facebook. "Wishing all the riders a safe trip as they honor our fallen officers and raise funds to support the families of these heroes."

In his Facebook post, Niemerg shared a link to a First Alert 4 news release about the start of Cycle Across Illinois. The July 11 report notes that there are more than 90 riders who are riding 320 miles from Edwardsville to Chicago. As of that report, the ride had raised more than $220,000 for Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors, which will pay for family members of fallen police officers to attend camp and will also fund National Police Week.

Screenshot of Rep. Adam Niemerg's July 12 Facebook post | State Representative Adam Niemerg Facebook page

Cycle Across Illinois started in 2005 as a memorial and fundraising ride across the state. This year, the ride is scheduled from July 11-14. The ride on July 11 started in Edwardsville and ended at the Springfield Northfield Inn Suites. Day two is expected to end at Illinois State University in Normal, and day three ends at Lewis University in Romeoville. The ride is expected to wrap on Sunday, July 14 at 11:59 a.m., in Chicago at the Chicago Police Headquarters, according to the Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) website.

The Concerns of Police Survivors Illinois Chapter supports family members of fallen police officers by providing financial assistance to attend National Police Week and Hands-On programs. Those hands-on programs include retreats for spouses for couples—surviving spouses and their new partner or spouse; for coworkers of those who died in the line of duty, and their spouse or domestic partner; a suicide survivors summer retreat for spouses, fiancés, significant others, adult children, in-laws, and grandchildren of law enforcement personnel who committed suicide. They also offer retreats for adult children, siblings, and others.

Niemerg was first elected in 2020. He calls himself a "fiscal conservative focused on reducing taxes and fighting for limited government and pension reform," according to his official biography. He is a senior claims adjuster with Country Financial. Niemerg has a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University.