Reid's Ride Organizers Recap This Year's Event

The following is an announcement from the Reid Sacco Memorial Foundation:

In what can only be called a “ride to remember”, more than 360 cyclists pedaled 28 miles from Lynnfield to Gloucester in an event that raised more than $149,000 to fight the cancers striking adolescents and young adults.  At the finish line, riders and supporters celebrated some long-awaited achievements in that fight.   

This was the eighth consecutive year for the Reid’s Ride Bike-a-thon, held annually on the third Sunday in July.   The event is named after Reid Sacco, a Lynnfield native who lost his two-year battle with cancer at age 20.

On-hand for the finish-line festivities at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester was Susan Parsons, M.D., Director of the newly established Reid R. Sacco Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Clinic for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.  Addressing the hundreds in attendance, Dr. Parsons announced that the clinic will open in September 2012 as part of a first-of-its-kind program in Boston to uniquely focus on the AYA age group.  She went on to describe details of the program and its role in patient follow-up and treatment, in basic research, and in the education of patients, families and medical professionals.  Dr. Parsons explained how the program will help fill an urgent unmet medical need for this patient population. 

The clinic and program are major milestones for Reid’s Ride and its mission to improve the outlook of cancer patients age 15-39. 

Setting the spirit of Reid’s Ride to music was Ms. Venere Salzillo, of Saugus, who had recently returned from Los Angeles where she placed first in a national teen vocals competition.  Her moving rendition of “The Climb” stirred cheers, applause and tears from the Reid’s Ride audience.  With lyrics that speak to the importance of facing each uphill challenge with strength and perseverance, the song not only symbolized each rider’s effort that day but it also resonated with those who have personally experienced the impact of cancer on their lives. At the conclusion of Ms. Salzillo’s performance, a large balloon in the shape of a butterfly was released in a symbolic gesture of honor or remembrance for those who have won or lost their battle with cancer.

Lorraine Sacco, Director of Reid’s Ride, congratulated and thanked the assembled riders, supporters, volunteers, and sponsors for their tireless fund-raising and assistance in making this year’s event another record-breaker.  She emphatically reminded them that it was their hard work and commitment that made the new clinic and program at Tufts a possibility and now a reality. “Reid would be very proud of how far we have come in so little time,” Sacco concluded.

Frank Basler, Operations Director for Dunkin Brands, presented Lorraine a check for $25,000 from the Dunkin Donuts Community Foundation.  Dunkin Donuts is the premier event sponsor for Reid’s Ride.  Accompanying Mr. Basler was the Braga family of Gloucester. The Braga family is a franchise-holder and a tremendous supporter of Reid’s Ride. 

Heading up the list of top fund-raising individuals was Patrice Fogg (Madbury, NH).  Other top fund-raisers included Meredith Greeno (Brookline, MA), Michael Marra (Brighton, MA), Jane Greeno (Los Angeles, CA), Weston Sacco (Lynnfield, MA), Rachael Sacco (Haverhill, MA), Frank Sacco (Haverhill, MA), Linda Ladd (Lynnfield. MA), Liz Joyce (Danvers.MA), Kate Jackson (Danvers, MA), and Eric Primack (Ipswich. MA)

The top ten fund-raising teams were Skid Marks (Revere and Madbury, NH), Danvers Diehards (Danvers), Babo Kicks Butts (Babson College Alum), Team Fun (Concord), Team Lyons (Danvers), Team Turner (Haverhill), Pedal Mettle (Lynnfield), Team Bankoff (Lynnfield), and Team Newbury North (Lynnfield).

“We had about 360 registered riders this year, and more than 50 teams,” Sacco reported. “We’re very pleased with that, and very fortunate have had beautiful weather.  We had prepared for the forecasted heat and humidity by adding extra water stations and supplies.  But temperatures turned out quite reasonable for this time of year, with some cooling breezes off the ocean.  It was a delightful ride.”

Over the years, Reid’s Ride has become a popular “warm-up” event for those cyclists competing in the Pan Mass Challenge in early August.   Next year, Reid’s Ride organizers plan to add a separate start, with timing services, for those interested in obtaining an official time for the 28 mile ride through Lynnfield, Middleton, Danvers, Beverly, Manchester and Gloucester.

Sacco remarked that there is really only one formidable challenge to Reid’s Ride.  “So many wonderful people turn out for Reid’s Ride that you just want to jump off your bike to catch up with old friends or to learn what motivated a new rider to come out this year.  If I did that every time I wanted to, though, I’d still be out on the course!”

When asked about what it takes to pull off an event like this one every year, Sacco responded, “It takes what is virtually a battalion of volunteers to execute the thousands of details required to make sure our riders and supporters experience a safe, fun, and rewarding Reid’s Ride event.  We rely on many committees, all made up of volunteers, to manage all aspects of the event, whether it be the registration process, safety monitoring, raffles, food preparation, return transportation for bikes and riders, and site logistics.  We even have a team that makes sure all signs, markers and posters are removed within a couple of hours after the event concludes.”

Sacco continued, “The entire event takes place within a short four hour period, so things get pretty hectic, especially at the start and the finish.  We’re fortunate to be able to rely on volunteers to take charge of key areas.  I’m indebted to:  Ringo Tarr (Gloucester) for permissions and logistics at Stage Fort Park; Kevin Dillon (Lynnfield) for logistics and transportation for Lynnfield High and Stage Fort Park;  Jonna Casey (Lynnfield), Joyce Colagero (Lynnfield), and Maria Polito (Danvers) for rider registration at Lynnfield High;  Rachael and Leah Sacco (Stoneham) for Raffles; Gail Talis (Lynnfield) and Rosemary Fitzgerald (Lynnfield) for food and refreshments; Peter Lagorio (Lynnfield) and Bob Sherr (Lynnfield) for distribution of water and ice; Michele Moscone (Malden) for decorations at Stage Fort Park; Nancy McNeill (Lynnfield) and Suzanne Waitkus (Gloucester) for marking the route with balloons; Donna Marra (Lynnfield) for rest-stop operations at Endicott College; and the entire Bourque family (Lynnfield, MA) for bike transportation, registration logistics, and data processing.  More than 150 other volunteers assist in these areas and in everything else from information tables to water stations along the route.

Each year the organizers of Reid’s Ride make small changes to improve the comfort, convenience and safety of the event.  This year’s event featured an improved check-in process at the finish line, which is used to verify that all riders have safely finished the route.  Many more volunteers were added to greet each rider, take their bib number tag, hand them a fresh bottle of water, and direct them where to park their bikes.  The check-in team was led by Karen Strating (Manchester), and included Baylee and Ariel Priestley (Lynnfield) who cheered and welcomed each rider across the finish line.

 A number of organizations provided critical support to the Ride as well.  This year, volunteers from the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office provided a rolling escort and an invaluable margin of traffic safety for the riders.  Special thanks are due to the Lynnfield Police and Fire Departments, the Middleton Police Department, the Danvers Fire Department, to Lyons Ambulance, and to North Shore Radio Association for their role in making this year’s Ride safe and traffic-friendly.  Once again, Endicott College allowed Reid’s Ride to use its parking lot along the route as the rest and refreshment stop for riders.  The Lynnfield Rotary Club, the Peabody Rotary Club, and the Beverly Kiwanis Foundation have all lent a hand in a variety of capacities.

Again this year, the event was professionally captured in digital images by Bob and Laurie Priestley of Lynnfield, and by AmyLou Astolfi of Gloucester.

 “Another large part of the success of Reid’s Ride, both as a fund-raiser and as family and community event, of course is due to our sponsors.  All our sponsors are local businesses, and their commitment to the local community is evident in the support they have given to Reid’s Ride.”