HPD officers on a quest for a cure for cancer

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A special group of Houston police officers is again hitting the road to raise money for the fight against cancer.

The team, led by 6-year-old leukemia patient Holt Griffith, left the steps of Houston City Hall to begin the first stage of their eight-day, 2,200 mile non-stop journey to New York City.

Forty officers from the HPD bicycle relay team are setting out on their journey. They are riding to New York City to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

"I come back very year because the patients that I met over the year -- the ones that we have lost over the year they are an inspiration to me. If you look down here we wear name tags for the people that we ride for. Unfortunately, there is a lot of us and I have one here that I am riding in memory of someone who lost their battle," said Lt. Randall Upton with the Houston Police Department.

This is the 34th year HPD officers have donated their time to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, raising nearly $6 million thus far.

For continuing updates on the ride, follow HPD on Twitter #HPDBikeRelay or on Facebook.