The Ride for Kids

The day of the Rodman Ride for Kids is my favorite day of the year. I like it more than Christmas. It is an opportunity to give to social service agencies that serve youth that are at risk of living outside acceptable community standards because of disrupted families, poverty, lack of opportunity and other unfortunate reasons. It is also a day to be with like-minded caring people, to get exercise, food and have fun.

The day of the ride is also either on my birthday or the weekend before. I said to Don Rodman, the wonderful man who started the fundraising ride, “Thank you for having all these people here to celebrate my birthday!”

He laughed and with his usual thoughtful focus said, “You’re welcome. It’s all about the kids.” I think Don recognizes that I am actually a 7 year old kid at heart.

Thank you, Don, for thinking of the needs of children and allowing us to share your concern by riding and contributing money to help youth.

Twelve years ago, I went to worship at Trinity Church in Boston. There was a table that said, “Rodman Ride for Kids.” When I spoke with Ebi Okara, founder of Team Trinity and other people at the table, they told me that I could ride 25, 50, or 100 miles.

I hadn’t been riding since my own children were young. I, jokingly, offered to ride 2.5 miles. They laughed and didn’t think that two and a half miles was enough. After the summer of training rides, I rode 50 miles and could have done more.

The following year I was invited to join the Team Trinity Steering Committee. It has been a privilege to contribute with the organization of our team and to lead training rides to help riders get in shape for the Big Day!

This coming September 26th, 2009, will be Team Trinity’s fifteenth year. During fourteen years we have raised over two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) for youth in the Boston area through the Ride for Kids. The Rodman Ride for Kids in 2008 raised 6.3 million dollars. All cost associated with the Ride are underwritten so that 100% of the money raised goes to serve at risk kids.

This year, for the first time, money raised by Team Trinity for the Ride for Kids will go to a youth community outreach program (TEEP) that has existed at Trinity Church for ten years. Every young person who has finished the TEEP program has gone to college, the first in their family to do so.

To ride as a member of Team Trinity, contact me.

Or contact:
Pam Pratt, 781-982-9713, hughesofficefurnishings@comcast.net

For a Training Ride Schedule go to:

http://trinitychurchboston.org/calendar/index.php
Click on: Team Trinity: Faith Gives

For more information or to donate to at risk kids, you can do so through this website,
Or send checks to: 2 Andrew Circle, North Andover, MA 01845
Or contact me at 978-685-8550 to charge a credit card

Other contacts for information or to contribute are:

Steering Committee Chair, Ebi Okara: edokara@verizon.net or 617-956-6883

Steering Committee Co-chair and TEEP administrator, Louise Packard at: lackard@trinityinspires.org or 617-536-0944 ext. 381

Rodman Ride for Kids
10 Lincoln Road
Foxboro, MA 02035

508-543-7892 | 800-395-RIDE (7433) fax: 508.543.8933

info@rodmanrideforkids.org
www.rodmanrideforkids.org/