The great grandmother (and first) of all bike ride fund raising events in the country...maybe even the world, for the ALS cause!
September 22, 2019 - 25th Anniversary Ride To Defeat ALS - 305 riders, 48 teams, about a dozen motorcycle riders (yes motorcycles!) raised over $270,000 (and still counting) for research and for support services provided by the MA Chapter ALS Association
Months of planning and organizing rolled out perfectly under a sunny cloudless blue sky …Ashley Corbin's program script knitted together everything that sets this event apart, the deep sense of commitment to finding a cure, the involvement of people who have a direct stake in finding it - patients, their families and caregivers - and volunteers who want to be part of such a one of a kind event. Positively healing, nurturing, community building and soul-settling just by being there.
The beginning of the story...The first "A Positive Spin for ALS," a solo ride from Plymouth Rock to Provincetown, MA, happened in 1995, created by Paul Tamburello. It later merged into the participatory event "Ride to Defeat ALS" staged from The Longfellow Health Club in Wayland, MA. It has raised over 2 million dollars for the ALS cause since 1995. A pretty good number considering approximately 5000 cases a year are diagnosed compared to an estimated 1,735,350 new cases of cancer that were diagnosed in the United States in 2018.
ALS organizations have come a long way since 1995, are better equipped to support men and women diagnosed with ALS, closer to a cure but not there yet. Yesterday was a flawlessly organized milestone, the 25th Anniversary Ride for the ALS, descended from A Positive Spin for ALS, the first and longest running bike ride find raiser in the USA for the ALS cause.
This anniversary year, we resumed the "Roll Call of Honorary Riders," a feature of the original A Positive Spin for ALS. Myke Farricker co-owner of The Longfellow Health Clubs (and one of the founders of the fund raising bike ride with which Paul Tamburello merged his Positive Spin for ALS0 and I read the names of the men and women for whom todays bikers raised money and rode one of the four routes . Somber, reflective, celebratory all at once, it is what a musician friend of mine refers to as "Calling down the spirits."
The Rude Boys contingent reminds us every year of the the legacy of Pete “Wheels” Farricker, their friend and teammate whose character so indelibly impacted the sport of Ultimate Frisbee that the organization created the Farricker Spirit Award ("The Farricker Spirit Award is given to the player in the men's division of the USA Ultimate's National Championship Series adjudged to have exhibited personal responsibility, integrity, and fairness combined with a high standard of playing ability.") They've come from near and far. If one of them couldn't get here, they rode a route somewhere else in Pete's honor.
I’m grateful for my friendship with Myke Farricker that began years ago when we met at a personal growth seminar and restarted when the Longfellow Club hosted a fund raising ride for ALS.
I thank the stars that Ashley Corbin took over the ride in 2016. Myke recalled that the number of riders and contributions rose significantly every year since she took over. Numbers aren’t everything. How about adding having an open heart, being approachable, a good listener, being a certifiable inside and out of the box thinker with a well of energy deeper than Poland Springs. That begins to explain Ashley Corbin.
Vignettes from the day:
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Small world connection - Steve Kowalski. a recently diagnosed man who works for Apple. I told him that my school system, Brookline, MA, was an early adopter of computer technology, and that in around 1986, my school, The Pierce School, received a lab full of Apple IIe desktops. My job was to learn how to use them then teach my fourth graders how to use them. His response floored me.
“I was involved in the rollout of that computer,” he says, then says, “Do you know Jane Manzelli?”
“Yes! She was a motivating force promoting computer technology, gave us in-service workshops, told us this was the wave of the future, and she was right. She also lived in Watertown a half mile away from me.”
“I worked with her to get those computers into your system!” Steve says.
When I give him my email address so he can send me a confirmation for my donation that Apple will match, he smiles when he sees my Apple email address. Amazing...You could have knocked me over with a feather.
Steve tells me that in order to be doubled, I need to write the check to him and he will send to Apple. “You won’t be able to claim your contribution as a deduction since you’re making it out for me but it will be doubled,” Steve says.
In honor of the 25th anniversary, I donated $100 for each year of the ride. Whatever deduction I might gain was dwarfed by the fact that Apple would match the funds employee Steve Kowalski made to this fund raiser. Steve's team (AppleFriends4ALS) received the "Most Spirited Team Award."
This out of the blue connection was stunning, right out the theory of six degrees of separation.
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Doug McIlvaine, recently diagnosed, was the bravest speaker today. He started shaky and like an engine pulling a heavy load, picked up speed. I watched in awe and admiration as he gained momentum and purpose telling us how he wanted to live his life after being diagnosed and finished by hammering home the theme of hope (his Team Hope was everywhere today). Today we matched Hope with action. The positive effect of his message was not lost on anyone today.
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Roland’s wife Sandy ( on the Honorary Rider list) died May 2, a little over 4 months ago. Their son Austin borrowed a bike to ride in last year's event. He got the cycling bug, bought his own bike and rode today. A very together young man, he said his dad was waffling about coming to the ride, that he encouraged him to come. Roland not only showed up but did the 25 mile ride. Good medicine for both of them. Austin tells me how he and his dad cared for Sandy, managed the feeding tube, daily suction of saliva from her mouth, and the support, equipment, and advice from MA Chapter ALS Association. There was alot of love between father and son as sometimes their roles reversed. And hundreds of very brave people taking part in the Ride to Defeat ALS.
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Larry Shaps, whose brother has ALS, tells me about the book “Chicken Soup For The Soul” by Joan London , The Caregiver Edition.
Larry talked at length and with gratitude for the support from MA Chapter ALS Association for equipment, resources to manage the disease, and the comfort of human connections when they needed it. Scores of people here today got love and support from the MA chapter. That and the inclusive community nature of the event are what drives them here.
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Music...from morning right to the finale. Mr. Jonathan Is My DJ is a whiz at reading a crowd. The guy has a library in his laptop that could fuel a two week party. He picks music that's keeps the mood festive and upbeat in just the right balance.
“We’re singing this for Ash…” Devri an Irish/Country/ Western Swing band with energy to spare sings…”500 Miles,”released in 1988 by The Proclaimers, a Scottish band composed of identical twin brothers, Charlie and Craig Reid (born 5 March 1962, in Leith) “We de do it at a faster pace than the original” says Declan. leader of the band, after the song finished and boy oh boy they rock it with fierce foot stompin’ energy.
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Motorcycles
That was the coolest new wrinkle in the 25th ride. A bunch of motorcycle dudes and gals all decked out in their gear, they were an imposing sight at last year's ride. I asked one of them what the connection was and learned a friend was riding for a motorcycle buddy diagnosed with ALS. Ashley Corbin connected with them. "Ride on your motorcyles!" It makes so much sense. It invites this tight community to do something that gives the public a kinder and more gentle outlook on them as a group often stereotyped negatively.
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A contingent of Rude Boys (and Girls)
This group of former Ultimate Frisbee champions contributes $10,000 every year to the ride in Pete's name. They have become one of the signature teams and contributors of this ride. The way they bond as a community, attack the ride in their own in imitable style, is a testament to Pete’s charisma, sportsmanship, and spirit and it's effect on everyone who played with or against him in his career of playing Ultimate Frisbee...that would include these Rude Boys who unfailingly bring the spirit with them every time they take to the road in Pete’s honor. How much of an impact did Pete have on the game? How about the USA Ultimate, The United States National Governing Body for the Sport of Ultimate creating a Spirit of the Game Award in 2002: Farricker Spirit Award is given to the player in the men's division of the USA Ultimate's National Championship Series adjudged to have exhibited personal responsibility, integrity, and fairness combined with a high standard of playing ability.
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More Pete
One more thing from the website link above: About Peter Farricker
Peter "Wheels" Farricker was a person of spirit — teammate, friend, brother, son, husband and father. He was swift, clever, funny, smart, kind, and he attracted people with an ease and calmness many admired. Fair on the field, he was strong in skill, superior outside the lines. He was champion in many ways. Taken seriously without being overly serious, loved by many, he was and is for many of us a model of what we hope we can be.
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The Domino effect
Pete would appreciate that that there were dozens of riders and men and women on Sunday who, like him, exemplified spirit and courage. It was inspiring...the beauty of it is that it rubbed off on anyone who witnessed it.
Photo courtesy of Jarvis Chen
Paul A.Tamburello, Jr.
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