SammyRides : Journal of a Journey

St Joseph's Children's Hospital Foundation

2011-07-30T19:15:00.000-04:00

Adolf Lex, Kim & Mike Brown present a donation from SammyRides to St Joseph's Children's Hospital Foundation on July 22nd during the hospital's Christmas in July celebration where gifts are collected for young patients being treated at their facilities.

Letter from Senior Center - Picayune, MS

2011-05-23T13:23:00.000-04:00

Volunteer Thank You Reception May 1st

2011-05-07T15:29:00.000-04:00

To all of our volunteers from Arizona to Florida and everywhere in between - THANK YOU SO VERYMUCH FOR MAKING OUR RIDE A SUCCESS!

More Homecoming Pictures

2011-05-06T19:05:00.002-04:00

Welcome Home Guys!

2011-05-06T15:07:00.001-04:00

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/sun-city-retirees-bicycle-2400-miles-to-raise-money-for-pediatric-cancer/1167766

PICTURES

2011-05-04T07:41:00.001-04:00

THIS ONE SAYS IT ALL!

Amanda Jordan - United Methodist Church of Sun City Center

2011-05-02T08:41:00.001-04:00

Amanda dedicated this to Sammy and the many other children like her. We cried, we smiled, we remembered, and we were inspired. Thank you Amanda and everyone at the church that welcomed the riders home.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2027662177023&subj=1408131973

Click on view in high quality at the bottom. I'm not sure if you can get to this link if you don't have Facebook.

Don't go away. We will be putting up lots of pictures of the homecoming in the next couple of days!

2011-05-01T15:33:00.000-04:00

SAMMYRIDES Some Final Thoughts, Thanks and Special Note to Sammy May 1, 2011

2011-05-01T10:13:00.005-04:00

Hi Everyone,

In 2008, I wrote what I thought would be my final Sammy Update...the day Sammy passed away. Little did I realize how our lives would take on a challenging and different path with a bike ride across America to not only cherish Sammy's memory, but help hundreds of kids who suffer from Cancer. It became our passion. The pain of losing Sammy was and continues to be extremely painful, with deep sadness that crosses our lives constantly. However, it was important for us to honor Sammy for all she represented and for who she was. Anyone who has lost a loved one, particularly a child, truly understands. We could have continued to protect our feelings, away from friends and family, but we decided that the pain, anguish, and sadness we were feeling, could be focused in a different and more positive direction, where we just might be able to help lots of other kids...special, like Sammy. And so, SammyRides was born and became a reality to us and to our community. Finding people who could join in and help develop ideas, was of utmost importance. Along the way, we made mistakes, because after all, it was a new learning experience for us. We learned a great deal about the character, decency, and incredible goodness of so many wonderful people within our community. There were several necessary changes that needed to occur in order for us to achieve our goals and we did that by surrounding ourselves with people of the highest level of integrity. We found individuals who served as our project team here in Sun City Center along with Team Will, out in Sacramento, California. The uniting of both is what has made Sammyrides such a success. When you talk about those having the highest level of integrity, we had the best of the best and we are so proud of what each of them accomplished to make this ride such a phenomenal experience. The following people are our project team members here in Sun City Center:

Dee Giordano...a master at her craft in keeping impeccable records; not to mention her huge heart of gold. No one, and I mean no one, could have handled the task of handling the multitude of tasks placed upon her during these past two years like Dee. Michael and I feel she has become family to us and we treasure this incredible friendship that has grown out of working together and going through all the ups and downs that a project like this presents at times.

Kim Brown is another individual, like Dee, who has such a kind, caring heart. Never does this lady complain.....it amazes us. She has handled every task with such grace and always, with a smile. We are truly grateful for all her hard work and dedication for this project. Kim has been a such a pleasure to work with and we are so happy and honored to call her, our friend.

Jan Welsh....a neighbor who called one day with a great idea. She volunteered to look at our route and contact various churches and organizations along the bike route where pot luck suppers and meet and greets would be held for us. The difficult part was doing the research and contacting leaders of various churches and organizations. However, by the time we left for Arizona, 16 churches and organizations were set and ready to host us. I must tell you that some of the most memorable moments for all of us during the ride was being welcomed by the congregants and participants from these wonderful places. Their warmth, hospitality, sincerity and friendship, is something we will never forget, and we have Jan to thank for that.

Our fantastic riders.... John Bear, Adoph Lex, Mike Brown (and Michael, of course!)....you are our heroes without doubt....no better team, ever! They made this difficult and challenging journey sheer joy, and for the hundreds that met them, particularly, all the kids they met in various hospitals across the country. I remember the deep levels of emotions after each visit....these macho guys whose hearts were like jello when it came to meeting these fantastic kids. We were honored to have these riders be a part of this project and thank them for the commitment, time, energy, determination...each gave every single day of the ride.

A special thank you to their wives as well!!! Linda, Frances, Kim, yes, even me, who allowed these riders to be away for two months! We really appreciated your own "donation" to this project!!!

Many thanks to the hundreds of volunteers in our Sun City Center community

Tessa Anzalone, Jo Ellen Aleide, Nancy Alguire, Diane Barnes, Gordy Bassett, Kim Bauer, Jim and Bunny Blackstone, Barbara Carter, Marc and Mary Chamberlain, Kathy Cohen, Joan Connelly, Charlene Courter, Susan and Dick Vogt,

Norma Daub, Ilene Davidoff, Roe Denton, Dan and Arlene Donahue, Mae-Ellen Dowdy, Walt Drugan, Delores Durm, Fran and Tom Fallon, Judy Flaherty, Jim Fleming, Roy and Bobbi Gardner, Dale Gerow, Karen Goldwater, Clyde Hancock, Julie Haskett, Janet Hollar, Mary Holtzman, Bonnie Johnson, Jack and Emmie Kauffman, Gary Kennelly, Sue Cox, Gret Umble, John Kirkland, Al Klein, Lynn Kraft, Joan Lawhead, Reggie and Diane Lawrence, Ann Marie LeBlanc, Frances and Adolf Lex, Lois and Michael Libenson, Monica McPhillips, Linda Murphy, Gloria Musgnug, Jan and Ken Myers, Kathy Norton, Joey Parker, Jan Welsh, Jim and Sue Payton, Ron Russell, Polly Schafer, Karen Sellars, Jim and Kay Stark, Maggie Wallin, Jeff White, Dee Giordano, Kim and Mike Brown, Brenda Wiseman, Paula Lipski, Doug Caroll, Marcia and Norm Karp, Lori Gaber, Ginny Stanton, Linda and John Bear, Elaine and Bruce Bialor, Ed Barnes, Mike Cassano, Sam and Ingrid Thompson, Ken and Jean Johnson, Andrea Nove, Judy Warfield, Nancy and Paul Carroll, Peggy Creasy, Carol Burgess,Doug Gatchel, John Luper, Jill and Ken Ihlo, and Anne Cassano, (who lovingly cared for our cat, Alpha, while we were away!!!) If I have missed anyone, I truly apologize, but please know that you also have our undying appreciation for participating with us and helping this project become so successful!

There is absolutely no way we could have accomplished what we did without the ongoing help and support from these wonderful and special people. And, countless others across the country...

Sun City, AZ...New Mexico....Texas....Louisiana....Alabama....Mississippi and Florida, where many pot luck suppers and Meet and Greets were held for us....Unbelievable people that have become our friends.

Eight incredible hospitals who deal each day with kids going through cancer treatments....wonderful staff in each! Never will we forget these wonderful kids.....their smiles are etched in our brains forever.

Thank you to the following organizations:

The Sun City Center Softball League...thank you for having SammyRides as your charity of choice.....

The Tootsie Roll Company for their incredible 30 lb. donations of Tootsie Rolls sent to each of the 8 hospitals we visited!!!!

CVS who donated all the first aid materials, filling up an entire duffle bag.

AARP.....Unbelievable what we accomplished because of their involvement. How fortunate we have been having had them in our corner.

The Minto Foundation, who helped tremendously in sponsoring our journey.

Sun City, Arizona for the incredible support, friendship and fantastic send off!

Doug Carroll and the wonderful people at the Sun City Center United Methodist Church for all their support....we truly value our friendship with you.

Ben Roloff, Kay Stark, Kay Bush, Linda Lindquist, Bill Pierson, Paul Herrmann and so many others from Sun City, Arizona, for being such fantastic supporters of our project. They welcomed us with open arms and we owe them our deepest gratitude. All of the residents of that community were so wonderful to us....our hearts are full from all the new friendships we've formed. We couldn't have had a better send off if it weren't for Sun City, Arizona and all they did for us. Thank you!!! We are so proud to be associated with your community and all you did for SammyRides.

To all of the many, many private and corporate sponsors....your donations helped us to reach well over $110,000!!! Every dollar sent in made our goal possible and we believe will have a tremendous impact on kids in the future. Just view the hundreds of individual names as well as corporate sponsors listed on the web page of http://www.sammyrides.com/, to get a sense of the tremendous support we've had. Our hope and prayers are that although SammyRides project has been completed, the public will continue to support pediatric cancer research. Every child is vulnerable to this disease...Several thousand are diagnosed each year and over 1500 a year, succumb to it. Please, continue the fight through organizations such as Team Will, Cure Search, St.Jude, Alex's Lemonade Stand, our SammyRides website or your own local hospital or cancer facility. NEVER assume others should take the lead in helping rid our children of this insidious disease. If you have a child or grandchild that is cancer free and healthy, all the more reason to get involved with an organization that is working constantly to make a difference. It's easy to take a child's life for granted, but things can change in an instant in the life of a child and that child's family. Do what you can for the kids. Funding is being cut all the time by the US Govt. for pediatric cancer research....These elected officials should visit a few of the hospitals that treat these kids and then come away still believing we are doing enough. It's not enough....in particular for the rare cancers. Leukemia, years ago, was a death sentence for kids and young adults. Today, however, because of better treatment and drug therapies, the survival rate is incredible. Over 85% of children and young adults go on to live full and productive lives thanks to research and new treatments. But, it takes money and lots of it to achieve these results.

To my good friends (Josh and Joe!) AB and all the instructors at the Florida Medical Training Institute, you did a great job with me!!!! You gave me the confidence to be able to tackle any emergency....well, except for my own!!!!! (who would have thought that half way through the ride, I'd be going through an emergency appendectomy!!!!!) I am so grateful, but mostly, for the friendships I now have.

Team Will......Our mentors who provided us with a 501 (c)(3)......Team Will stepped up to the plate when no one else and I mean no one, would take us on. They, and most particularly, Ken Scarberry, do the most wonderful projects for kids suffering with Cancer. This most prestigious volunteer biking group, bike all over the country, raising awareness and help to families of kids struggling with cancer. We will forever be indebted to them.....they are truly the best; and just to see all that they do, go to: http://www.team-will.org/ and see for yourself.....you'll be extremely impressed! They have become lifelong friends to us and our project team. And, a special thank you to Danny, Ernie, and all of the staff at Team Will.....no greater group of people could we have hoped for!

And finally, to all the kids out there who are the utmost heroes ever......what each goes through daily to win the battle against cancer, you are an inspiration that made each day for us on the ride, a piece of cake. We know and understand your struggle every single day...your courage is overwhelming. And to your parents, they too are such an inspiration. Our hope and prayers are that one day, your battle will be won....that's what this ride was all about and I hope in some small way, we've made a difference for you and for kids down the road. We pray for that everyday.

The donations we have raised, will be divided up and going to the following hospitals and research centers.....St. Jude, St. Joseph's Childrens Hospital, (Tampa, Florida,) and Cure Search.....we hope each and every dollar raised helps youngsters now and in the future....no child should ever have to experience or go through this horrific disease. These are wonderful facilities where great things are done through research and the development of new treatments. We are truly honored to support all three institutions.

A Very special thank you to Shari, David and Rebecca Rotman for continuing their strength and love every day. I've written so many times before how remarkable they have been and continue to be as individuals and as a family. How lucky Sammy was to have such a fantastic and loving family....they made her time on this earth special, productive, unique; allowing her to be the person she wanted to be....strong, funny, courageous, daring, dramatic and loving.

And Sammy.....always in our hearts, our hero. You are truly a star to the thousands who now know of you. You made your mark on this earth and you'll never, ever, be forgotten......and we love you so, so much! Thank you for watching over us and guiding our journey from above. You have been such an inspiration to us all. Your smile lit up the world and your courage was immeasurable. I will always remember Sammy's last conversation with me...the day before she went to heaven. I asked her; if she could make one wish, what would it be? Her answer..."CFD" Asking her to tell me what that meant, she looked directly at me and replied, "cancer free day."

Isn't that what all of us want for the thousands of kids going through cancer and the thousands more that will be diagnosed in the future? This is why SammyRides was so important to Michael, myself, and the hundreds of people who have been there for us. Let's give these kids a CFD future so that they can one day enjoy a long, healthy, productive life with their families, friends and loved ones. They each deserve all we can provide for them in supporting the cause and awareness for pediatric cancer.

Sammy Rotman

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR SAMMYRIDES! WE LOVE YOU ALL!

Mike and I send our ongoing love, gratitude, and best wishes to you all......Lois

SAMMYRIDES DAILY BLOG APRIL 30, 2011

2011-04-30T22:19:00.003-04:00

Today began with my being driven to St. Joseph Children's Hospital to meet up with the riders in order for me to drive the van behind them on their ride back to Sun City Center. My reunion with Michael was just the best.....nothing in the world like his hugs!!! All four riders looked terrific, although tired and anxious to return home, but still we had one final stop and the opportunity to meet some wonderful kids in the pediatric unit, where we spent time helping them with art projects set up for them at a number of tables. We weren't allowed to take pictures, but the hospital did notify several media who were on hand to interview Michael, and would be televised on the 6 o'clock news. We left medals, shirts, books, letters and cards for the staff to distribute to the kids later in the day.

But, at long last, it was time to begin the final ride back to Sun City Center......

The ride back to Sun City Center didn't take as long as expected and so with time to spare before crossing the finish line at Publix, the five of us remained in a parking lot for 45 minutes in order to make sure we would come in at the expected time (4 o'clock) and not a minute before....I could see the the riders were becoming anxious to get going, but it was important that with all the work the volunteers put into planning this welcome back, we needed to stay put and not head up to Publix too quickly....finally......we left the parking lot at 3:45.

It didn't take long for the riders to go on the back roads and head towards the finish line....honestly, I didn't know myself how many people would be there to greet them, but I did know that there would be family surprises awaiting them....family members who came from great distance to surprise their dads. Still, I thought , we might have a few dozen people waiting, never dreaming of what was about to happen! As we approached the parking lot, I saw many balloons and signs; dozens, dozens, and more dozens of people in Sammyrides shirts standing and jumping up and down; a multitude of bikes and golf carts, many of them decorated, and people cheering and blowing horns as we got closer and closer!!!

People were clapping and shouting...some, even shedding a few tears.....it was beyond description what was there waiting for us! Never in our wildest imaginations, did we expect a welcome back like was given today....to see so many friends, neighbors and even strangers, coming out to do this for us, just simply made our hearts full.

This event then continued on, with our own riders heading out for the five mile ride to the United Methodist Church, followed by literally, dozens of residents and friends biking behind them, followed by me driving the van and then at least 30 golf carts after that! People standing along the route showed their support by waving and cheering us on.....it was incredible!

As we got closer to our destination, a large group of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts joined in on the ride......fortunately, there were volunteer radio club people along the route making sure we were all ok....even security cars along the route to keep everything flowing and orderly.

At the church, a huge band was playing.....food and beverages were available, and the atmosphere was filled with the greatest warmth and friendship. There were several hundred people at this amazing event, all for Sammyrides, and we are most grateful for the outpouring of support and celebration we received.

There are so many, many people to thank for all that happened today, but I'm saving that for my "almost" last blog and newsletter I'll be posting in a few days.... but the weekend isn't over yet!!!! More coming tomorrow!!!!! The 50th Anniversary of Sun City Center is taking place tomorrow....Sammyrides will be included as part of the float the United Methodist Church is sponsoring ...Michael and I will be on the float, along with several Sammyrides heroes.....we will be participating in the parade with many of our own volunteers walking along next to us. We thank the United Methodist Church for their kindness in including us tomorrow.

Tomorrow eve., is a time to honor our Sammyrides volunteers who have done so much for us during the past two years...we will be enjoying an eve just for them along with many friends, to complete a truly extraordinary weekend!

For today, it was a day we will remember for years to come....it was filled with love and the deepest level of kindness from wonderful people within our community and friends and family who came from far away, to help celebrate the riders return after 2400 miles.

For Michael and myself, the reality of this ride coming full circle today is something that only dreams are made of......a little ride that took on a life of its own and as a result, will help so many, many kids because of the tremendous generosity from hundreds and hundreds of people all across the country.

We hope we have made a difference in the lives of many kids in the future......I know, they have made a difference in our lives and in the lives of all the riders and people involved with this ride.

Thank you for all the support you have given to us and to this project.....our gratitude and appreciation of all you have given and done for us, can never be measured.

From Michael and myself, we send our love and best wishes to you all!!!! We will try and get pictures posted throughout the weekend.....

SammyRides Team Reunited with Lois at St Joseph's Childrens Hospital of Tampa

2011-04-30T11:45:00.000-04:00

Mike Libenson, John Bear, Lois Libenson, Mike Brown, & Adolf Lex

If a picture says a thousand words, this one says them all and brings tears to my eyes as I write. Lois was reunited with our team of riders this morning as they were ready to visit our little heroes at St. Joe's. They bring cards, and shirts, and medals, and a very special children's book written by Sister Janet of Sun City Center. "Skiddles" is a little dog who lost his way and with the help of his friends found his way home again. Our riders are just 25 miles from home doing what they do best: bringing smiles to the faces of children, who with the help of all our SammyRides friends, will also be able to find their way home again. This has been an incredible journey for all of us. When our team leaves St Joe's they will get on their bikes one last time and set their sights on Sun City Center, FL. They and their friends will celebrate an incredible journey which has brought awareness across the country; has brought them and us so many new and special friends; and most importantly has raised funds to bring these children home.
With Love and Gratitude to All of You until this evenings blog,
The SammyRides Team

SAMMYRIDES DAILY BLOG APRIL 29, 2011

2011-04-29T21:11:00.001-04:00

The bikers proceeded to Dade City today from Inverness, Florida.

Tomorrow, they will visit St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, at 11AM. There, they will spend time with children who are undergoing treatment for cancer. They will deliver letters to the children from the students of the Cypress Creek Elementary school, the Wimauma Elementary school and the Ruskin Elementary school, and the Arts Camp children, all of which surround our Sun City Center community. We are truly grateful for all the wonderful and sensitive cards and letters these kids took the time to make for our heroes in the 8 hospitals visited.

The riders will also deliver Sammyrides shirts and medals designating the recipients as our heroes. Visiting children in all of the hospitals, has been an extraordinary experience, and one the riders will never forget. They are what this ride has been all about from the very beginning and we treasure each and every one of the children we've met.
Today, a special couple came all the way from Sun City, Arizona, especially for this weekend celebration. We want to welcome with open arms, Jim and Kay Stark. Kay was instrumental in organizing the send off for us when we began the ride back on March 2nd and we are truly thrilled that they wanted to be here to greet the riders at the finish line....

From St. Joseph’s Hospital, the riders will bike to the Publix parking lot, with Lois once again being where she should be....driving the van right behind them! There will be many residents and others who will be there to ride bikes/golf carts behind them all the way to the United Methodist Church. Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts will also connect with them, riding their bikes right along with everyone else!

Arrival will be around 4PM. The weather appears to be promising as we anticipate their arrival.

The United Methodist Church of Sun City Center will host the riders at 4:45 PM with a celebratory cookout.
This is going to be an incredible weekend of celebration, not only for the riders, but for all those who have made this ride possible right from the beginning.

TOMORROW WILL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT!!!!!!

From Dade City, Florida and Tampa tomorrow, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all!!! From Lois

SAMMYRIDES DAILY BLOG APRIL 28, 2011

2011-04-28T22:07:00.003-04:00

Today was truly an exhausting day for the riders. It was a long day of biking that took over 6 and a half hours from Chiefland, Florida to Inverness, Florida.

The riders biked through lots of wind and threatening storm clouds, which thankfully, didn't materialize. Still, however, the heat and humidity took its toll on each of them. Once they reached their hotel, they showered, got a bite to eat and went to sleep....that's how tired they were. This has become their general routine these last few days....leave early in the morning....bike, bike, and more biking.....eat... get to their motel...shower....eat.....go to bed for the night.

Tomorrow they will leave early for Dade City, Florida and at long last, Tampa on Saturday, where their last stop will be visiting children at St. Joseph Hospital to meet more special little heroes. From Tampa, they'll be biking to Sun City Center where lots of hugs and cheers will be waiting for them. They are all ready to get back home to their families....they can taste it, it's so close now! The excitement is building for them as well as for all of us who will be there waiting for them.

From Inverness, Florida, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all!

From Lois

SAMMYRIDES DAILY BLOG APRIL 27, 2011

2011-04-27T20:03:00.001-04:00

Well, there's a Royal Wedding on Friday, a historic Space Flight, same day, and yes, our own Fantastic Riders who'll be returning on Saturday after 2400 miles of biking across the southern tier of the United States. What a weekend it's going to be!!!

Today’s ride took the bikers from Cross City to Chiefland, Florida. Chiefland is situated on the banks of the famous Suwanee River which was immortalized in song and literature. It is a small Southern town with roots that go back to the earliest days of our nation.

The First United Methodist Church of Chiefland held a meet and greet and pot luck supper for the bikers. Sammyrides is grateful to Ann Tummond for arranging the evening and to Junie Burr for preparing all the wonderful food.

Tomorrow, the bikers will head out very early in the morning to their destination, Inverness, after that to Dade City, and Saturday back to Sun City Center after a visit to St. Joseph's Childrens Hospital in Tampa.

The days seem to be a lot longer and the clock is moving a lot slower…the riders are looking forward to seeing all the familiar faces of Sun City Center.

Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all!!! From Lois

Message from Jan Welsh

2011-04-26T16:48:00.000-04:00

I received a copy of an email today from Jan Welsh with all the details our riders will need to attend their last meet and greet on the road in Chiefland, FL on April 27th. The part of her email I want to share with you is as follows:

This is my last scheduled meet and greet. I want to say thank you for allowing me to be a part of this extraordinary and wonderful team known as SammyRides. It has truly been an honor and privilege to work with you as well as all of the wonderful people I have come in contact with along the ride route. I have been moved by the various people and their stories, beginning with Sammy's story. Know that you have made a difference in this war against pediatric cancer. Enjoy the last couple of days of this journey and may God bless you.

Love, Jan

Jan owns a home in Sun City Center which she and her husband rent out. She gets to visit several times during the year to take care of repairs and landscaping, and always finds time to have lunch or dinner with me during her visit. During one of those visits we spoke about the progress of SammyRides and between us we came up with a plan to have the riders visit with people in towns along the route to spread the word about SammyRides and our goal to make a difference in the lives of so many children who are stricken with some form of pediatric cancer each year. We walked away from our lunch very excited about the possibility of making this happen.

Jan returned to her home in Ohio and went to work to bring our conversation to reality. If you have read the blog throughout the ride then you know what an extraordinary job she has done. It is hard for me to imagine our ride without the opportunity to share our dream with the many wonderful people along the way, and it is equally hard for me to imagine that Jan is thanking us for allowing her to do such an amazing job in bringing our message to so many. We are honored to have had Jan as such an integral part of our team and look forward to sharing the adventure with her on Sunday, May 1st when she joins us for the celebration.

Jan - you are the best!

Dee-On Behalf of the SammyRides Team

SAMMYRIDES DAILY BLOG APRIL 25, 2011

2011-04-25T15:41:00.000-04:00

Today, the bikers proceeded from Perry, Florida, to Cross City, Florida. In Cross City, they will stay an extra day tomorrow as a layover rest day. There is lots of laundry to do and just rest for awhile before returning to Sun City Center.

Cross City is a little town in Dixie County and the famous Swanee River flows slightly south of it.
Along with the usually stressful but uneventful rides, today featured two flat tires. The riders have become quite proficient at changing tires and view the chore as nothing more than a slight distraction.

The motel in Cross City features a swimming pool and the riders may actually be able to hop into it for awhile. Up until now, such little pleasures have not been available.

From Cross City, Florida and Sun City Center within our reach, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all!!! From Lois

This was in the bulletin this beautiful Easter morning at the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center

2011-04-24T16:29:00.000-04:00

SAMMYRIDES DAILY BLOG APRIL 24, 2011

2011-04-24T15:19:00.001-04:00

Today, the bikers proceeded from Wakulla Springs to Perry, Florida, where they are staying at the town’s Econo Lodge. Today is Easter and most of the stores and restaurants are closed. The riders passed many signs on small church bulletin boards encouraging everyone to love their neighbor and not be judgemental. This is wonderful advice for everyone!

The riders have been away from family, friends and neighborhood for many weeks. Each night, it is a different bed, a different hotel room and the accompanying rush of quick showers, washing clothes, grabbing a quick meal and getting a decent night’s rest. There is precious little time for any fun as the demands of the schedule must be met. And, after 54 days on the road, the desire to return to family and friends and Sun City Center, grows stronger by the hour.

Ingrid Thompson, who has been a constant e mail source of encouragement to the riders, noted that “days of rest in the lanai await them”. Truer words were never spoken.

The riders have visited countless towns and a few cities…all greeted them with open arms and support. But, as the old saying goes, “there’s no place like home”, and in less than a week, they will return to us.

On a personal note, the Sammyrides project team want to thank Paul Catala, a reporter for The Sun, Sun City Center's community newspaper. Paul has continuously kept people in the community aware of how things are going on the ride by placing many of the blogs I have written in several of the Sun's weekly newspapers. We've had wonderful coverage throughout our ride in the many communities visited along the route, but having our own community newspaper interested in what this ride has accomplished, is very special and we greatly appreciate Paul's input.

JOHN BEAR CROSSING

So, if you happen to read this blog and are available on the day of their return, Saturday, April 30^th, come on out to greet them and let them know how much we admire their heroic effort on behalf of pediatric cancer.

Wishing those celebrating Easter, a wonderful and happy holiday....

Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all..... From Lois

SAMMYRIDES DAILY BLOG APRIL 23, 2011

2011-04-23T21:07:00.005-04:00

Today was basically uneventful, except for the biking the riders did from Carrabelle to Wakulla Springs, Florida. Along the route, there was beautiful scenery to soak in while taking a quick break off the side of the road.

Wakulla is known for its long underwater caves, reaching well over a mile. It brings in scuba divers from all over the world who come to explore the beauty of underwater life. The riders met several divers along their bike route today, and spent a few minutes chatting with them to learn more about the area that is so fascinating to the many tourists who visit here.
With the finish line now being just a week away, the excitement is building up for each of the four riders. The itch to get home to their families and friends is within reach and the realization that it's right around the corner, seems, in many ways, unbelievable! 2400 miles!!!
The riders are staying at the Wakulla Springs Lodge. Its accommodations are very nice but with one exception....no internet service! Something one gets so used to, and when it's not available, you feel somewhat shut off from the world.
Tomorrow they leave Wakulla and head to Perry, Florida....
From Wakulla, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all...... From Lois

SAMMYRIDES DAILY BLOG APRIL 22, 2011

2011-04-22T20:41:00.002-04:00

Today was a pleasant bike ride from Port St. Joe to Carrabelle, Florida. The 46 miles flew by as each day brings the riders closer to their destination; home, and Sun City Center.

This evening, the bikers all treated themselves to hot fudge sundaes. Tomorrow, all that ice cream will melt away as they bike the 50 miles to Wakulla Springs.

Although this is a short blog today, the riders continue to reflect on the incredible journey this has been for each of them.
Only days left until they reach Sun City Center!!!

Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all! From Lois

Foggy start from Port St Joe's this morning.

2011-04-22T19:03:00.000-04:00

Note from Kim Kurnitsky

2011-04-22T10:50:00.000-04:00

 A note from Kim Kurnitsky

"I'd like to personally thank you all for your visit you made to Port St. Joe, 
Florida yesterday. To have you all help us kick-off our "Paint The Town Purple" 
campaign was awesome!! As a parent of (3) beautiful children I appreciate what 
you are doing so much. It is certainely the efforts of people like you that 
makes a difference and gives us HOPE that one day there will be a CURE. As a 
volunteer with the ACS I pledge to FIGHT BACK with you! Again, thanks so much 
for stopping by and making Sara feel special.
Be Safe and we look forward to seeing you again.
Kim Kurnitsky
Relay for Life
Chair"

SAMMYRIDES DAILY BLOG APRIL 21, 2011

2011-04-21T21:18:00.001-04:00

The day started with a quick 40 mile bike ride from Panama City to Port St. Joe, Florida. The road was smooth, the terrain flat and the weather pleasant. It was a marvelous upgrade from yesterday’s blistering ride.

Once in Port St. Joe, the riders proceeded to Pate Park, where the Relay for Life team was waiting to meet and greet them. Among the many wonderful folks who showed up was a 13 year old cancer survivor, Sarah Alice Shores. Sarah impressed all of them with her sweet disposition, happy smile and zest for life. She was accompanied by her lovely mom who shared the many tensions that accompany the cancer diagnosis and her great relief to know that Sarah is a winner in this terrible battle.

After the meet and greet and the countless pictures, the riders were invited by Kim Kurnitsky, the director of Relay for Life, to join her and her colleague, Stephanie, who is an American Cancer Society representative, for dinner at the Sunrise Coastal Grill. The owner of the grill provided a sumptuous dinner for everyone, and Sarah and her mom joined us for this wonderful meal.

The riders are energized when they meet a youngster like Sarah Shores. She is the embodiment of why they are doing this ride. We all hope and pray for a cure so that all children who fall victim to pediatric cancer will be able to survive and live out their lives in good health and dignity. We must find a cure.

Tomorrow, the riders head southeast to Carrabelle, Florida. Each day brings them closer to April 30^th….and, they are more than eager to “get back home”.

Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all....

From Lois

SAMMYRIDES DAILY BLOG APRIL 20, 2011

2011-04-20T20:18:00.003-04:00

Today was not an easy one. The riders left Fort Walton Beach after stopping for pictures with a large delegation of well wishers who gathered in front of the Chamber of Commerce. Today's destination was 63 miles away in Panama City. The roads were clogged with heavy traffic, the weather was blistering hot and very humid....but it was not a surprise to the bikers because this is now Florida, after all! So, after 63 miles of sweat and grit, the bikers pulled into their Panama City hotel. Along the route, they drank 20 bottles of water and ate countless energy bars. Special heroics go to John Bear and Adolf Lex who gutted out every single mile of the long, long ride. The two Mikes had to share driving duties today and each did half and half.
A note on driving the van in this traffic. It is similar to playing a pin ball machine when quite by accident, three balls are released at once. Hazard lights are flashing, trucks whiz by at breakneck speed and it takes the skill of a New York cabbie to negotiate the mess, or, a former van driver/EMT who handled it the first month, with only slight difficulty!!!! (Remember I 10?) See, they do miss me!!!!!

However, all went well and the bikers are looking forward to biking to Port St. Joe tomorrow and a big event with Relay for Life.
Until tomorrow and only 10 more days to go, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all....from Lois

NEWS STORIES FROM MISSISSIPPI

2011-04-19T21:10:00.001-04:00

http://picayuneitem.com/lifestyles/x2036003357/SammyRides-coming-through-Picayune-today

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-living/2011/04/sammy_rides_-_group_of_grandpa.html

SAMMYRIDES IS FEATURED IN 50TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK FOR SUN CITY CENTER

2011-04-19T14:33:00.001-04:00

SammyRIDES DAILY BLOG APRIL 18, 2011

2011-04-18T23:52:00.001-04:00

The riders left Pensacola, Florida, early today in order to get to Fort Walton Beach by 3PM which is check in time at their anticipated resort. And, what a beautiful resort it is. Water’s Edge resort condominium is an oasis of beauty and comfort along Florida’s panhandle coast. The riders are luxuriating for a change, and loving every minute of it.

The riders were given, free of charge, two incredible suites overlooking the ocean. It is likely that they will be so spoiled, that they will refuse to leave.

This evening, being the first night of Passover, Michael hopped into the van and headed back to Pensacola’s Reform Temple Beth El, for a seder meal. Although there was no public opportunity to speak about Sammyrides, he made sure that lots of Sammyrides cards were handed out and all were encouraged to log on to the Sammyrides web site.

Tomorrow is a layover day…a day of relaxation…and, the riders really need it.

Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John send their love and best wishes to you all....... From Lois

SAMMYRIDES DAILY BLOG APRIL 17, 2011

2011-04-17T17:45:00.001-04:00

The riders left Dauphin Island, Alabama, bright and early in order to catch the Mobile Bay Ferry to Fort Morgan. From there, they proceeded 52 miles to Pensacola, Florida in time for a 2PM visit to Sacred Heart Hospital where they were welcomed by Meghan Tealy who brought them to the rooms of children who were being treated for various forms of pediatric cancer. The children were told all about the Sammyrides mission to defeat cancer, and they all agreed to be Sammyrides soldiers when they get well and tell everyone that we all need to win in the war against cancer.

Each little hero received a Sammyrides shirt and a medal. Each little hero also wrote her/his name on each of the riders’ shirts. The children were told that their names would accompany the riders as they bike across the nation.

Several parents were also in the children’s rooms when the riders visited, and words of encouragement were shared with them. They too, are incredible heroes......

Letters from the children of Wimauma and Ruskin were also distributed.

Visits to the hospitals are emotionally draining for the bikers, but they are also enormously rewarding. The bikers are able to see first hand how these little heroes struggle with this terrible disease.

Tomorrow, the riders leave for Fort Walton Beach where they will spend two nights. Each day brings the riders closer and closer to Sun City Center. Obviously, the riders are eager to reunite with their wives, but also to return to the wonderful and unmatched beauty and life quality of Sun City Center.

Until tomorrow, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all.....

From Lois

SAMMYRIDES DAILY BLOG APRIL 16, 2011

2011-04-16T22:00:00.002-04:00

A beautiful letter below from Melani Caver.......

Thank you Mike and Sammy's whole team, Mike, John and Adolf (and Lois) for 
making wonderful memories for us at Pascagoula Senior Center in memory of SAMMY 
and for childhood cancer awareness.  You showed us a way to come together as a 
community for a cause that is not just your's or our's, but a nation-wide cause.  
Our goal as a community is to carry on something because of Sammy and please 
know that we will never forget her or her team!  God bless all of you!

Melani Caver and the Pascagoula Team for Sammyrides.

    We are most grateful Melani for your kindness and

  thoughtfulness.  You have expressed all that this

  ride is about and what we want to achieve for

  pediatric cancer awareness.

                The Sammyrides Project Team

Sammyrides DAILY BLOG APRIL 15, 2011

2011-04-15T21:49:00.001-04:00

Today’s bike ride from Bay St. Louis to Pascagoula, Mississippi was one to remember. It followed route 90 along the coastline and the road was covered with windblown powder like sand. The sand would accumulate in rises sometimes at ankle level, and the bikers had an enormous challenge in simply keeping their balance. This went on for some twenty miles, past the gambling emporiums of Biloxi and the rough roads along Ocean Springs. After 50 miles of grinding through the sand and the wind, the bikers arrived in Pascagoula. But before entering Pascagoula, they had to traverse an extremely steep two mile bridge. They did all this and their reward in Pascagoula made the arduous day all worth while.

The riders were greeted in Pascagoula by the Friday Bicyclists, a group of senior bikers who love to pedal around town. There was also a motorcycle police escort into town and right into the open court yard of the Pascagoula Senior center where the riders were greeted by dozens of wonderful Pascagoula residents holding up welcome Sammyrides signs. The riders were greeted by Melani Caver, executive director of the senior center and she introduced Pascagoula’s mayor, Robbie Maxwell, who greeted the riders and praised their mission. After comments by Mike Libenson and John Bear, Melani introduced 13 year old cancer survivor, Gabrielle Spicer, who spoke passionately about her victory over lymphoma and her advocacy for fighting this miserable disease.

After the court yard speeches, everyone assembled in the senior center’s hall for delicious finger foods and punch.

The riders left for their motel, showered, rested and returned to the senior center once more to eat a delicious supper prepared by the amazing incredible folks of Pascagoula. Once again, Mike spoke about Sammyrides.

The wonderful people of Pascagoula showed the riders a day to remember with their tremendous kindness, generosity and warm friendship......Thank you for a fantastic day and memorable experience!

Tomorrow, the riders will leave bright and early to cross the state line and enter Alabama.

Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all!!! From, Lois

Sammyrides DAILY BLOG APRIL 14, 2011

2011-04-14T22:00:00.002-04:00

This morning, the riders biked from Picayune to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The 40 plus mile ride was uneventful. The road was flat and the traffic sparse. After the challenging hills of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, the flat roads of Mississippi are a welcomed blessing! And thankfully, no flat tires.

Tomorrow, the riders will leave bright and early in the morning to ride to Pascagula, Mississippi where a full day of events has been planned. Hopefully, the weather will hold up, although the forecast is for thunderstorms possibly accompanied by hail!!! Not a good thing!
Even a tornado has been mentioned...Let's hope none of this occurs.

Tonight, in Sun City Center, the annual softball banquet was held. The softball league took on Sammyrides as their charity of choice this year and we are most grateful for all the support members of the league have given us. And, might I add, how great the players look in those fashionable Sammyrides T shirts when worn for those specific fundraisers!!!

The cookbook, put together by Diane Lawrence, has been a huge hit here in Sun City Center. We are truly grateful to her for putting so much time into this project, in what has turned out to be a most successful fundraiser!

Until tomorrow, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all!
From Lois

Sammyrides DAILY BLOG APRIL 13, 2011

2011-04-13T20:18:00.002-04:00

Adolf

John

Michael

The riders left Bogalsa early this morning and biked the short 30 mile trip to Picayune, Mississippi. The ride was pleasant and uneventful for the most part and the roads, for the most part, were serviceable and the weather, pleasant. The riders arrived in Picayune early enough to eat a hearty lunch at Don's Seafood Restaurant and then they attended a community wide meet and greet event prepared especially for Sammyrides.

The event took place in the Senior Center of South Pearly River County. There were over 50 people in attendance, including local celebrities: Sandy Kane Smith (Pearl River County Board Supervisor, District V), and the sheriff.

The mistress of ceremonies was Darlene Adams, the executive director of the senior center. Chaplain Jim Prator opened the event with a prayer and Gladys Vaughn led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. This was then followed by Kathleen Penton's introduction of the Sammyrides' bikers, with each one getting up to the microphone to describe his connection to the Sammyrides project.

After the riders spoke, Sandy Kane Smith sang a special song which was made famous by the group, Rascal Flatts. Coincidentally, this group was a one of Sammy's most favorite groups and when she met them personally at one of their concerts, they each signed a special guitar they presented to her as a special gift.

The meeting ended with Darlene Adams thanking the local volunteer team who have worked exceptionally hard for Relay for Life. The riders were also well fed with a wide assortment of finger foods and pastry which were delicious! Special thanks go to the St. Joseph Hospice and the Senior Center of South Pearl River County for sponsoring the wonderful refreshments.

The hospitality and affection which was showered on the riders was truly exceptional. Following the formal comments, Gladys spoke of her personal battles with cancer, and, after the meal, many others who attended the meeting shared similar experiences.

This was an evening which the riders will long remember....and, the desire to combat pediatric cancer was as loud and as clear as a thunderstorm.

We must prevail!!!

From Mississippi, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all! From, Lois

Sammyrides DAILY BLOG APRIL 12, 2011

2011-04-12T16:19:00.001-04:00

Today’s 47 mile ride was long and, thankfully, uneventful. The winds were blowing into the riders’ faces again, but the roads were good and the weather pleasant.

The riders are now in Bogalusa, Louisiana, which is the last stop in Louisiana. Tomorrow, they will bike to Picayune, Mississippi, where they will have a meet and greet at the Senior Center of South Pearl River County.

The riders will spend three nights in Mississippi, and then on to Alabama, and finally, Florida.

Only 18 more days to go until the riders hit Sun City Center!!!!

From Louisiana, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all........From Lois

Sammyrides DAILY BLOG APRIL 11, 2011

2011-04-11T19:16:00.001-04:00

Today the bikers left St. Francisville at 7:30 AM in order to cover the 65 miles to Amite. Along with a head wind which they had to fight off, there were also hills and small towns with tiny streets and drivers who were less than always polite. The bikers were also chased by a bushy tailed black dog who met his match when he chased Adolf! Adolf, 1...dog, 0!

Passed thru Jackson

In addition to the 65 miles, the hills, the loose dogs and the wind, there was the constant whir of trucks whipping by. But, at the end of the day, around 3:30 PM, the tired riders pulled into the Comfort Inn parking lot, into their rooms and onto their beds!

Took a break at the station

Kudos to John Bear who actually rode the entire route after his recent bout with surgery. It is no surprise that Adolf did the same. The two Mikes shared the distance and shared the driving today.....

Old Train Car

Train is no match for our bikes

Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all!!! From Lois

2011-04-11T18:51:00.001-04:00

Location	PO Box 1809, Fort Davis, TX 79734

Company Overview	Relief Fund for the Citizens and Families enduring the devastation from the fire.
Description	We are currently in the process of setting things up to accept online donations and will let everyone know when this happens.
General Information	If shipping items, please use the FD United Methodist Church: 200 Front Street Fort Davis TX 79734 Items are being collected in their community building

Email	jeffdaviscountyrelieffund@yahoo.com

Many people have written several of us on the Sammyrides committee to see where they to help towards the relief fund for Ft. Davis, Texas.
I am posting the information here for anyone who would like to donate for those who have lost their homes....
Thanks.....

Basic Information
Location
PO Box 1809, Fort Davis, TX 79734
Company Overview
Relief Fund for the Citizens and Families enduring the devastation from the fire.
Description
We are currently in the process of setting things up to accept online donations and will let everyone know when this happens.
General Information
If shipping items, please use the FD United Methodist Church:
200 Front Street
Fort Davis TX 79734

Items are being collected in their community building
Email
jeffdaviscountyrelieffund@yahoo.com

SAD NEWS FROM FT DAVIS, TEXAS FIRE SWEEPS THROUGH TOWN

2011-04-11T13:12:00.005-04:00

Folks at the meet at greet on March 16th
Presbyterian Church

There has been a HUGE fire in the Ft. Davis, Texas area. Our route event coordinator, Jan Welsh, spoke with Linda Allen, who helped host the SammyRides meet and greet. Their home is still standing, but the town has lost between 40 and 50 homes. The Allen's had to evacuate and were able to drive back to their home last night and didn't know until they arrived whether they had a home or not. They have no electricity or water.

Seems the fire started in a town called Martha and rapidly spread because of 50 - 60 mph winds and the fact that they haven't had rain since September. The main street in the town is still standing, but she said everywhere else it is black for as far as you can see. The fires continue to burn today, but they are getting more help. When the firetrucks went to load the tankers with water, they were unable to do so, as the electric was out and the pump generator wouldn't work. Firemen went from ranch to ranch cutting the fences so that the livestock wouldn't be trapped and burn to death.

One person from the Presbyterian Church has lost their home. Linda told Jan that a friend of hers house was on fire and when the fire truck pulled up, it had run out of water, so they could only stand there and watch it burn!

Attached is a story about the fires in this small town where the folks there opened up their hearts to our riders and welcomed them as part of their local church community.
We are heartbroken hearing the news and pray the wonderful people in Ft Davis will soon be able to return to their homes. For the many who have lost their homes because of these fires, we cannot express how deeply saddened we are.
PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION TO HELP THESE FAMILIES AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU ARE PART OF THE SAMMYRIDES TEAM:
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY RELIEF FUND
PO BOX 1809
FORT DAVIS, TX 79734

http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Overnight-storm-helps-crews-fight-Texas-wildfires-1331835.php

Sammyrides DAILY BLOG APRIL 10, 2011

2011-04-10T20:36:00.001-04:00

Yesterday evening, the riders ate at a pizza restaurant where they met their waiter, Lance Bourgeois, a young man who is planning a career as an electrical engineer and who showed great interest in assisting the Sammyrides project by spreading the word around to his working associates as well as other patrons of the restaurant and his friends. Meeting a young man of such outstanding caliber buoyed the spirits of the riders. With young people like Lance, our nation can continue to excel, no doubt about it....thank you Lance!!!!

Today, the riders visited Baton Rouge's major hospital, Our Lady of the Lake. There, they were escorted to the hospital's children's playroom where they interacted with little Anna, one of our heroes, who signed the riders' shirts and permitted them to snap her picture.

After that, it was on to Walmart for loading up more water, Gatorade and energy bars for the long days ahead. Just a few more weeks to go!!!

Tomorrow, it is back on the long road and a 60 mile bike ride to Kentwood, Louisiana. The weather will be a challenge as there is a prediction for heavy thunderstorms throughout the day.

From Louisiana, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all!!!

From Lois

Sammyrides DAILY BLOG APRIL 9, 2011

2011-04-09T20:01:00.001-04:00

I'm writing two day's worth of information as it's been difficult to speak directly to the riders because of poor cell phone service......however, today, seems things are back to normal!

Today, the riders proceeded on the challenging Louisiana roads to St. Francisville,, Louisiana. Covering the 40 odd miles in less than 4 hours, they had the afternoon to relax and see a bit of Louisiana's fabled antebellum history. With that in mind, they visited two preserved plantations, Myrtle and Rosedown. The riders have not had many opportunities during these trying weeks to simply relax and take in the historic treasures of our nation.

So, today's visit to the plantations was a rare opportunity to walk in the footsteps of history. The plantations were ornate and vast. They carry with them, a trail of the good life for the privileged and pain and suffering for those who were enslaved. Over time, all of the slave quarters have disintegrated or have been removed. What remains is the grandeur of an age gone by...a sumptuous visual feast for the eyes as well as a challenge for the soul.

Tomorrow, the riders will visit the children at the Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge. From there, they will return to St. Francisville, and then continue on to Kentwood, Louisiana.

Yesterday, the evening at Christ the King Catholic Church in Simmesport, Louisiana, was highlighted by the participation of two wonderful little heroes who are battling cancer. Dylan Cashio and Katy Feduccia, both who attended the meet and greet pot luck supper, where their grandparents spoke eloquently about the struggle which these children and their families are confronting as the little heroes battle this disease.

Sammyrides is grateful to Annette Rabalais for all her efforts in organizing the meet and greet and for her generosity in support of Sammyrides.

Rev. James Nellikunnel introduced the Sammyriders and added inspirational comments in the support of the Sammyrides project.

The riders spoke about their own personal experiences with cancer and described the training which preceded the ride. The riders also spoke about Sun City Center and the wonderful support which the project receives from the volunteers who live in the Greater Sun City Center community.

The roads in Louisiana continue to be challenging as there is often little room for bikers and lots of patched up surfaces. The riders are careful and reduce their speed as the challenges of the roads increase.

Yesterday, they proceeded to do 50 miles....they're amazing!!!!

Soon, in just a few weeks, they'll be riding into Sun City Center!!!!!! The countdown is on!!!

From Louisiana, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all..........From Lois

NEWS STORIES OUT OF TEXAS

2011-04-09T17:52:00.002-04:00

Be sure to check out the news stories we have found across Texas. They tell about our mission and have some great photos as well.

http://www.alpineavalanche.com/news/image_eaa0c52e-561b-11e0-adc4-001cc4c002e0.html

http://www.tcnewsleader.com/archive/032511/

http://www.theleakeystaronline.com/news/2011/03/26/sammy-rides-travels-through-area/

SAMMYRIDES DAILY BLOG APRIL 8, 2011

2011-04-08T20:58:00.001-04:00

Since cell phone service is quite poor where the riders are in Louisiana, I will post what I do know in regards to the meet and greet they had last night at the Washington Baptist Church.

Ana, Heather & Friend

Pastor Louis Charrier warmly greeted the riders and the 25 congregants in attendance. Patricia Fontenot coordinated the event and we want to thank her for all the hard work she put in to making the evening so special.
Ana Colgin, a 15 year leukemia survivor was there to meet the riders as was her mom, Ms. Heather Wager. Heather shared the story of Ana, who was diagnosed at the age of 5. She shared what all parents whose children diagnosed with cancer go through on a daily basis and how grateful she and her family are for Ana's good health and passion to help other kids afflicted with this disease. After her talk, Ana was given a medal to show she is one of our heroes followed by both Ana and her mom receiving Sammyrides shirts.

It was a wonderful meet and greet and a delicious meal that everyone shared during the evening. Michael described the people who came, as the nicest group of people to sit, break bread with and chat about the ride.
Michael did speak about what Sammyrides represents and why it's important to let people all across the country know how important supporting pediatric cancer research is, so that there will be many, many more Ana's who survive and live long and happy lives. He then answered many questions the people in the audience were eager to ask.
The evening closed with Michael giving the final prayer.

Hearing stories like Ana's warms my heart. It tells me that with greater research and better treatments, survival rates will increase in the years to come, but unfortunately, funds continue to be cut in this area each year. Tomorrow, I will post the newest statistics that CureSearch just posted on their web site regarding how these cuts will affect research in the years to come. Many families, approximately 50%, lose their health coverage and jobs because they need to be with their child who is seriously ill, Very often they lose their homes and need to file for bankruptcy because the cost of medical care has skyrocketed. However, when I think of Ana and her survival, I am optimistic and believe that each of us can truly make a difference in one way or another for kids in the future.

From Louisiana, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all!!!
From Lois

SAMMYRIDES DAILY BLOG APRIL 7, 2011

2011-04-07T17:41:00.002-04:00

Tired Bike

In just a few more weeks, the four riders will be returning to Sun City Center! Yesterday, was a particularly difficult ride and all four of them were feeling good but extremely tired. It was also described to me how crawfish is eaten...believe me, you don't want to know!!!

The weather is also getting warmer and more humid, making biking 40-60 miles, all the more challenging!

Mike Brown was bitten by Fire Ants a few days ago and for a few nights had a swollen foot along the horrific itch Fire Ants create, but today he was much better and was back on the bike for the full ride. I was very honored that they called me a few times to get my expert advice as an EMT to figure out how to handle those bites. Glad to know they still miss me!!!!!

Before putting in today's blog, I wanted to let everyone know that we have well exceeded $100,000 in donations to Sammyrides. We are truly grateful for the continuing support we receive each day, as every dollar raised is just that much more we will be able to divide between St. Jude, CureSearch, and St. Joseph and know that somewhere in the future, all those dollars will help kids diagnosed with a form of cancer because of better treatment and research. We are truly grateful for the enormous support we have received through individual, corporate, and people we've met all across the country. The generosity continues to grow and is overwhelming to all of us involved with Sammyrides. Thank you so much for your ongoing support for this project.

If you live in the Florida area and would like to know more about all the events planned for the riders' return on April 30th, you can contact Dee Giordano at: ali@deegiordano.com or Kim Brown at: kbrownscc@yahoo.com

To view an invitation for events: visit the www.Sammyrides.com web site You'll find it in the Read Blog section......

Hope many of you will be able to join what will truly be a celebration!

The riders left Oberlin, Louisiana early this morning to get to Washington, LA in time for tonight's meet and greet at the Washington Baptist Church. Since cell phone service is not of great quality, I'll have to get more details from Michael tomorrow and include in my blog tomorrow eve.

Today's ride was pleasant and uneventful as the road was Louisiana flat and the surface, for the most part, smooth. The riders are staying in Simmesport for two nights and the accommodations are very spartan. There is no internet in the rooms and the air conditioner is trying to figure out how it is supposed to keep the room nice and warm!

Lunch and breakfast today, consisted of energy bars and lots of water. Louisiana's dogs were also visible along the road today as they barked and chased the riders until finally, fatigue set in. Along the road, the bayous were filled with crawfish nets and the trees were pushing one another out of the way for space. This is earth where everything can grow and the grass is greener than Ireland! The riders truly enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

Until tomorrow...Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all! From Lois

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT-PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO CONTACT CONGRESS

2011-04-07T14:13:00.000-04:00

URGENT Action Alert
Dear CureSearch Advocate:
As many of you are aware, there is a lot of Congressional debate around both FY 11 appropriations and the FY 12 budget this week.
Last week, a letter was sent from One Voice for Against Cancer (OVAC) Member Organizations (OVAC is a coalition of Oncology Patient Advocate Organizations) to House and Senate leaders. The letter urges House and Senate leaders to work together to restore the funding that was cut in the original proposal H.R. 1 for programs involved in the fight against cancer.
As of today, Congress and the Administration are at an impasse on FY 11 spending. If no deal is reached by Friday, government operations will shut down. This would impact cancer research and prevention programs in the following ways:
·         New patient enrollment in clinical trials would be discontinued;
·         No new grants would be awarded;
·         Patient information hotlines, such as 800-4- CANCER, would not be staffed;
·         CDC grants would not be awarded; and,
·         Additional health care family services might not be staffed
The latest rumors about the negotiations suggest that the Democratic and Republican parties are still several billion dollars apart and that there is also disagreement over the policy riders that are in H.R. 1. Based on the current state of play, the NIH would be cut by a smaller amount than what was included in H.R. 1. The funding level for the CDC would be comparable to the level provided in H.R. 1.
We urge CureSearch Advocates to call members of Congress with the following message. Members of Congress should be asked to encourage their leadership to complete their work on FY 11 and to reject cuts to NIH cancer research programs.
The House Budget Committee is marking up its FY 12 Budget Resolution this week. The mark-up is expected to last until midnight. Many amendments are expected to be offered by members on both sides of the aisle. It is expected that at least one amendment will be offered to protect NIH funding. More information on this amendment and the committee mark-up will be provided as it becomes available.
To contact your Congressional Member visit the CureSearch Advocacy Network
Suggested talking points:
While progress has been made in the fight against children’s cancer, there is still much to be done. We recognize the difficult fiscal choices confronting Congress in today’s environment, we nevertheless urge Congress to provide NCI and its children’s cancer research programs with the support necessary to maintain and expand the gains made in recent years. Please continue your support for NIH and the critical role it plays in developing and maintaining treatment options to cure children’s cancer.
The pediatric cancer research enterprise has made great strides in the last 40 years by increasing the overall 5-year childhood survival rates to 78 percent, but our work will not be complete until we reach 100 percent. In fact, the mortality rate for some solid tumors and rare cancers has changed very little in the last decade. Cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease for our nation’s children, claiming the lives of approximately 2,500 children each year. When measured in life years lost, this devastation is even more dramatic. Further, the treatments used to save children’s cancer patients are highly toxic and can have serious long-term health consequences. Approximately two thirds of all childhood cancer survivors will experience a late-effect from their treatment, some of which are severe or life threatening. In short, we need more effective, safer therapies for our children to give them longer, healthier lives. Reduced funding will halt progress and squander advances.
Children’s Cancer Facts
·         Each year, 13,500 children are diagnosed with cancer.
·         Children’s cancer affects all ethnic, gender and socio-economic groups.
·         The average age of children diagnosed is six.
·         More than 40,000 children undergo treatment for cancer each year.

Sammyrides daily blog.....April 6, 2011

2011-04-06T20:16:00.003-04:00

Today's ride started in Deridder, Louisiana and ended in Oberlin, Louisiana, 37 miles away. But those 37 miles were up and down on constant hills and into a headwind which blew consistently at 20 mph with gusts of 30 mph. And to top it all off, the roads were bumpy with all manner of tree limbs and pebbles, with rocks thrown in for good luck! Needless to say, the riders were pretty tired by the time they got to Oberlin, a tiny little town, a sleepy hollow, nestled deep in the green Louisiana countryside. There are roughly 1,000 souls residing in Oberlin and as is the case in many other small towns the riders have seen, the economy is struggling and many mainstreet stores have shut down.

Just Kidding About the Motel

Today's motel is a throwback to the 50's, with somewhat small rooms and limited facilities. But the riders knew the route would take them into the heartland of the South, and the pleasant demeanor of the local folks more than make up for the spartan accommodations.
Tonight, the riders are going to attend a dinner which serves cajun foods and a delicacy which is called "crawfish". Can't wait to hear all about that!!

Tomorrow, the riders will be proceeding to Washington, Louisiana where they will be hosted for a pot luck supper and a meet and greet by the Baptist Church.
Until tomorrow, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all!
From Lois

YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN IN THE SAMMYRIDES CELEBRATION

2011-04-06T13:50:00.000-04:00

On March 2, 2011 our team of bicycle riders started their journey, “GRANDPARENTS RIDING FOR THE HEALTH OF GRANDCHILDREN”, in Sun City, Arizona and will end their 2,400 mile ride on April 30, 2011 in Sun City Center, FL. That morning they are stopping at St Joseph’s Children’s Hospital of Tampa to say hello to all our little heroes who are undergoing treatment and afterward they will complete their bike ride at approximately 4 PM at E Del Webb Blvd in Sun City Center.

The entire team of SammyRides would like you to join us in celebrating their return. We have a weekend full of events and would like to share the ending of our adventure with you. Our plans are as follows:

4 PM meet the riders at Publix located off of E. Del Webb Blvd, Sun City Center for a final 5 mile bike ride to our ending location at the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center at 1210 W. Del Webb Blvd. We will be organizing our participants between 3:30 and 4PM. Some of our small heroes will join the ride via golf cart and we encourage you to do the same if you aren’t a bike rider. Then at approximately 4:45 to 5PM we will arrive at the church to share fellowship, join in activities for the kids, enjoy hot dogs and the fixings, and of course dessert. Hopefully the riders will also share some of their adventures with all of us.

May 1^st the United Methodist Church of SCC will hold a service at 10:55 AM to honor all of Sammy’s little heroes. That’s the kids! Our riders and volunteers will be joining the families to honor all our brave children and grandchildren who have definitely become our heroes. The church is honoring our little heroes for the entire month of April by dedicating their mission’s offerings for April to SammyRides

Last, but not least, Sun City Center is celebrating their 50^th anniversary. Since almost all of our residents are grandparents, what better way to start our celebration than with a parade? SammyRides will have a float in the parade and we have asked our little heroes to ride in the parade on our float accompanied by one of their parents just behind our 4 riders and SammyRides volunteers. They are the reason for our ride and we want to honor them at our homecoming celebration.

If you would like to participate please contact Dee Giordano by email at: ali@deegiordano.com. We are asking you to let us know if you will be with us on Saturday as the church needs an estimated headcount to make sure there is enough food for everyone. It would be our honor to have you participate in some or all of these events with our team. You can find out about SammyRides by going to: www.SammyRides.com. If you look on the right side of the web page you can click on ride blog and follow our riders throughout their journey.

Sammyrides Daily Blog April 5, 2011

2011-04-05T20:53:00.004-04:00

Today's ride took the riders across the
Texas border and into Louisiana.
The riders biked a distance of 53 miles
and many of those miles were up and
down the steep hills of Texas. Once
the riders entered Louisiana, the roads
flattened out and the greenery along
the road was beautiful. And, no flat
tires that I'm aware of either!!

When the riders started out in Jasper at
9 AM, the temperature was in the 40's.
Hours later, when they arrived in Deridder, Louisiana, the thermostat was
in the 70's and the sunlight was bright and unobstructed by clouds; a very nice day
for a tan!

Now, in Cajun country, the riders are
getting ready to sample the world
famous Cajun country cuisine....
very different from all that great
Texas food they have been accustomed
to eating nearly every day. As previously
noted, they have eaten lots of different
ethnic and national food and are poised
for the Cajun goodies. Sammy would have

really like the variety of foods, although her most favorite was Japanese....the riders haven't had any of that yet. But, they certainly have eaten well in every stop. Michael has complained to me that he has already put on a few extra pounds as have the other riders......I doubt very much if any of them are candidates for Weight Watchers!!!!! With all the biking they do every single day, it's a wonder that they're not losing a great deal of weight! I think those Dairy Queen and other snacks are helping them to maintain a fairly normal weight, even after 40-60 miles a stretch at times.

Adolf continues to set the pace for the bikers
and his amazing skill at fixing just about
anything is a true blessing on this trip.
Tubes often leak, tires need tightening,
the van needs to be packed just right.....and
Adolf sees to all of that. The riders are very
lucky to have him be a part of this incredible
team.

Until tomorrow, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all. From Lois

Hope you're all enjoying the great photographs from Mike Brown as much as I do!

Sammyrides Daily Blog April 4, 2011

2011-04-04T19:38:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Mike Brown for all the great, new pictures!!!!!!

Today, the riders proceeded the 50 miles from Livingston, Texas to Jasper, Texas. The weather was threatening all day with warnings of heavy rain and hail. Very little of it actually happened.

For a change, John Bear did not get a flat tire. Yay!!! This was the result of Mike L. telling him not to put all of his weight on the rear tire when he rides. He has adjusted his position and his bike will no doubt benefit from this change.

This afternoon was also laundry day and after washing their clothes in the hotel room sink, the riders hung them to dry on the bike racks in back of the sag wagon. I guess you go with whatever is available!!!!

Mike L. spoke with Jeff Johnson who is the director of Flolrida’s AARP branch, and it is hoped that AARP will join in the celebration of April 30^th, when the riders return to SCC.

Tomorrow, the riders will cross the border of Texas and enter Louisiana. Texas was a memorable month…wonderful people, great scenery, decent roads for the most part and land which goes on forever. The riders are optimistic that Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama will be as wonderful and accommodating as Texas was.

Less than a month to go!!!

Tomorrow, Louisiana!

From their last day in Texas, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all..... from Lois

SammyRides Daily Blog April 3, 2011

2011-04-03T18:38:00.002-04:00

Mile after mile after mile after mile on their bikes, slowly but surely the riders are moving on out of Texas. One more day in Texas and then, Louisiana.

Today, would you believe that John Bear’s rear tire went flat again? This time, we pulled up into a MacDonald’s parking lot somewhere near Cleveland, Texas, and watched for a

half hour as John struggled with the tire. At least, we provided some entertainment for the people watching from inside and there was an opportunity for Mike Brown to take another one of his prize winning pictures, which will probably accompany this blog.

Speaking of Mike Brown, he pedalled some 50 miles today and hardly broke a sweat. And, to top it all off, the 50 miles were interspersed with typical Texas hills and heavily rutted roads.

Tonight, the riders will be in Livingston and tomorrow they will bike the 62 miles to Jasper, Texas. Jasper will be the riders’ Texas swan song, because after Jasper, it will be Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and finally, Florida.

Michael L. proudly wore his green Sun City Center shirt yesterday and could not resist telling the locals about our great city.

The riders noticed on the internet that the Sammyrides blog has logged 5,000 hits which means that a lot of people care about trying to defeat pediatric cancer and are also interested in the effort which the riders are putting forth.

Adolf, Mike, John and Michael are all fixin' to wish y'all a good night until tomorrow. and send their love and best wishes to you all!!! From Lois

SammyRides Daily Blog April 2, 2011

2011-04-02T20:03:00.001-04:00

TODAY was a day to catch up on laundry,
go to a bike shop for parts, and plan the
route for the coming week as the riders
prepare to leave Texas and in a couple
of days, enter Louisiana.
It also affords the riders a chance to
make telephone calls to family and friends
and reassure everyone that they are all fine
and able to continue the arduous journey.

Even on a day when the riders are resting,
there are always opportunities to let people
know about the purpose of the ride and
encourage them to log on to the web site
and support the project in spreading the
word that pediatric cancer needs to be
conquered. In that spirit, in every restaurant
and every hotel, the riders make a point of
giving out Sammyrides cards and talking
about the ride. The riders hope that all our
wonderful blog readers will do likewise and
encourage all their friends to follow the ride
and join the war against pediatric cancer.

As mentioned above, the riders will soon be leaving Texas....it's been an incredible journey meeting the wonderful and kind residents within each community and we thank each and every one of them for their generous hospitality and warm friendship.

From the great state of Texas, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all.

From Lois

SammyRides Daily Blog April 1, 2011

2011-04-01T20:28:00.003-04:00

Today, the bikers biked from Navasota to Conroe, Texas. On the way, and it was only a matter of time for it to happen, John Bear got a flat tire. It was his rear tire, which is very difficult to change on the road, so John had to drive the van the last 12 miles. Needless to say, he was very disappointed, especially after biking 50 miles two days in a row. Since John recently had back surgery and has overcome a great deal in order to get back to riding, all of us at SammyRides say to him...."Hats off John!"
The riders today visited the children at the MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital. While there, they were met by Amy Silverman, Sammy's cousin, who brought lots and lots of delicious cookies for the riders. It was extremely nice of her to come by and meet the riders and we can't thank her enough for her kindness, as well as that wonderful smile of hers!
While at the hospital, the riders also met an incredible 15 year old, handsome boy, named Tanner. Tanner received a Sammyrides shirt, a medal and a letter from a student at the Ruskin Elementary School in Ruskin, Florida. Tanner said that he would write back to her. He will also follow the Sammyrides daily blog. Tanner, you are one of our heroes!! All the riders agreed that Tanner is an exceptionally nice young man and they were so happy to meet him.
The riders were greeted at the MD Anderson Hospital by Kate Shambach, who spent an hour with the riders, showing them all the latest technology and environmental additions at the hospital. Kate has been following our blog for several weeks. She also said that as of last week, all thirty pounds of Tootsie Rolls donated by the Tootsie Roll Company had been eaten. There are most definitely some pretty hungry staff at the MD Anderson Hospital!!!!
Great strides in cancer research are being made at the University of Texas' MD Anderson Hospital, and all of us pray for the day when cancer will be no more.....wouldn't that be something?
A shout out to the South Shore Arts Camp and the Boys and Girl Scouts near us in Sun City Center, who are sponsored by the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center, for beautiful cards made and sent by way of John Bear for distribution to the children at the upcoming hospitals where the riders will be visiting. These wonderful youngsters are keeping a watch on our daily blog and we want to thank them so much for their thoughtfulness and great sensitivity in the messages they placed in these fantastic cards.
Tomorrow the riders have a lay day in Conroe and then they take off on a 7 day ride that will take them from Texas to Louisiana and then to Alabama.
Until tomorrow, Michael, Adolf, Mike B. and John, send their love and best wishes to you all....
From Lois

PS: Mike B wanted Lois to see how much wear and tear the Sag Wagon has taken since she returned to Florida.

SammyRides Daily Blog

2011-03-31T21:08:00.002-04:00

Hi Everyone,

News from Texas.......

Today was another challenging day which consisted of 42 miles and just as many steep hills. These are the famous hills of Texas, and they tire the riders as they climb one hill after another.

Finally, we arrived in Navasota, and tomorrow we will bicycle to Houston and to the MD Anderson Hospital where we will visit the children’s cancer section. After that, we plan to go to a bike shop for much needed supplies and fix a few broken bike parts.

A big star needs to be given to Adolf who has become the fix it man for every rider and every bike. This morning, John and Michael fixed Michael’s fourth front flat tire and Adolf gave the repair job his seal of approval.

The scenery of the the Texas countryside is magnificent. Long expanses of lush grass, beautiful ranch houses, lots and lots of cows…this is the Texas we all read about in the cowboy stories of the great Lone Star State.

The bikers are looking forward to tomorrow’s hospital visit and all of them realize that our first priority is not just riding our bikes, but being spokesmen for pediatric cancer, and for demonstrating to the nation that seniors are still vibrant, energetic and able to contribute meaningfully to improving the health care of our grandchildren.

From Texas....love and best wishes from Michael, Adolf, Mike Brown and John...Lois

SammyRides Update

2011-03-30T20:24:00.002-04:00

Hi Everyone, I'M BACK!! Not in Texas, but holding down the fort here in Florida.....

Well, a movie it wasn't, but what took place in Del Rio was certainly unexpected, crazy, scary and highly emotional for Michael and myself.

Each day, however, I saw myself getting stronger and feeling better, so I knew things were coming down to the finish line. Each day I was able to walk a little farther and even the luxury of sleeping on my stomach became a blessing!! Once that happened, I knew I was getting close to 100% better.

So now, things seem to be back to normal. I'm back home in Florida, with just the best friends and neighbors anyone could ever wish for, and Michael is back with the riders, all four of them, handling the rugged terrain and the exhausting days of biking. They are one strong team that display the greatest bond of friendship, loyalty, and endurance.

Before beginning the blog for today, I want to once again thank Kim Brown so much for taking over the blog each night while I was recuperating. She did a fantastic job in highlighting each day's events for everyone to read on Sammyrides.com. She captivated each small town's character so well, which isn't easy to do especially when you're not there in person. So, thank you Kim, and Mike Brown as well, for sending off pictures to the blog each night as he and Adolf traveled through Texas.

Also, again, many, many thanks for the outpouring of support Michael and I received over this past week and a half.....I must tell you that it gave us such enjoyment to read literally the many, many daily e mails I got both in the hospital and once back in the motel room.

No better medicine in the world then to hear those great words...."You've Got Mail!"

Michael now will call me each night to fill me in on the day's happenings in order for me to let everyone know how the ride is going.

The four riders continue uninterrupted, with the joining now of both Michael and John Bear who both got to Austin yesterday....one by bus and one by air!

Despite losing me as van driver and EMT, each of the riders takes a turn driving the van while the other three ride their bikes. I can't speak for their medical expertise, but I have a feeling, if needed, they will do fine with the many, many supplies donated to SammyRides by CVS....in fact, one could say we have a traveling pharmacy, with every conceivable bandage, sun block, antacid, ice pack....you name it, they have whatever is needed. So, in effect, these four guys continue to be faithful to this bicycle ride across the nation for Pediatric Cancer and we are most grateful for all they do day in and day out.

Today's ride was 60 miles and took the riders from Bastrop, Texas to Benham, Texas. Originally, they were supposed to stay overnight in Bastrop as is indicated on the schedule, however, because 50,000 people have descended on Bastrop for a week long antique fair, it was decided they should continue on and find lodgings someplace else. Michael has described the scenery today as beautiful with less grass and more cows! Unfortunately, the road was not accommodating for the riders....rough surface and lots of pot holes for miles and miles. The guys describe this ride to being like sitting on a jackhammer and unfortunately, Michael had his fourth flat tire as a result.

I'm really happy I'm back to writing the blog....I'm might not be there with the guys in person, but my spirit is with each of them.....

From Sun City Center, and someplace in Texas, Michael, Adolf, Mike Brown and John, send our love and best wishes to you all....Lois

ON THE ROAD WITH SAMMYRIDES -Tampa Tribune Sun Dated Mar 30 2011

2011-03-30T18:25:00.001-04:00

This is an ongoing update on the SammyRides quartet — Michael Libenson, 73; Mike Brown, 62; Adolf Lex, 71; and John Bear, 64 — who started pedaling from Sun City, Ariz. March 2 back to Sun City Center, arriving May 1. The ride is being done to raise awareness of pediatric cancer, which claimed the life of Libenson's 9-year-old granddaughter, Sammy Rotman, in 2008. The updates are posted by Mike's wife, Lois Libenson, via emails and www.sammyrides.com.

http://thesun2.tbo.com/content/2011/mar/30/SCNEWSO10-on-the-road-with-sammyrides/

March 29, 2011- Austin,Texas

2011-03-29T21:47:00.001-04:00

Christian

DELL CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER

The guys with Cindy

Mike and Adolf started their day at Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin. They were met by their guide, Cindy Fitzpatrick. Cindy took them to meet the children who were there in treatment. The kids were very excited for their visit. Of course they presented the children with hero medals and SammyRides shirts.

Mike and Adolf were touched and inspired by the children they met. Unfortunately, Mike L. and John did not arrive in town until after the visit.

Adolf with Ashley and Luke

Mike & Adolf with Pete

Adolf presenting Xzavian with hero medal

Tomorrow the ride team will be four strong.....Go SammyRides!

With love from the SammyRides Team,

Until tomorrow,

Kim

March 28, 2011- Bastrop, Texas

2011-03-28T18:10:00.001-04:00

Hello Everyone,
Just heard from Mike, he and Adolf have arrived safely in Bastrop. Today's ride was much like yesterday's.....windy, cold and drizzly. Bastrop is a small town about 30 miles outside of Austin.
As there is not a meet and greet scheduled for this evening the guys will find someplace for dinner and
call it a night. Tomorrow will be a busy day with a hospital visit and getting the two other riders picked up.

Not much to say today but tommorrow's blog should have lots of news so be sure to check in!

Love to all from the SammyRides Team,
Until tomorrow....
Kim

March 27, 2011- Lockhart, Texas

2011-03-27T21:04:00.000-04:00

Hello Everyone,
Today's ride was not the best in regards to weather. Mike said it was windy and cold with drizzle. He said it started to clear towards the end of the ride. None the less, they made it in safe and sound which is what is important. The day was pretty uneventful as there was not a meet and greet today.

Tomorrow they head to Bastrop where they will get a much needed day off from riding. They will be visiting the children's hospital in Austin on their day off as well as picking up Michael at the bus stop and John at the airport.

Love to all from the SammyRides Team,
Until tomorrow...
Kim

March 26, 2011-Blanco, Texas

2011-03-26T21:30:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone,
The riders had an pleasant 42 mile ride into Blanco today. They experienced more of the rolling hills of Texas. After lunch and a few hours rest they headed to this evening's meet and greet.

Francelia and John Smith

The event was held at Blanco United Methodist Church, however, it was hosted by The Relay for Life Organization. The riders were served a delicious meal and were able to share with the guests their mission of fighting pediatric cancer. It was an enjoyable night for all!

Tomorrow the guys head out on a 64 mile ride to Lockhart, Texas.

Love to all from the SammyRides Team
Until tomorrow,
Kim

OOPS - PASTOR JEAN FORGIVE US!

2011-03-26T17:00:00.000-04:00

I came across this comment today below the Brackettville event blog. Thought I would share with everyone since we goofed. See Lois, no one can take your place!

Let me say that it was an privilege to sit with Michael through Lois's surgery yesterday, hear the story of SammyRides first hand and see pictures of Sammy herself. You honor her memory with the ride and blog.
The people of First Baptist in Brackettville ARE wonderful folks, but it was the congregation of FIRST UNITED METHODIST who greeted the riders and hosted the potluck. I am blessed to be their pastor.
We continue to pray for all involved, especially for Lois's recovery.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Jean Reardon

A Note From Mike Libenson

2011-03-26T15:43:00.000-04:00

As I sit here in the hotel room in Del Rio and watch Lois as she recovers from her recent surgery, I can't help but think of how grateful we should all be to our two heroes, Mike Brown and Adolf Lex! These big hearted volunteer bikers have not missed a day or a mile of riding across the country for Sammyrides. They have battled the hills, the heat, the cactus plants, the headwinds, the lousy surfaced bike paths and the Texas traffic. And, after long and hard days of biking, they still managed to meet and greet the local good people of the small towns along the Southern Tier of the great state of Texas. Both have inspired everyone who comes to the meet and greet pot luck suppers to participate in fighting pediatric cancer. Much like our former marine, John Bear, they got tough when the going got hard.

A few moments ago, I received a telephone call from John Bear. As you all know, John is the fourth rider. He has recently been recovering from serious back surgery which was caused by exposure to agent orange while he was serving as a marine in VietNam. John assured me that he will arrive in Austin, Texas, on March 29th, to bike across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida with the rest of us. As things stand now, I will also join the group on the 29^th and thus, the four of us will be crossing the finish line in Sun City Center on April 30th.

From our little room in a little hotel in little Del Rio in the huge state of Texas, Lois and I send our love to everyone.

Mike

THE COMFORT NEWS - COMFORT, TX

2011-03-26T14:19:00.001-04:00

Pictured left to right are Michael Libenson, co-founder of SammyRides, Adolf Lex, John Bear and Mike Brown. All are members of "SammyRides" and are making a 2400-mile bicycle ride to promote awareness and fund raising efforts for pediatric cancers. They will stop in Comfort on March 25. (Photo courtesy of SammyRides)

Four members of SammyRides will     mitted to raising public awareness and  across the Southern Tier of the US
make a stop in Comfort on March 25   funds for childhood cancer research      in order to raise awareness of the
during their 2400-mile bicycle journey through a mixture of cycling activities   many thousands of children who
designed to promote advocacy and     and events.                                         are being diagnosed every year
raise funds for pediatric cancer re-      Team Will was founded in 2005 and       with some form of Pediatric
search and support of families with     named after Will Kiefer, who was diag-   Cancer. One of these couples
children going through cancer treat-    nosed with a rare form of cancer just      was Lois and Mike Libenson who
ment. The riders will arrive in Comfort after his first birthday. He died shortly  lost their granddaughter, Sammy,
from Hunt and will leave the following   after, and his family created this foun-   at the age of 9 to Osteosarcoma.
day for Blanco.                                  dation in support of the thousands of     From their dreams, SammyRides
The riders began their journey March   other kids and their families who are in was born.
2 in Phoenix, Ariz., and will end it on   similar situations.                                Nick Watson of Comfort is coordi-
May 1 in Sun City, Fla. SammyRides In 2009, two couples from Greater         nating a luncheon meet and greet
is a project of TeamWill, a community Sun City Center, Fla considered the     for riders Michael Libenson, Adolf
of cyclists of all levels and ages com- possibility of bicycling 2400 miles         Lex, John Bear and Mike Brown.
                                                                                             For more information go to www.
                                                                                                                   SammyRides.com and www.
                                                                                                                   team-will.org.

March 25, 2011-Comfort, Texas

2011-03-25T23:23:00.001-04:00

Hello Everyone,

Today's ride started on Kerrville with an
additional 3 riders from the local community.
The locals knew backroad routes that were
very scenic so it made for a pleasant ride.
The ride was 20 miles with a lunch stop at
High's Cafe.

While out exploring this afternoon, they ran across a group of guys playing dominoes in a parking spot in the street. Apparently, this a a regular Friday event. The great part was they knew all about SammyRides and not only welcomed the riders but invited them to join their game so they could find out more about the ride and our cause.

They attended a meet and greet this evening at the Comfort Meet Market, which is a Bar and Grill. The event was hosted by the Comfort Chamber of Commerce. They met Gerald & Jean Witt whose granddaughter Katie McCarty, 14 years old, who is currently in the hospital having had a bone marrow transplant 3 weeks ago. She was diagnosed at age 11 with a form of lukemia. They were able to share Sammy's story and bring hope that there are people who care and are doing all they can to help find a cure for childhood cancers.

Tomorrow's ride takes them to Blanco,Texas which is about 45 miles. So until tomorrow.....

Goodnight and God Bless,
Kim and The SammyRides Team

Michael & Lois Libenson

2011-03-25T11:22:00.000-04:00

This morning I just wanted to take a minute to tell those of you who may not know the Libenson's quite as well as I do a little something you may not know. Of course all of us are aware that SammyRides has been a dream of theirs since they lost their beautiful granddaughter, Sammy, to osteosarcoma at the age of nine. I, and many others, have worked with them in the past two years to make this ride a reality for the many families across the U.S.A. who have children battling cancer that need our help. We are well aware of their dedication to this cause and how much it pains Lois that she is unable to be with our riders for the rest of the journey. Since her appendectomy Lois and Mike have been staying in Del Rio until Lois is able to travel back to Florida. Next Tuesday Michael will put Lois safely on a plane for home and he will be taking a bus to meet our other three riders in Austin, TX to complete the ride.
The part that you are unaware of is that Michael and Lois have absolutely refused to let SammyRides cover any of their expenses since Lois became ill until such time as Michael is with the team continuing their journey. They have contributed both monetarily and through their many hours of work on this project above and beyond what any of the rest of us have been able to do, and now we wish to say a special thank you to both of them for their sacrifices along the way and their love of this project.
God bless both of you,
The SammyRides Team of Volunteers

March 24, 2001- Kerrville, Texas

2011-03-24T21:39:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone,
To start with, I misspoke as to where the riders were headed today. I had posted Hunt, Texas as their destination, however, due to a scheduled event they are in Kerrville. The ride was 62 miles and they made it safe and sound. Much of the distance was on a two lane highway that was steep and narrow.

They stopped in Hunt for lunch. Mike said it was at a place appropriately called "The Store", as it was a one stop shop....groceries, gas staion, liquor store, restaurant and bank. From there they traveled to Kerrville and a meet and greet at Buzzie's Bar BQue. The event was hosted by The Relay for Life of Kerr County Organization. They met many new friends who were all anxious to hear of the riders journey and Sammy's story.

They met Rose Bradshaw and her very special granddaughter, Idalis. She is 11 years old and suffers from crohns, vasculities (which requires chemo as a treatment) and RA.

Tomorrow, the riders will leave for Comfort, Texas. It is rumored that some resident's from Kerrville will be joining them for the day. Bring it on...the riders would love the company. It's getting lonely on the road with just the two of them!

Until tomorrow, goodnight and God Bless,
Kim

March 23, 2011- Leakey, Texas

2011-03-23T22:13:00.002-04:00

Hello Everyone,
Today's ride from Camp Wood to Leakey was a challenge as the riders expected. Two words......steep and narrow! In spite of this the riders made it safely to their destination. Mike said the highlight was lunch at the Hog Pen.... a true biker bar, and I don't mean bicycles. He said they got a few strange looks before someone asked what they were all about. They told them about SammyRides and Mike said they seemed truly impressed.

Tonight they attended a meet and greet at the home of Betty Jo Bates who is a member of the Concan Cancer Fighters. There were 25 other members in attendance for a delicious pasta dinner. Mike and Adolf were able to share Sammy's story and hear about the Concan Cancer Fighter's Organization and the wonderful work they have done for Kate Marmion Regional Cancer Treatment Center which is being built in Uvalde, TX. This center will bring treatment much closer to the residents in Leakey and neighboring communities.

Mike said they had the honor of meeting Chase, a 19 year old cancer survivor. Chase was diagnosed at age two. Chase is one of the fortunate children who is lucky enough to have beat this dreadful disease.

Tomorrow's ride is to Hunt, Texas. It's a 44 mile ride with similiar road conditions as today. As always, we ask that you say a special prayer for the safety of our riders.

Love to all from the SammyRides Team!
Until tomorrow,

Kim

Letter to Lois from an awesome Univ of Texas student- Jamie Hill

2011-03-23T11:32:00.002-04:00

Mrs. Libenson and Riders,

My name is Jamie Hill. I am a college freshman currently attending UT Austin but my hometown is Fort Davis, TX. I actually saw your poster up in our local store the day after you all had left Fort Davis. I am sad to say I missed that opportunity to get to meet you guys. I just wanted to send you all this email of encouragement and tell you to keep up the great work! Here at UT we've got a group of college students also aiming to fight against cancer. We are called Texas4000 and each year about 50 UT students spend their summer riding from Austin to Anchorage AK in order to raise money for cancer research. I am new to the organization and will be riding next summer. It is just inspiring and encouraging to see others doing the same thing for their loved ones. I admire you all greatly. I also saw that you will be in Austin in a little over a week. I know I would love to meet you all (and others on my team as well). If there is any chance we could meet up, please let me know. Also, we start all of our Monday night meetings off with ride dedications, whoever we choose to ride for that week and along the way. I just wanted to let you all know that I have decided to give my dedication this week to you all, your cause, and Sammy. You all will be in my prayers as you finish up the rest of your journey.

God Bless and Keep up the fight,

Jamie Hill

www.texas4000.org

March 22, 2011, Camp Wood, Texas

2011-03-22T20:35:00.000-04:00

Hello Sammy Supporters,
The riders day started with a send off from Pastor Jean Reardon.....she and her church have been a blessing to our team! Mike and Adolf have arrived in Camp Wood safe and sound. They alternated riding and driving and had an uneventful day. He said the surface on the roads were very rough and the winds were strong but they pushed through. Mike said the town is quite small with very few places to eat. For lunch they had pizza at the local grocery store, as they were still full from lunch they decided to go for ice cream in lieu of dinner. They said that the grocer was admiring their SammyRides t-shirts so they made a trade, ice cream for t-shirts, everyone was happy!

Tomorrow they head to Leakey, Texas. The ride is a mere 20 miles, however, the terrain is very steep and hilly. The road is narrow with no shoulder in many places. Please pray for their safe arrival. They have a meet and greet tomorrow night so they will be able to share the SammyRides story while once again being treated to the wonderful Texas hospitality of which they have grown accustomed.

The entire SammyRides Team sends their love!
Until tomorrow,
Kim

From Lois SammyRides Update

2011-03-22T15:22:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone,

Well, here I am in the hospital in Del Rio, Texas....something I never would have expected! The good news is that it happened here in Del Rio and not in some far out little town where if one has an emergency, they have to be air lifted.... so, I was very lucky. I also had a fantastic surgeon and both Michael and myself are extremely grateful that he was the one who operated on me. To describe him....tall, scrubs and cowboy boots, a handlebar, pure white mustache, and a cowboy hat he always hangs on the outside of the ER operating room. He has an incredible reputation in Del Rio....even the cab driver who has been driving Michael back and forth to the hospital because the van left with the other riders, told him this surgeon is legendary...and we so agree!

I am feeling so much better today. The staff here has been incredible in making sure I am totally free of pain/nausea. The other good news is that the appendix didn't rupture, which was on the verge had I waited any longer. But, eventually, I knew it was time to come to the hospital. I was that sick and Michael would not let me argue the case I was giving that I would feel better the next day. He finally took matters into his own hands and took me immediately to the hospital. I'm happy I'm married to a worrier!

The bad news is of course I can't continue on with the ride. It was difficult for me to hear that, but I know the riders will be fine and looking out for one another. Between the four of them, each will drive the van one day while the others ride. Of course, they'll be absent a very efficient EMT who has been caring for various things along the way, but I have no doubt they'll be able to know what to do with bandages, ice packs, ace bandages, etc.

In a few more days, after recuperating, Michael will put me on a plane to Tampa and he'll then fly out to meet the other riders. He'll be calling me each night with all the days' happenings and I'll be able to once again do the daily blog. For now, I want to thank Kim Brown and Dee Giordano for filling in for me. They're the best!!!!

Thank you so much for all the wonderful get well wishes and prayers. I just wanted to let you know that I'm doing fine and tomorrow or the next, will be released from the hospital and will spend some time at the motel before leaving for Tampa.

From my room here at the Vel Verde Hospital in Del Rio, I send my love and best wishes to you all....Lois

March 21, 2011 Brackettville,Texas

2011-03-21T22:33:00.002-04:00

Due to this morning's setback, Mike B and Adolf drove to Brackettville in the van instead of on their bikes. They had a scheduled meet and greet so time did not allow for their normal ride.

Once there, they were warmly greeted by the congregation of The First United Methodist Church of Brackettville. Thanks Pastor Jean for keeping us straight! They shared a pot luck dinner with their new friends and were given the opportunity to share their story.

They met Beth Ann Smith who was there in honor of her two year old granddaughter, Shiloh, who is suffering from kidney cancer. They were able to present Beth Ann a hero medal for Shiloh.

The kids of the church made cards to be given to the children at the hospitals that the riders will be visiting along the way. Pastor Jean Reardon of the church was at the hospital with Mike and Lois and therefore was not able to meet the riders this evening. She has arranged to see them off in the morning.....what a wonderful woman! Thanks to all the great people of Brackettville!
Tomorrow the riders will be back on their bikes and on their way to Camp Wood....about a 47 mile ride. As Michael L. will be staying back with Lois, there will be just two riders, Mike B and Adolf. They will be taking turns riding their bike and driving the van. This is not the ideal situation, however, it shows the dedication our entire team has to this project. The show will go on!

I will be maintaining the blog for the riders while Lois is recoverying from her surgery. Since I am not there in person, I will do my best to relay each day as told to me by my husband, Mike Brown.

Please keep Lois, Michael, Mike B. and Adolf in your prayers!
Until tomorrow,
Kim Brown

Update from Del Rio March 21, 2011

2011-03-21T18:45:00.000-04:00

Most importantly Lois is out of surgery! Her appendix did NOT rupture and they only needed to do a 2" incision to remove the appendix. She is in recovery as I type and Michael said the surgeon thought she would be good to go in a couple days.
Second item of importance is a great big thank you to Pastor Jean Reardon of Brackettville, TX. As soon as she received the call that Lois was in the hospital, she left plans for this evening in the very capable hands of the church ladies and headed to Del Rio. She arrived just as Lois was going into surgery and stayed with Michael throughout. He feels very blessed to have had her there with him through the wait.

Michael also mentioned how very much he has come to love and appreciate his fellow riders. As soon as they knew what was going on at the hospital with Lois, they stepped up to take care of everything to put both Michael & Lois at ease about the ride. They have gone on to Brackettville and will meet the wonderful people in that community this evening. From there they will continue the ride to bring awareness to the children struggling with pediatric cancer together until Michael will be able to put Lois on a plane for Florida and join them. We had hoped they would have been able to take the van with them instead of packing their belongings on the bikes. I could be a tough trip to Brackettville! Actually Michael & Lois are the ones without a vehicle as the fellas needed the van with them. They may just have one rider out each day, but the ride will go forward. Good news on the home front. John has been cleared completely and will definitely join the riders in Austin. We certainly hope the four of them are all together by then. God bless Lois, Michael, John, Mike B, and Adolf from sunny Florida.
Dee

Del Rio TX Mar 21, 2011

2011-03-21T14:59:00.003-04:00

Hi Everyone,
     I'm sure you thought this evenings blog would be coming from Bracketville, TX. Hopefully Mike Brown and Adolf will have wonderful things to report from their meet and greet there this evening, but this message is coming from sunny Florida.
      Yesterday was a lay day and I'm sure you all thought Lois would report on the stay in Del Rio and of course laundry duty. It seems we have hit just a little hiccup in plans today and Lois has found other ways to spend her time. Lois wasn't feeling quite up to par yesterday and took some time off from posting.
      Today didn't start out much better so she and Michael left the other riders and decided to pay a visit to the hospital in Del Rio. After a few tests they discovered that Lois' appendix had ruptured so hopefully at this time she is finally into surgery.
      I was speaking with Michael earlier this afternoon as they were waiting, and Lois was concerned about keeping the bills straight that they needed to send out to me today. That's my girl always worried about getting the job done! So until I have an update for everyone, say a special prayer that all goes well and our little EMT will be released soon to come back to us in Florida.   We are working out the logistics for the riders, but all is planned to go forward as soon as we get the hiccups stopped.
Love to all from our riders and from Lois - Dee

DAY 18 DEL RIO, TEXAS

2011-03-19T22:09:00.001-04:00

An interesting day started out with us having breakfast at the American Legion in Sanderson. Can I just say that we are incredibly impressed with the people who live in this very small community! If last night wasn't wonderful enough, this morning's breakfast was made to order by some of the same ladies who were volunteering last evening. It was delicious and scrumptious...a great way to send us off for the long, cold, windy ride to Del Rio. I should also add, that breakfast is served every Saturday morning at the Legion Hall for nearly 50 people who drop by for a great, homemade breakfast. We met many of the border patrol agents who came in as well. But, it isn't just the breakfast that makes Sanderson so special....it's the residents themselves who greet each person who comes through the door as if they were family. I know, I felt that way. It was hard to leave, I must admit!

Then it was back to the motel to load up the van and head for Del Rio, but not before the local editor of the newspaper came by to take a group shot of the riders. As he did so, you could see and feel the wind picking up and the sky overcast with dark, grey clouds....with 121 miles to go, it didn't look like the weather was going to cooperate.

The decision was made to drive about 45 miles through the steepest of mountain area and then the riders would ride their bikes the rest of the way.

We did get to visit a fabulous museum before that however....Judge Roy Bean Museum. A special find that came out of nowhere!!! The electricity had gone out, so we didn't get to hear the movie in the auditorium or view the many dioramas that encircled the inside of the museum. Still, we got to walk around, visit his old hangout, the saloon; walk through a beautiful cactus garden and take in the opera house that once was a place he and his buddies enjoyed. From what I have learned, Judge Roy Bean makes Judge Judy come across as a rose! He hung everyone....

We got to Del Rio around 3 PM....at last...a city!!!! We'll be here for two days before heading off to our next destination.
After unloading everything and getting settled, we went off for a relaxing dinner. Felt good to just relax after a very long day.

I did manage to make a run to Walmart for our regular supply of water and gatorade, so now, a good night's sleep and tomorrow, a chance to see the city and get in some other needed errands.

From Del Rio, Michael, Adolf, Mike Brown and myself, send our love and best wishes to you all...

Lois

DAY 17 SANDERSON, TEXAS

2011-03-18T21:51:00.002-04:00

Another early start today because of the 58 miles from Marathon to Sanderson, Texas. Overall, it was fairly straight riding with a few steep hills every few miles, not to mention a wind in their face, but we rode into Sanderson around 3:00, which seems to be the time we most often complete a day's ride.

During the ride to Sanderson, we finally got to see a herd of Buffalo that were residing on a ranch that we passed along the way.
At 6, we headed off to the American Legion Hall for a meet/ greet and delicious pot luck supper.

The turn out was wonderful and we had such a delightful time meeting many of the residents of Sanderson and even a few of the elementary students that dropped by to meet us.

We want to thank in particular, Lea Hawn, who hosted the eve for us and Nancy Henderson who helped coordinate the wonderful spread of food. When you talk about community, Sanderson displayed all that one hears of how close knit people are in a community like this. People who joined us this evening could not have been nicer or friendlier and we just enjoyed the time we spent with each and every person who came out to support us.

I even got to meet the local paramedic and an EMT who came in to have a bite. Actually, we're going again tomorrow morning for breakfast! In Texas, people know how to enjoy good food and great company! After breakfast, we will head out to Del Rio, Texas...121 miles away!!! No, the riders will do only half of that difficult ride, maybe even more than half....depends on the difficulty of the steep hills through the mountains.
We will have our third lay day in Del Rio....and we are most definitely ready for it! Bikes will be checked, the van will have an oil change and what else? Laundry!
So, until tomorrow from Del Rio, Texas, Michael, Adolf, Mike Brown and myself, send our love and best wishes to you all.

DAY 16 MARATHON, TEXAS

2011-03-17T21:44:00.002-04:00

This morning, we left early, due to the 53 miles that would take a number of hours of riding in order to get to our next destination, Marathon, Texas. The scenery was once again so beautiful that all each of us wanted to do was stop, take pictures, and just soak up everything surrounding us. Since I'm always 15 minutes behind the riders, I have the luxury to get out of the van, scan the area, and enjoy the beauty around me. I even got to see lots of wildlife roaming on the many hillsides of rock formations and mountain areas.

When we reached Alpine, Texas, we were met by a local reporter, who greeted the riders in order to take some pictures for the newspaper. In the background of these pictures, I noticed one of my most favorite places in the world....a general airport!! Watching a few small aircraft taking off and landing, truly whet my appetite to be in one of those planes!! What a great place to fly.....open space and sky everywhere with very little wind. So, after the newspaper photos were taken, I stayed behind for about 20 minutes to enjoy other pilots enjoy the friendly skies of Alpine, Texas. I was very jealous!
We reached Marathon around 3 PM, arriving at a lovely and rustic motel area. As Michael and Mike Brown collapsed in their rooms and got in a nap, Adolf, never one for losing any energy, took time to look around and enjoy the area, while I was able to get a load of laundry done, with time left over for a short nap as well.
During the bike ride today, a train passing parallel to the highway, tooted the whistle twice to wave on the riders...this was definitely a high point for Michael, in particular!

At 6 PM, we left to meet up at the Community Center for a pasta supper and a meet/greet with local residents, including a very special group of people from the Relay for Life program, which provides many fundraising activities and worthwhile projects for cancer awareness. We want to especially thank Marsha Roberts for organizing this lovely and special evening for us. We are so grateful for organizations such as this, for the extraordinary warmth and graciousness they have shown us.
It truly touches our hearts to be in the company of wonderful people such as those we met tonight and I've mentioned this many times before, but none of these suppers/meet and greet eves would have happened without our incredible and amazing volunteer, Jan Welsh, from Sun City Center, Florida, who has spent countless hours researching and pulling this all together.
We are so fortunate to have a strong network of volunteers in our community who continue to work tirelessly for SammyRides, despite our being away for 60 days. These individuals represent the best of what a community is all about and we are beyond grateful for what each has provided in all that has been accomplished throughout these many months of preparation and what lies ahead before our return on April 30th. These individuals represent integrity, decency and a belief in that what we are doing will make a difference in the lives of kids now and those in the future suffering and being treated with some form of cancer. We are just the messengers to raise awareness to the national public, but it's the many, many volunteers who have brought this all to where we are today.
Until tomorrow from Sanderson, Texas, Michael, Adolf, Mike Brown and myself, send our love and best wishes to you all......Lois

Article in The Sun published by the Tampa Tribune Thursday, March 17, 2011

2011-03-17T21:01:00.000-04:00

http://thesun2.tbo.com/content/2011/mar/16/SCNEWSO13-on-the-road-with-sammyrides/

DAY 15 FT. DAVIS

2011-03-16T21:08:00.002-04:00

Today was a long day of riding! We left Van Horn early this morning, tired and anxious about an 89 mile ride which would take us to Ft. Davis, Texas. Now, we have arrived and are no longer tired....instead, we are exhausted!!! However, the day was highlighted by the most glorious mountain views along the curvy, very steep back roads in the great state of Texas. Every turn was filled with the most wonderful scenery of huge hills and rock formations and at times, even got to see a Long Horn or two grazing in the wide open spaces. We also got to see a few other bike riders (younger of course!!) taking on the challenge of these magnificent mountains.

One rider, celebrating his oncoming 60th birthday, decided to take 6 months off to ride his bike to Alaska. Other riders, who appeared to be at a professional level of biking, seemed to get up those difficult hills with little difficulty. The road we traveled today had very little traffic on it...my kind of highway, but for our riders, it was generally a rougher ride than on I 10. Still, we could never have seen such beautiful scenery had we gone on the interstate, so it was well worth the difficult ordeal of steep hills and ongoing curves.
Coming into Ft. Davis was in many ways, similar to driving into small towns in New England. Quaint shops along the main street, tourists here on spring break, and a sense of going back in time.
We got to rest for a few hours and at 6:00, headed to the Presbyterian Church for a supper being held for us. We want to thank, in particular, Linda Allen, for hosting us.

We met wonderful people, got to relax, and enjoyed an absolutely delicious supper. When they say Texans are warm, friendly, and gracious, they're not kidding!! It was just a delightful eve. We left well fed and stuffed, but more importantly, meeting these lovely people truly made the eve even more special. We also received some lovely get well cards many of the children made for patients we'll be visiting and thank them as well for taking the time to make such beautiful cards.
Tomorrow is another very long biking day! 51 miles to Marathon, Texas. Temperature tomorrow is expected to be over 90!!!
So, from our terrific visit here in Ft. Davis, Michael, Adolf, Mike Brown and myself, send our love and best wishes to you all.

DAY 14 Van Horn, Texas

2011-03-15T21:29:00.002-04:00

After having a good night's sleep, it was another early start today to head off to Van Horn, Texas where we would have a meet/greet and pot luck supper later in the afternoon at the Van Horn Historic Museum.
The weather was again perfect for riding and as the morning progressed, it got warmer and warmer. The ride today consisted of 31 miles of fairly flat and even roads and ended with a surprise two mile vertical climb followed by a two mile descent into Van Horn. The riders stopped several times along the route to drink water, have snacks, made up of energy bars. As for me, I followed them with great care, always on the lookout for trucks and other vehicles barreling down the interstate at 80 plus miles/hour. Tomorrow, we will head southeast to Ft. Davis, Texas on less traveled roads....thank goodness!!!! We had thought today would be the steep mountains, but that's facing us tomorrow. I'm just happy to finally get off of I 10.....

We had such a wonderful eve at the Van Horn Historic Museum. The people there could not have been warmer or friendlier, and the food....out of this world!!! In fact, one of the dishes was made by a gentleman, Dale Evans (no relation to Roy Rogers!), who made his famous beans with bourbon!!! Best part is, he never measures his ingredients!!!

The museum itself was such a fantastic find....we could have stayed for many more hours just browsing through all the incredible relics discovered in the many rooms the museum houses.

We want to thank the curators, Nada and Robert Stukey and our host, Sheila Blackenburg, for their wonderful hospitality as well as all the other guests that truly welcomed us as if we had known them for years.
Tomorrow we have to get a very early start as the bike ride will not be an easy one.

Each day, since we left two weeks ago, has been an incredible adventure...each day bringing a new experience and wonderful new people into the world of SammyRides.

We are thrilled to let everyone know that John Bear will be joining us in Austin to help us complete the ride. How we will fit John and his luggage into the van will be our biggest challenge! But we couldn't be happier that he has fully healed and is now up to riding the rest of the way with us.
Until tomorrow in Ft. Davis, Michael, Adolf, Mike and myself, send our love and best wishes to you all!
Lois

News Clip from the Leakey Star

2011-03-15T18:57:00.003-04:00

http://www.theleakeystaronline.com/news/2011/03/12/sammy-rides-headed-to-leakey-grandparents-riding-for-the-health-of-grandchildren/

Came across this story and wanted to give credit to Minto for their good deed.

2011-03-15T15:23:00.000-04:00

heraldtribune.com

Good Deeds

Published: Monday, March 7, 2011 at 1:00 a.m.

• Minto Communities, which developed Hazeltine in Lakewood Ranch's Country Club East, has donated $10,000 to the SammyRides project, to help raise awareness of pediatric cancer and support families battling the disease. SammyRides is a project sponsored by Team Will, a nonprofit formed by Sun City Center cyclists who volunteer their time and resources to support research and help families whose children are currently undergoing cancer treatment. The project is named for Sammy Rotman, a 9-year-old girl who died of osteosarcoma. On March 3, her grandmother, Lois Libenson and five other volunteers were to begin a 2,400-mile bike trip from Phoenix, Ariz., that will end in Sun City Center on May 1. For more information, go to Sammyrides.com.

A SPECIAL LETTER TO THE RIDERS AND LOIS

2011-03-14T23:29:00.000-04:00

Dear Lois, Mike, Adolf and Michael,

Today as I sat looking out the window at snow flurries (!) I thought of you all fearlessly peddling up and down highways across America. As folks drove past you at breakneck speed, hurrying towards their destinations, most didn't realize the incredible sight they were passing. Like most of us who spend our lives taking our health for granted, they likely have no idea of the incredible, selfless feat you are all undertaking.

When Sammy died, many of us not only felt heartbroken and defeated, most of us didn't know what to do. Instead of being paralyzed by grief or forever angry at the world, Lois and Michael, you chose to do something positive, meaningful and amazing. The message you carry with you as you take part in this journey is one of love and that's why every place you go you are greeted with open arms and open hearts.

We look forward to reading your daily "missives" and are all riding with you in spirit. Our thoughts and prayers are with you always, all ways.

Love, Marcy (and of course) Ken and Jamie

CYJ

From Marcy Kornreich A special friend of the Libensons and Sammy's Family