Ride For Life

Under the great leadership of Shirley Allan, a 7th grade science teacher, the students and staff of the Thomas Grover Middle School in Princeton Junction, New Jersey have become ardent Ride for Life supporters and ALS fighters. Ms. Allan heads up a section of the building's 7th grade students, Team 7B. Several years ago, Tom Rice, the parent of a 7th grader on the Team, had a friend die from ALS. That friend was Mike Beier, a great Ride advocate. Tom arranged for Ride for Life founder, Chris Pendergast, to make a presentation at the building. Tom's daughter, Ali, helped the program by giving an overview of ALS and the mission of Ride For Life. Ever since, the school has raised tens of thousands of dollars.

This year, a talented 7th grader submitted this poem to the Ride. It eloquently expresses the attitude of these young people. We hope you enjoy it.

A Poem, An Overview, A Tribute
By Ben Menahem

This is a poem, an overview, a tribute.
A poem for those who live,
an overview of their opponent,
and a tribute to those who lost.

The opponent is twisting, ever changing, and undetctible
Until it attacks.
It is sneaky.
It deceives.
And when you find it,
you know you only have so many hours.

Therefore acknowledge.
Acknowledge those whose wills are strong
who have the drive enough to go on.
For only if your will is strong you can buy more time,
but sometimes even that isn't enough.

So, remember.
Remember those who lost.
Remember what they were fighting.
And rejoice
because they have gone on,
they have left their terrible sickness behind.

But comfort.
Comfort their families who will always miss them.

And finally, think.
Think of life as a race.
We all run it, just at different paces.

So, do not drown in sorrow, but continue to live and fight.
Because once all is said and done,
and the race is over, we'll be there.

We'll be together with no pain.