Robert Ferrell
BS in Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement
Beginning at an early age, I knew I wanted to do something positive in my community. This feeling would stay with me for many years. In September 2001, as I sat watching, with much of the world, the terror that was occurring in our world, I knew instantly what I was being called to do. I remember telling my mom that I wanted to go to New York to help, but I was not quite sure how I would be able to help with no training. All the years I had spent thinking about how I wanted to help, it was finally settling in, I knew what I had to do. By November 2001, I was beginning my career as a volunteer firefighter with the Harrington Volunteer Fire Company in Harrington, Delaware. There were multiple weekends that I spent away from my then girlfriend, family, and friends so that I could attend fire school and receive the proper training I needed to begin making a difference. I remember thinking, “I may be too late to help with what had happened in New York, but I would be prepared for everything else.” Finally, I was going to be making a difference within my community!
In 2004, I was well into the volunteer phase at the fire company, assisting with fires and car accidents, but still, this just was not enough, there was something else I was supposed to do. I enrolled in another program with Delaware Fire School to gain a license to drive emergency vehicles. Now I would be able to drive the ambulance and help the EMT’s when they had medical emergencies occur. This licensure led to me obtaining a job with Lifestar Ambulance in July 2004, one month after my son was born. It was while I was collaborating with this company, that I met a man by the name of Virgil Chaffinch. Virgil was a young man who was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy and was in a nursing home. Although he could not talk, it was easy to see that he had an intense love for motorcycles. Collaborating with him, and getting to know him from his family members, something struck me; I had to help him get one more ride on a motorcycle; but how? After many nights thinking, and many conversations with co-workers, I threw together a one-day event in Virgil’s honor. I contacted the Red Knights motorcycle club, which is a group of local volunteer firefighters that drive motorcycles. Luckily, one of the members had a motorcycle with a side car. Together, with the nursing home, the doctors, and his family, we were able to plan a short ride and a picnic for Virgil. To see the smile on his face was priceless, he knew this would be the last time he would sit on a motorcycle. My desire to be effective was on display that day, as I watched him being lifted into the sidecar.
A few years later, still having the desire to help people. My wife, son, and I had begun attending church soon after he was born in 2004. I remember sitting there during services thinking that were still things left to do within the community to provide help. After talking with my pastor, we decided to begin a motorcycle ministry that would do events and raise money for the homeless in our area. I was excited! This was another chance to continue doing good in the community. The only problem was, I had no name. I talked to my uncle John, with whom I had been close to my entire life about the new adventure that I was getting ready to take. He was a devoted man of God and told me he would be honored to be a part of the ministry. He ultimately named the ministry, Bikers With Cause. What a better name for this group, we would be using our motorcycles to be effective. After we had formed the group and held multiple rides and other events, we had donated numerous items and made monetary donations to group homes that housed homeless. However, the course of this ministry was soon to change. One September evening, while watching television with my family, breaking news came on the television about a shooting in a nearby community, with an officer being hit. Unfortunately, that young officer would end up a casualty in the line of duty. Patrolman Chad Spicer paid the ultimate sacrifice that night giving his life to protect his community and left behind a young daughter. I looked at my wife and told her I needed to do something. With just a few weeks’ notice, we put together a motorcycle ride that would raise money for his daughter. This event was so huge, we ended up with a procession line of about eleven miles with motorcycles eager to support this young officer. This event would continue for three more years, always with my ministry organizing the events.
Years passed by and things change. The ministry faded out after seven years, with myself, the pastor, and my uncle selling our bikes. The ministry may be over, but my desire to help did not wane. In 2018, my pastor came to me and asked me how we could get church services out to those who were not able to attend in person services. I told him that I could create a YouTube account and we could live stream. This turned out to be a clever idea and soon he had me controlling a Facebook live event every service that we had too. I was still volunteering my time to my church, and it felt good.
In April 2021, while sitting in front of the YouTube camera, news came across the phone about yet another young officer being shot in the line of duty. A suspect shot Corporal Keith Heacook he was attempting to arrest during a domestic violence call. I looked at my wife, and it was like she intuitively knew what I was thinking. She told me, “Whatever you want to do, I will support you and help in any way that I can.” In June 2021, we had a car show at the church where all proceeds would be given to his son, whom he left behind. Saddened by the loss of this little boy, my heart was touched when he approached me and told me thank you for all the challenging work, I had done in getting this car show started.
Spending my time volunteering and doing these events, I never wanted, nor did I look for praise from anyone. I was simply doing what I had been called to do. Most of the time the work I was doing was for Jesus Christ, to Him I give all the glory and thanks for being able to do this type of thing in my life. Being healthy and able to volunteer is what drives me through my life. I may not always do things with a big organization or the fire company, but when there is a need that I can help with, I go. No questions asked, ever. I have taken Christmas presents to my son’s elementary school when there was a need to help those less fortunate have a gift to open for Christmas. I continue to volunteer three days a week at church as the technology person for our live services. I also run the projector for the pastor when he has funerals or weddings and needs an extra hand. I am also the President of the Public Safety Club and Treasurer of the Alpha Phi Sigma Club at Purdue University Global. I am also a member of Ducks Unlimited and the American Red Cross as well.
My most recent endeavor that I am currently in the process of getting completed is beginning a non-profit organization. I am founder of The Man Down Foundation in Delaware. Once ready, this foundation will hold events and raise money for those who are in the line of public service. Firefighters, police, first responders, and other public service personnel and their family members will benefit from this foundation. I will continue to be effective in the community if I am able. There will never be a desire to be praised or thanked for what I do, because I am only doing what I have been called to do. That answer is always the same, help those who are less fortunate.
