RIDE FOR LIFE
Friday, May 9, 2008
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The day’s weather forecast calls for rain, rain and more rain. But, rain or shine, the patients, caregivers, family and friends keep a positive outlook and prepare for the day.
The patients today are Chris Pendergast, Rich Kornak and newcomer, Jim Diamond, from Baldwin. We meet at Lawrence High School at 8:00am and are treated to a bagel breakfast donated by the teachers of the BOND Club.
Our greeting at Lawrence High School on a cold and rainy day
Lawrence High School students and Honor students
walk in the rain for ALS
BOND stands for Branching Out in New Directions. The BOND Club students are preparing to walk with us throughout the day. Erica Graham, one of the students walking, gets a bagel to go.
BOND student Erica Graham at the bagel breakfast
The BOND teachers joining us are: Dave Yakers, coordinator, Sal Saraceni, George Klein and Craig Kaufman. The Honor Society is also joining the walk along with their advisor, Margaret Foy.
Prinipal of Lawrence, Jeff Touretz greets Riders
After breakfast, we head to the gym for a ceremony. Principal Jeff Touretz lost his mother to ALS. He congratulates the students for opening up their hearts to the worthy cause. Pat Pizzarelli, Director of Health and PE, lost his younger brother to ALS as well. Both men show great appreciation for the efforts the Ride for Life is making toward getting the funds needed for research.
Check from Lawrence High School for the Ride
The Principal presents a check for $6,508. RFL events coordinator, Mike Dinowitz, addresses the students and tells them that he and Chris feel as if the students invited them, not only to their school, but to their “family.” Chris Pendergast reminded the students that ALS is a death sentence and congratulated them for being a part of the solution.
After the ceremony, all patients are suited up in their rain gear. Volunteers and all walkers don rain slickers, umbrellas or just plain-old garbage bags and prepare for the day’s walk. The skies are raining, but the participants have sunny attitudes.
Patient, Rich Kornak gets prepared to ride in the rain
You can only imagine how horrible the conditions are for everyone. The rain is torrential at times and the wind blows the rain sideways. The wheelchair wheels splash through puddles several inches deep and the spray from passing vehicles reaches the patients’ slickers. The students and teachers from Lawrence High School are incredible. Nobody complains, they just slosh through the puddles and talk about what a good cause this is and how it’s all worth it. All members of Ride for Life are so incredibly grateful for being surrounded by such loving, giving, caring people.
About noon, all students stop to eat at Burger King or Subway in the town of Valley Stream. The patients and volunteers are served a delicious meal prepared by Joanne Senecal. She and her husband, Charlie-Bob, also a volunteer on the Ride, lost their dear son, Robbie, several years ago of ALS. It was a welcome sight, on such a damp, rainy day, to be treated to a warm meal of ziti and meatballs, quiche, salad, brownies and fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Burger King’s manager, Gabrela Ordonez, allowed the patients to eat in their dining area while we served them food.
Patient, Jim Diamond prepares for the rainy journey
The volunteers huddled inside an RV which contained the food. After twenty minutes, everyone suited up once again to continue our journey. Once we reached the end of the Nassau County Border, we say goodbye to the Nassau Highway Dept and hello to the New York Police Highway Patrol. They will escort us for the rest of the Ride.
The remaining five-mile journey is a difficult one due to the continuous rain. About 2:30, the Lawrence High School students have to leave. Chris Pendergast thanks them for their noble efforts and wishes them a wonderful end to the school year.
Patient, Chris Pendergast gets ready to brave the nasty weather.
Our final destination is at the Queens High School for the Sciences at York College. Principal Gie Zhang greets us as does Assistant Principal, Eleanor McDonagh. Mr. Andrew Persoff, Coordinator of Student Affairs, warmly welcomes the wet and weary travelers.
Queens High School for the Sciences at
York College presents a check to the Riders
He presents the Ride with a check for $1,020 collected from a friendly competition held between each grade. The weather may have been difficult, but the energy, excitement, enthusiasm and warm reception we received from the schools we visited today made every step worthwhile.
