It was a heartbreaking loss: on Aug. 30, Ashland, Ky., Police Department Field Supervisor Chuck Leadingham and his wife, Denise, were killed in a motorcycle crash on I-77 near Marietta, leaving behind two children, Lacey, 21, and C.J., 14.

On Sept. 21, members of the Kentucky VIII Chapter of the Blue Knights motorcycle club will have a memorial ride to help the Leadingham children with daily living expenses in the wake of their parents’ deaths.

“It is a tragic thing to lose one parent but to lose both parents on the same day would be especially hard for those kids,” explained local chapter president Walt Curtis. “Chuck was not only a member of the chapter, he was of our directors. And he was in law enforcement. Everyone (in the club) has that in common. We’re trying to take care of our own.”

The Blue Knights is a non-profit fraternal organization of active and retired law enforcement men and women who enjoy riding motorcycles. The local chapter was organized three years ago and now has 31 members in the Ashland-Ironton area.

Ironton Police Capt. Mark Wilson, vice president of the local Blue Knights Chapter, said the ride is one way to let the Leadingham children know they are not forgotten by their parents’ friends and that those friends are there for them in their time of need. He said he is hopes other bikers will support such a worthwhile cause.

“We’d like to see as many bikers as possible take part,” Wilson said. “One thing about this area is, there are a lot of bikers. A lot of people in this area ride and we usually have a decent turnout for the stuff we have.”

The ride will begin and end at Frogtown. Registration is noon-2 p.m. The ride will begin at 2:15 p.m. and will wind its way throughout Lawrence County. The cost is $20 per person.

After the ride, there will be live entertainment at Frogtown.