about the riders

I was not quite 16 when my dad was killed in New York City on September 11, 2001. My life as I knew it before was completely flipped on its head; I had to adjust to this new world where my dad was gone forever because of deep-seated pain, anguish and ultimately anger in a far off place I had only heard about a handful of times at our dinner table and on the news. It is weird thinking back to that time; the months and even years immediately following that day: to say it was a strange and extraordinary time is definitely an understatement. On Monday the most pressing issue in my life was losing a soccer match but after that painfully gorgeous Tuesday, soccer seemed so insignificant, meaningless. As a fifteen year old who just lost my father, all I could think of was why, why, why? Why were there people out there who hated us this much? I had never experienced such hate and confusion in my entire life. I was overwhelmed with questions about Middle Eastern conflicts and Islam. After that one Tuesday, high school was simply motions I had to go through to keep everyone else calm. If I didn’t continue playing sports, if I didn’t continue getting good grades and if I didn’t show interest in going to college, my family and friends would have been even more distressed. At least that’s what I told myself. I’m sure going through those simple motions is what kept me calm during the day.

Looking back now, I know soccer wasn’t meaningless because I love to play soccer-it empowered me at a time when I felt powerless. After all the reading I have done about the Middle East, after all the conversations about Islam, Israel and Palestine, and after living through the painful eight years of George W’s administration, I still can’t help but feel incredibly fortunate. I feel fortunate because I have life and its filled with all the simple things that I love. In addition to soccer, bicycling is one of those things that just makes me happy. So I decided I want to ride my bike for three months straight to give myself not only an epic journey to remember but also plenty of time to give thanks to a man who gave me the best advice: find what you love in life and do it. Riding across our beautiful country on my awesome bike with my fabulous sweetie and my good friend, Chris is going to be a special time! I can hardly wait!

In addition to advice, my father was 100% dedicated to giving us all the resources he thought necessary for providing us with the right opportunities to find what we love in life. He took the train to New York City every Monday at 3 am, renting an apartment in Bronxville for the work week. He sacrificed time spent with us during the week for supporting our house, our sports, our schools. Then, in a flash he’d be back up north every weekend, including Fridays to see my soccer or lacrosse games. I remember looking out on the sidelines and there he’d be, still in his business suit straight off the streets of New York to the soccer fields of Saratoga to cheer me on with all his heart. For all his love and support, I want to give back and commemorate his great life by accomplishing this long ride, seeing the nation he lovingly called home and passing on the freedom and mobility bicycles provide through World Bicycle Relief.