BIKE NY 5-BORO TRIP MAY 2, 2010

BIKE NY 5-BORO TRIP MAY 2, 2010
(By Rick Staron)

"Bike New York 2010 completed. We raised $815 for Liam's Lighthouse Foundation and had an excellent, if exhausting day. Thanks so much to everyone who contributed."   

"First, the ride itself: 42 miles, through all five New York Boroughs.
After last year's rainy, wet & cold experience, this year's version could not have been more different. Natalie observed that a clock/thermometer near the VN bridge, which read 54-dgrees last year, in wind and a driving rain, indicated a temperature of 89 degrees this year."

"Given the choice, I'll take the sunshine. On a personal level, I managed to pedal up all the bridges on the tour this year, including that beast (the Verazaano bridge) at the end. Which isn't to say I never got off my bike. I did. Just not on the bridges."

"Spent at the end oft he day. And my knees hurt like crazy (I thought biking was low impact and shouldn't hurt the knees...maybe I DO need a new bike). But quite satisfied with the experience."

" And the fundraising: Last year, we raised money for Ronald McDonald House in Danville, where we spent a few days when Roger was born."

"This year,it was another easy decision to benefit Liam's Lighthouse Foundation, having followed Liam's fight against HLH very closely."

"Raising money for this foundation accounts for the lighthouses on our helmets, which were actually the result of me tapping into a crafty side I had no idea even existed. They turned out to be a big hit throughout the ride. Literally dozens of people asked us about the significance of the lighhthouses, giving us the opportunity to tell them about HLH, Liam, and the foundation (always careful to mention the website, www.liamslighousefoundation.org.)"

"As we told one family, the mom reached into her bike pouch, pulled out a $5 bill and said "Here. Add this to the cause." We did. Thank you Nina, whereever you are."

"As I said earlier, thanks so much to everybody who donated. This is a new foundation, still establishing itself, so everything makes a difference. And it is in memory of a truly incredible little boy. Liam was, indeed, a powerful warrior. I'm honored to have had the opportunity to extend that power a little."

SINCERE THANKS TO RICK, NATALIE, AND THE STARON FAMILY FOR BIKING FOR A CURE FOR HLH!  YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!