PELHAM – A local law enforcement motorcycle club, Brother’s 6 MC, came together on July 1 to help a fellow law enforcement officer in need.

Brother’s 6 hosted the My Brother’s Keeper Benefit Ride and Gun Raffle on July 1 with the goal of raising money for Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Matt Smith and his family. Smith had to have his left leg amputated below the knee after he was injured in a wreck on his motorcycle in April.

The benefit ride, which began at Heart of Dixie Harley Davidson in Pelham and ended at Bigman’s in Harpersville, raised $2,700 for the Smith family to help cover medical and other expenses. The event also included a live band, Ben Moseley and the Contraband.

“He’s married and has two small children, so the money was really to help with anything the family needs,” said Paula Bloom, the wife of Brother’s 6 founder and national president, Patrick “Deacon” Bloom.

Bloom said Smith is in the process of being fitted for a prosthetic leg.

The money raised included proceeds from a $25 gun raffle for an AR-15 valued at $600 and a $1 raffle to win various prizes. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 78 won the gun raffle, but donated it back to Brother’s 6 to be raffled off again to raise more money. This time, Bloom said the tickets for the gun raffle are $5 each or five tickets for $20.

“My husband is a deputy, so he and Matt are colleagues,” Bloom said. “We know the dangers of motorcycle riding and how easy it is to get hurt. When one of our own gets hurt we want to be there and support them and their family.”

Bloom said 26 riders from various motorcycle clubs participated in the ride. Smith and his family also attended the event. The Las Vegas chapter of Brother’s 6 is also raising money for the Smith family, Bloom said.

“Matt is extremely humbled and overwhelmed by all of the community support he’s received,” Bloom said.

Brother’s 6 was founded in October 2015. The club now has four other chapters and a fifth is in the works. The main purpose of the club is for law enforcement officials to come together outside of work and help meet the needs of the community, Patrick Bloom said.