Ride for Missing Children (long)
This is long, I apologize in advance.
The Ride for Missing Children in Utica, New York is an annual event that started as a result of the abduction of a local youngster. She was riding from her father’s church to her home and never arrived. Her bicycle was found on her road with her crayons and coloring book scattered in a nearby ditch. Her family began the largest single distribution of posters ever for one missing child. Sadly she was never recovered, but her legacy lives on in this ride.
The Mohawk Valley chapter of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which exists here as a direct result the work of her family and friends, sponsors this ride every year in an effort to raise money for the national distribution of posters of missing children. Each rider must commit to raising 2000 posters (at a cost of .25 a piece, this amounts to $500.00), spreading the message of personal and bicycle safety through volunteer work, and riding the century in May.
This was my first year as rider. I joined 90 or so other first years! The training is done on weekend group rides, led by a volunteer staff composed mostly of members of the local bike club. We began our outdoor training in early spring, first riding 30 miles, then 40, 50 and finally 60. I always tried to ride both days. Friday May 20th was the day of The Ride.
When I say “us”, I am referring to 280 volunteer riders. We stretched 1 and 3/4 miles along the road, riding two by two. Among us were Ahmad, who told us of the abduction of two of his daughters. One was murdered, the other survived. Mike, whose daughter was abducted and murdered in Florida. And one rider who wished to remain anonymous, but who is a true survivor, a recovered missing child.
We visited seven schools, bringing our message of personal safety to hundreds of children. There was a band playing at each stop. The children and teachers joined us in singing along to a safety song, “say no, then go...go tell!” We danced and sang with them, reminding them to stay safe.
Police vehicles accompanied us, blocking each intersection, then racing ahead in the far left lane to beat us to the next intersection and block that one off as well. This is a fully supported ride; food, drinks, and busses for tired riders. Though we are all encouraged to ride, for everyone's safety SAG wagons are provided to sweep up slower riders.
We passed silent tributes, police officers standing at parade rest next to memorial wreaths, honoring the missing. The police lined either side of the road in Oriskany, near our last stop. They stood silently by their cars, lights flashing, as they saluted us.
If you think riding 100 miles is tough, you should try it while you’re crying.
The day was profoundly moving, and I am so proud to have been a part of it, and of our mission;
To make our children safer ...one child at a time.
