Ride For Life

Saturday, May 10, 2008 Back to Main Menu

The last day of the Ride for Life is bittersweet. The patients will enjoy the rest and relaxation, but will miss the company of their friends on the Ride. The following patients were there all or part of the last day: Chris Pendergast, Norma Steck-Hess, Marc Charest, Jack Elwood, Tom Newton, Rich Kornak, Adele Zinberg, Fern Cohen and Casey Banks.

Patient, Adele Zinberg

Patient, Rich Kornak

Patient, Tom Newton and his wife

Patient, Casey Banks

Patient, Jack Elwood

IBEW 3 Colony Club of Brooklyn at Cadman Plaza

Everyone met at Cadman Plaza Park on the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge. The Local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers IBEW3 Pipe and Drum corps called “Sword of Light” met us there. They plan to lead everyone over the bridge after breakfast and registration.

Ridgewood High School

Breakfast was provided by United Federation of Teachers and their president, Randee Weingarten. The “Colony Club” IBEW of Brooklyn, had a member, Harvey Schukin, die of ALS. Their President, Paul Patti and Advisor, Mark Hansen, presented Chris Pendergast with a check for $1,000.

IBEW3 Pipe and Drum Corp by Brooklyn Bridge

At 9:30am, all patients, their caregivers, walkers, volunteers and supporters began the procession over the Brooklyn Bridge led by the Pipe and Drum Corp. It was a spectacular sight to have such a large representation of supporters follow the wonderful sounds of bagpipes. The view from the bridge is outstanding. One can see the Statue of Liberty on one side and the NY skyline on the other. Once over the bridge, the Pipe and Drum Corp left and we continued to walk to Washington Square. The traffic, sights and sounds of New York City are like nothing we’ve seen thus far on the Ride. The New York City Police Dept. Highway Patrol protects us throughout the day and provides the safety we need in the city.

NYC Highway Patrol Bikes and Car
Escort the Entourage

Chris Pendergast gets assistance to stand up and bid
farewell to Sgt. Murphy of the NYC Highway Patrol

Mike and Brei Delgiudice provide lunch
in Washington Square Park

Sgt. Murphy always volunteers to work this Ride and all of us look forward to spending the day with him and the other wonderful officers.

At 11:30 am we arrive at Washington Square Park where lunch is provided by Mike and Brei Delgiudice. They prepared wonderful hero sandwiches, salads, apple sauce and drinks for everyone. The park was alive with activity and it was a welcome break.

Students walking through the streets of Manhattan

The Ride proceeds past Columbia Circle in NYC

At noon, we walked up 8th Avenue and Broadway to 116th Street to Columbia University. Along the way, the different “cities” within the city were a treat in themselves. We could smell the aroma of Spanish foods, Chinese foods and other ethnic foods along the way. The people on the street were receptive to us and offered support and donations for the Ride. Once at Columbia, we were met by Martin J. Benjamin, the Columbia Univ. Project Coordinator and Annette Ralph, Administrative Coordinator. Lou Gehrig attended Columbia University. They arranged for refreshments to be served. Everyone welcomed the respite from the long walk.

We walked the short distance to St. Paul’s Chapel on the university grounds Outside St. Paul’s Chapel, we were entertained by the writer of the Ride for Life song, George Lintz and the lead singer, Angela Workman, accompanied by Lala Brookes.

RFL writer George Lintz with Angela Workman (left)
and Lala Brookes at St. Paul's Chapel at Columbia University.

When they had completed that song and “Amazing Grace,” we all processed into St. Paul’s Chapel. The “Interfaith Service of Remembrance and Healing” was held. The beacon of light lantern which we lit on the first day of the Ride in Montauk Point was carried by patient, Marc Charest, down the church aisle to its final destination on the Ride in this chapel.

Reverand Bridges, Reverand Cuervo and Reverand Lausten at Columbia University Ceremony at St. Paul's Chapel

We were greeted by the Rev. Jeffrey Lausten, the Rev. James Bridges and the Rev. Lilia Cuervo. Pam Cirasole sang several songs and then ninety people each read the name of a person who died of ALS. Every ninety minutes a person dies of ALS. The ceremony is always very emotional as the name of past patients is read.

Once outside, the bicycle riders who began at Montauk Point this morning about 6:00 am, met us. They biked the 160 miles to be at the ceremony. They donated pledges they collected for the Ride. Phil Gormley, a bike rider, has a sister, Claire, who has ALS. He and the friends of Claire have made this journey the last day of the Ride for Life journey for several years.

We continued north to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital on 168th street and arrived at 5:00 pm.. Once there, we were greeted by Dr. Hiroshi Matsumoto, head of neurology and researcher and Olena Jennings, his assistant.

Dr. Matsumoto, head of the neurology and research at
Columbia University with Chris Pendergast

The Ride for Life donates funds to the doctor to continue research on finding a cure for ALS. Dr. Matsumoto announced that stem cells can now be produced from skin cells making it even closer and closer to finding a cure. Chris Pendergast thanked the good doctor and said, “May God give you the wisdom and perseverance to find the answer.” We all gave the doctor a standing ovation.

Everyone enjoys the last dinner of the Ride
courtesy of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital

After a lovely dinner donated by the hospital, we said our farewells to all the patients, their families, volunteers and supporters and began our journey homeward. The 11th Annual Ride for Life had been successfully completed and, hopefully, raised enough funding and awareness to help find and cause and a cure for this deadly disease.

Everyone is grateful to all our corporate sponsors, donors, planners and volunteers who helped make this Ride possible.