Ride For Life

Monday, May 5, 2008

The patients, Chris Pendergast, Marc Charest and Rich Kornack, along with family, friends and volunteers met at the Eastport South Manor Junior/Senior High School for a ceremony being hosted by the Honor Society.

Mr. Graph and the concert choir at the
Eastport South Manor Junior/Senior School

The concert choir, let by Mr. Graph, did a wonderful, moving collection of songs for us. Ms. Flanagan, the advisor for the Honor Society, presented a check to Chris Pendergast for the Ride. Breakfast was provided, than the honor society members walked with the patients to our next destination which was Nathaniel Woodhull Elementary School in Mastic Beach.

Patients, students, volunteers leaving Eastport South Manor School

Break time enroute to Nathaniel Woodhull Elementary School

Students from Nathaniel Woodhull School join the riders

We arrived at the elementary school at 11:45 and were treated to lunch by Carol Ann Elias, Jill Coco, Annie Brickel and Lynn Molinari. They are “Friends of Dolores” from the Bronx. She was an ALS patient who passed away five years ago.

Lunch Donors: Carol Ann Elias, Jill Coco,
Annie Brickel and Lynn Molinari

The school band, led by Andrea Stellato, played the Star Spangle Banner and we were welcomed by Principal, Monica Corona. She announced that this is the 5th year the Ride has stopped at that school. A check was given by the student counsel for $5,000 from their fund- raising efforts: Chinese auction and donations from teachers, staff and families of the school. The band then played a march and the students filed in behind the patients and walked several blocks all the way chanting, “Strike out ALS.”

The students returned to their school and the rest of the entourage continued north along William Floyd Parkway and west along Montauk Highway to our next destination at the Patchogue Library. At approximately 4:30, we were met by members of the Library. Liz Wright and Laura Accardi and the Rotary Club members, Carol Landy, Rich Braille, Gina Schneider, Melissa and Rich Schaerdorf, Stephanie Caravales amd Gina Caputo . They made a donation to Chris for the Ride from ribbons they were selling for a fundraiser.

Rotary and Library members of Patchogue

We left for our last stop at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue where we were met by Marion Russo, Dir. of student co-curricular programs, Tom Travis, VP and Dean and Sister Loretta McGrann, provost. Ms. Robin Lombardo, director of the recreation club, and its members greeted the patients with a lovely welcoming sign.

St. Joseph's students greet Riders

Chris Pendergast and his cargiver, Surjay

They invited the patients to a delicious Italian dinner feast complete with ice cream dessert. The second day of our seven-day fund raiser ended in the presence of such a welcome, warm student body. They all invited us back again next year. We couldn’t have had a more perfect ending to the day.