Ride For Life

Sunday, May 4, 2008

We are beginning the 11th Ride for Life today. Registration is held at Hither Hills State Park in Montauk at 7:30am. Volunteers Bob Rau and John Reynolds waited for the walkers to register. The skies look ominous, but the participants have sunny spirits.

Volunteer Bob Rau addresses walkers with safety instructions

Breakfast is being served by the East Hampton Rotary Club. The Dalene family, Aaron Weil and Casey Simonton, displayed fresh fruit, bagels and coffee. Also, East Hampton Teachers’ Assoc. member, Kevin Blanco, supplied the group with breakfast. Car loads of registered walkers signed up and received the official Ride for Life tee shirt. Suddenly, the clouds rolled in and heavy rains poured down.

Christina and Brie at Montauk

Two buses were ready to carry the walkers to the Montauk Point Lighthouse for the official starting point of the Ride.

Once at the Montauk Point lighthouse, the patients arrived: Chris Pendergast, President and founder of RFL, and his wife, Christine; Mark Charest and his wife, Maryann and family; Norma Steck-Hess and her husband, Bob and Rich Kornack with is son, Matt, were settled in their chairs and ready for the opening ceremony.

Norma, Marc, Rich and Chris with baby Patrick

Chris Pendergast, his daughter Melissa and his grandson Patrick

Rich Kornack and his son Matt

Norma and Bob Steck-Hess

Mark Charest and family

The Eastern L.I. Police Pipe and Drum Corp. arrived to perform. Patken Photographers from Lindenhurst are filming a documentary about the Ride. New York State United Teachers Assoc. is a sponsor of the Ride. Their president, Dick Ianuzzi, welcomed everyone and wished us a safe journey. Tricia Wood, Director of site management at the Lighthouse, welcomed the patients and walkers and lit the lamp which signals the “official” beginning of the Ride. It is a beacon of hope for a cure. Everyone began their journey westward chanting the slogan, “Everywhere we go, people want to know, what we’re walking for, we’re walking for a cure.” The East Hampton Police led us on this first leg of the journey.

Eastern L.I. Police Pipe and Drum Corp.

New York State United Teachers Association President, Dick Ianuzzi

Lunch is in the Village Green in Montauk , provided by Janet Knipe and Harry and Phyllis Brown families. The Montauk Lion’s Club also provided sandwiches for everyone. It was a delightful respite from the long, damp walk from the Lighthouse. After lunch, we were entertained by the Montauk Public School Band led by Steven Skoldberg, director. Assemblyman Fred W. Theile, Jr, District 2 – Montauk, greeted the patients and walkers to Montauk and gave his continued support for the Ride. Fr. Erhart of St. Theresa Lisieux R.C. Church gave his blessing.

We all reassembled and continued our journey to Hither Hills State Park where cheers and congratulations were shared as we completed the first day of the seven-day journey to Manhattan.