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The Virginia State Police (VSP) was once again proud to participate in the annual “Truckers’ Parade Against Cancer” in Charlotte County.

This year’s parade took place Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, with more than 230 trucks participating in the program’s 20th year.

On display were 330-plus banners representing individuals who are fighting cancer or honoring those who lost their battle to the disease.  The benefit typically raises around $150,000 that is donated to the American Cancer Society for research purposes. The parade is approximately 15 miles long and begins in Charlotte Courthouse traveling to  Drakes Branch and ends in Keysville.

This year, the Virginia State Police Safety Division’s Motor Carrier Unit had two entries in the parade:

Senior Trooper Ben Coates, who is assigned to the Safety Division’s Area 65 in the Hampton Roads/Tidewater region, was driving in memory of his Academy classmate, Senior Trooper Mark Knight, who lost his battle with cancer in February of this year. 

Senior Trooper Greg Hamlett, who is assigned to the Safety Division’s Area 63 in Appomattox, was driving in honor of Mrs. Deborah Beamon, who is the wife of retired VSP Appomattox Field Office Special Agent Danny Beamon, who is currently battling cancer. 

Trooper Coates and Trooper Hamlett have been involved in the event for several years in an effort to help find a cure for this disease. This year they were also joined by Charlotte County Sheriff Royal Freeman.

The TPAC group works very hard every year to put this event together.  In addition, the trucking companies involved provide donations, trucks and drivers to make the event possible.