Kick-Off Rally Held for Hero Thrill Show

Earlier this week, spectators got a sneak preview of the upcoming Philadelphia Hero Thrill Show outside the Wells Fargo Center, formerly the Wachovia complex, on September 18th.

KYW's Steve Tawa reports that a kick-off rally was held at 19th and Market Streets in center city.

The police highway patrol motorcycle drill team revved their Harleys as they swooped into parking spots, kickstands down, and even dismounted in formation.

Organizer Jimmy Binns, the Philadelphia lawyer, invites you to the fall fundraiser:

"Ten dollars for a single ticket or $25 for a family ticket that admits five. All of the money goes to pay for the college education of the children of police officers and firefighters who have been killed in the line of duty."

On the police side alone, seven officers have fallen in four years, including officer Gary Skerski, who was shot and killed responding to an armed robbery in 2006. His widow, Ann, who was with other families who lost loved ones, is grateful that her son is a freshman at LaSalle University, thanks to the Thrill Show:

"Everybody knows how the other ones feel. We try to pull together and be supportive of one another."

For more information about event activities and tickets, go to herothrillshow.org.

(photo by