RIDE FOR LIFE
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
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Once again, we were met by the Suffolk County Highway Patrol at King's Park High School. Patients, Chris Pendergast, Rich Kornak and Norma Steck-Hess were positioned in front of the Pep Band directed by Ms. Allison Bordner.
Kings Park High School
Ride for Life Video:
Chris
Rich
Norma
• Additional Kings Park photo gallery •
Assistant Principal, Beth Zanni, welcomed the Riders and wished them a safe journey. The school had given a donation at an earlier date and the students were anxious to see us begin our journey from their school. After a breakfast provided by the King's Park Chamber of Commerce, we headed through the town of King's Park toward our next destination in Northport.
Our second stop was at Dickinson Avenue Elementary School in Northport. President and patient, Chris Pendergast, taught at this school and the students know first hand the effects of ALS. Amy Cornell, the music director, introduced the patients to the students. Two more patients joined us, Herb Ingram and Tom Newton. The student leadership team presented the Riders with a check for $1,921. The SHARE group also presented all patients with a goody bag of sunscreen, water, hand sanitizer, tissues and chap stick. They also prepared a picnic lunch for us to eat later in the day. Principal, Miss Whooley, wished us good luck and Amy Cornell read Chris' favorite poem by Robert Frost, "The Road not Taken."
We walked a few blocks to East Northport High School where the students cheered the patients as they rode into the cafeteria to eat the bag lunch. Mr. John Macaluso, AP, and Ms. Irene McLaughlin, Principal, joined our group. They all wished us a safe journey as we continued our way westward.
Our last school visit of the day was Burr Intermediate School. The students lined the driveway and sang the official Ride for Life song while the patients rode by in their wheelchairs. The students presented a check for $8,000 to Chris. Principal, Chuck Heppler, was proud of the students and their hard work in raising so much money. The school then donated drinks and snacks for the Ride. Christine Raia, a Ride volunteer, was a student at this school. Her father died of ALS. She presented Mr. Heppler with a certificate of appreciation.
Our final stop was the Gurwin Center Nursing Home in Commack where we visited ALS patient, David Deutsch. The employees of the Center cheered the patients as they rode along the driveway and held signs greeting everyone. Once inside, Ashley Pattishall, the recreation specialist, introduced the staff and spoke so kindly about David and his family: Dorothy, his wife, Andrew and Ethan his sons. Brei Delgiudice, a Ride volunteer and friend of the Deutsch family, introduced David to everyone.
The Center also provided dinner for us. It was a very busy but fulfilling day. Everyone was grateful for the enthusiasm and generosity of everyone they met today.
