The Ride for Missing Children is coming to Syracuse

In less than one week school opens up and I will see all the students smiling faces as they step off the bus a year older with a hunger to learn. Their excitement and joy motivates me to be the best teacher I can be yet there are another group of individuals preparing for September – cyclists across New York State are training for upcoming Ride for Missing Children (RMC) events.

On September 23, 2011 there are two Ride for Missing Children, a mission of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In years past we have traveled to Albany in September for to participate in this ride, this year we are staying closer to home. www.rideformissingchildren.org – Syracuse Ride has surpassed their goal of riders for their first official “Syracuse Ride”.

Event coordinators, Chris Arnold and Susan Bertrand have worked with the various committees to make this year’s ride a success and highlight for Septembers to come. This evening I had the pleasure of meeting Chris and Susan, share a cup of coffee at Dunkin Donuts and get to know each other on a more personal level. In addition to getting to know each other, they shared details of ride with joy and excitement. It is contagious. I LOVE the RMC!

As if this meeting wasn’t enough, I was invited to join Chris and Susan for one of their training rides. I was able to meet nearly two dozen riders as they set time aside to train. Their compassion, love, support, and dedication takes my breath away. The pink and blue jerseys, smiles, and camaraderie warm my heart even now as I think about it. I was blessed by the time spent with all the riders.

With the sun starting to nestle in for the evening, it is time for the riders to train. I was invited to share a few words of encouragement for this training ride ~ I pray my words encouraged them and helped them each to see this is more than a 100 mile bike ride ~ it is a mission to educate our children and keep them safe. Thank you riders!

There will be more about the ride in future blogs. I will be joining the riders on Friday morning as they start their trek – as their opening speaker! How exciting! Keep the riders in your prayers and if you would like to help raise posters (every $.25 equals one missing person’s flyer) or to continue providing educational programming in our schools – visit the RMC website. www.rideformissingchildren.org and you can “Like them” on your Facebook page!

Big hugs and kisses to our Albany RMC family - you are in our prayers too! Know that as we are in Syracuse, our hearts and prayers reach all the way to Albany and I plan to share this connection with the riders in Syracuse.