A disease with no known cause or cure sparked ninth graders into action as the ALS Ride for Life visited the Massapequa High School Ames Campus on May 13. Students lined the sidewalk along the front driveway for the brief but impactful event that has become a staple over the past 15 years.
With “We Are the Champions” playing, students held up signs of encouragement as they welcomed Ride For Life champion Jordan. He is battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a progressive neurogenerative disease that causes muscle weakness and paralysis.
Jordan expressed his gratitude for the support from the students. He also pointed to the wheelchair-accessible van that was purchased for his family by ALS Ride for Life to help him continue living his life, allowing him to watch his daughters run track or see their dance recitals. Donations to the organization are what makes that possible, he explained, and Ames presented ALS Ride for Life with $200 raised by the student government.
Student leaders marched into the driveway holding banners with the faces of past Ride For Life participants who have since passed. Christine Pendergast, wife of the organization’s founder, Chris Pendergast, spoke about its origins as a way of raising more awareness.
“We were both educators and we knew that students were the future, so we have been speaking to hundreds of thousands of students over the years across Long Island,” she said, adding that the organization is still going strong despite Chris’s death four-and-a-half years ago because “so many patients need the help.”
Christine visited the school prior to Ride For Life for a presentation to students about ALS and the challenges it presents to patients.
Ames students leaders noted that the presentation about ALS and the Ride For Life visit made a meaningful impact. Robert Stork said seeing people who are fighting the disease will encourage others to keep fundraising and spreading awareness.
“We want to get it out to the world so we can find a cure for this,” he said.
“Everyone rallying together was inspirational,” added Brooke McGovern. “It was really nice to see.”
Anamilena Serrano said that Massapequa is the perfect destination for ALS Ride For Life because it is a tight-knit community where people rally behind important causes.
“What I find most inspiring is that they continue to ride every year and bring awareness to the cause,” she said.