RIDE FOR LIFE
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
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After a restful night, the patients and their families met to begin their third day's journey. There was Rich Kornack and his son, Matt from Middletown, NY; Tom Weissbach, (first-time rider) his wife Michele and their daughters from Ridge, NY; President and founder of RFL, Chris Pendergast and his wife, Christine. Once again, the Suffolk County Highway Police escorted us.
Christine and Chris Pendergast
Joining the patients were students from the North Country Rd. Middle School in Miller Place as well as the family and friends of a deceased patient, JT Wolf.
Patients Tom Weissbach and Rich Kornack
lead North Country Rd. School
The family and friends of J.T. Wolf
We began our walk westward along Rt 25A toward the Town of Brookhaven's Heritage Park for a welcoming ceremony. JT Wolf was an employee of the Town of Brookhaven Highway Dept. The students sang, "Everywhere we go, people want to know, what we're walking for, we're walking for a cure. Strike out ALS." The amount of students, teachers, volunteers and supporters was getting quite the attention of passers by along the road.
Mt. Sinai Barber Shop Quartet
Once at Heritage Park, a ceremony was held. The Mt. Sinai Barber Shop quartet sang the "Star Spangled Banner". Mike Dinowitz, the RFL events coordinator, introduced the following dignitaries: Dan Losquadro, County Legislator, Jane Bonner, Councilwoman, Shelley Staffer, Comsewogue Schools. Special thanks were given to John Rouse, Brookhaven Town Highway Supervisor, Brian X. Foley's representative, Lori Balkarsare, the Heritage Park Board of Directors and Joe Centamort, Rocky Pt. Schools.
J.T. Wolf family and friend give Chris Pendergast a donation
Donations were given to Chris Pendergast for the Ride from the following: JT. Wolf family and friends, students from the Mt. Sinai Middle School and High School's Boys & Girls track, Student Gov't, honor Society and Interact Club, Comsewogue High School, Miller Place High School and North Country Rd. Middle School. The gifts totaled $5,600 dollars.
Fire department members from Mt. Sinai
and Miller place salute patients
We departed Heritage Park about 10:30 and headed toward the William Sydney Mount Elementary School in Stony Brook. The patients rode their wheelchairs and supporters walked along route 347 west. At 2:15 we reached our destination. The entire student body and faculty surrounded the driveway while the patients rode by. The cheering was deafening. They presented a check for $2500 collected from fund raisers.
Mt. Sinai elementary school donates to the Ride
Lunch was donated by "Bagels your Way" in Mt. Sinai and extra treats were donated by Terry Manzoni, Eileen MacAvoy and Patricia Longo. Chris Pendergast's daughter, Melissa, showed up with her son. It was Patrick's first birthday today and we all celebrated with cupcakes and gifts. It was a wonderful treat after a long walk.
Patrick Scali and his mom, Melissa Pendergast Scali
at his first birthday
After a lovely lunch, the entourage headed toward the State University at Stony Brook for a pin-wheel ceremony. Six-thousand pinwheels were situated on a patch of ground at the University to symbolize the 6,000 Americans who will die this year of ALS. Everyone arrived to a breath-taking sight of 6,000 spinning, shining pinwheels.
6,000 pinwheels on the Stony Brook grounds
Pam Cirasole sings Amazing Grace
Pam Cirasole sang "Amazing Grace", to lead the ceremony. RFL donated $45,000 to ALSA of Greater New York for the ALS Clinic at Stony Brook. Accepting the check was Dorine Gordon, President ALSAGNY, Theresa Imparatto and Kathleen McCloskey. We then left toward our final destination in Setauket.
Theresa Imparatto, Dorine Gordon and Kathleen McCloskey
We arrived at the Setauket Presbyterian Church where the youth group, led by Bev Campbell, served everyone a delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings. All patients, caregivers, family, friends and volunteers were so grateful for such a gracious display of kindness from this wonderful group of youngsters.
