Police officers bike from Miami to Key West to 'live like Bella'

Ride beginning in Coconut Grove spans 160 miles

MIAMI ā€“ Members of the Miami Police Department are embarking on a more than 160-mile bike ride to raise money to fight childhood cancer.

On Wednesday, they will begin a mountain bike ride from Coconut Grove to Key West. They are raising donations to benefit the Live Like Bella Foundation, named for the late Bella Rodriguez-Torres, who died last year after fighting an aggressive childhood cancer.Ā 

"We're showing we care, we're giving back to the community," said Sergeant Freddie Cruz before the bike ride began. "We're going to be riding 60 miles a day in rain, heat, whatever it may be, we're going to be out there."

The little girl's motto, Live Like Bella, went viral following the 10-year-old's death. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade wrote the phrase on their shoes during the 2013 NBA Playoffs.

Bella was honored as Miami Police Department's Chief of Police before her death, as she had expressed dreams of one day becoming a police officer.Ā Last summer, members of the department began the bike ride fundraiser, many shaving their heads in solidarity before the ride.

The 2013 bike ride raised $130,000 for pediatric cancer research.

"We haven't raised as much," Cruz said of this year's journey. "But we're hoping on our way down to the Keys we're going to inspire others to give a little bit."

For information on how to donate to the cause, click here.Ā