ORMOND BEACH -- On Oct. 6, buff bodies will make their way to the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center to show off their muscles for a good cause.
After graduating from Daytona State College's police academy program -- where he was given the chance to raise money for families of fallen law enforcement officers -- Bill Mora wanted to find a way to help them again.
As a bodybuilding competitor and promoter, the Palm Coast resident decided to use one of his passions to benefit another.
Mora will host a natural bodybuilding competition in October, through the Drug Free Athletes Coalition, and donate a portion of the proceeds to the Florida Tour De Force, a 270-mile annual charity bicycle ride from the North Miami Beach Police Department to the Daytona Beach Shores Public Safety Department.
"There are other promoters out there who donate some of their money to other organizations, which I think is a great thing because most promoters are not doing that," Mora said.
Mora, who formerly owned a karate studio in Connecticut, was first introduced to the Florida Tour De Force in January when Flagler Beach police officers Dennis Lashbrook and Rosanna Bustos spoke to his Daytona State College class about helping to raise funds.
Lashbrook said he found out about a month ago that Mora was planning to donate to the organization, a move he didn't expect.
"We are surprised sometimes because it is a bit of an economy crunch and hard to raise funds," Lashbrook said. "It's great when somebody like (Mora) comes along."
Lashbrook, who will participate in his fourth Florida Tour De Force ride next year, will have a table at the bodybuilding competition with Bustos in the hopes of raising additional funds and spreading the word about the bike ride.
Andrew Oliver, a bodybuilder and deputy with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, was also impressed Mora has chosen to donate to the organization.
"It's nice to see that some people recognize that law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day," Oliver said.
Oliver is registered as a member of what Mora hopes will be a group of 40 to 50 competitors for the October event.
Participants, who must be members of the Drug Free Athletes Coalition, can compete in the men's or women's divisions, which each have different qualifying categories. There is also a figure division.
All competitors, except for those who participate in the unsanctioned bikini contest, will be drug tested and required to take a polygraph test.
For more information or to register for the competition, visit www.flstnatural.com.
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