This blog post will be a bit different than the typical wellness related posts I publish. For those of you who don’t know, every year since 1996 I have been participating as a cyclist in The Cycleability Challenge, formerly titled the Bresnan Bike Tour and the Tour de Wagner. Regardless of the name, this event, which is held each June, has always had a consistent and noble mission – to raise funds for a group of charitable organizations which benefit those in our local community with intellectual disabilities. They are Special Olympics-Hudson Valley Region, and the Southeast Consortium for Special Services, and formerly, Westchester Arc. These organizations do incredibly valuable work by providing programs and services to thousands of individuals and their families right here in the Hudson Valley.
Each year I, along with several dozen committed riders, spend a weekend cycling 230-miles from Patterson, NY through Connecticut and Massachusetts and into Vermont.
This year is a particularly exciting milestone. For 19 consecutive years (and this is a reality check for me, age-wise!), I have been be riding in the Challenge. For the past 5 years, I have been also been privileged to be the Organizing Committee Co-Chair. The exciting news is that this year’s edition will be the 25th! It will take place from May 30th to June 1st – only 8 weeks away – so despite the frosty weather, I am already in full training mode.
One of the reasons I have been so dedicated to this cause is that virtually all of the sponsor money we raise goes directly into beneficiary programs, not overhead. Most similar events have overhead costs upward of 50%, and we are extremely proud that our corporate underwriters have afforded us the ability to structure our Tour so we as riders can direct all the money we raise specifically to program expansion.
I am very pleased to say that over the past 24 years we have raised over $5 million.
After my family and my dedication to my patient’s care, my involvement in this event and it’s beneficiaries has been my biggest priority. The experience been a rewarding one beyond measure, and I have been thankful for the opportunity to be able to give back to the community as a result. There are very few true win-win experiences in life. This has been a huge one for me.
If you know of anyone who might be interested in participating as a rider, or in any other way, please have them contact me.
Apr 03, 2014 at 8:41 PM
I'd like to make a contribution of $25, Seth. Shall I make out a check and mail it to you, and if so, to whom do I write it? Good luck and congratulations for making this venture a vital part of your life. It's all about what we do individually to make a difference in this world. Best, Marlene
Apr 05, 2014 at 9:05 AM
That would be great. Thank you so much Marlene! You can follow the instructions below to donate: You can sponsor me by clicking this link and donating online with a major credit card: http://2014cycleability.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1093522&lis=0&kntae1093522=B9C18647A43C4A3C85E4CB5E4F43B42D&supId=75286100 (They also accept Paypal) or by making your check payable to: Special Olympics New York - Hudson Valley. Alternately, you can send your check to me at: 2 Byram Brook Place Armonk, NY 10504
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