More Than a Ride...It's a "Ride of Hope"

"On May 16th, we will depart from the New Hartford Recreation Center to begin a bike ride to Washington D.C. Our six day journey thorough New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia
will bring awareness to the plight of missing and exploited children to students and parents 
along the way as well as honoring all missing and exploited children. 

Arriving at headquarters for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 
will conclude our trip; presenting them with a plaque commemorating this, 
the 20 year anniversary of the formation of the Mohawk Valley office." ~ RMC- Ride of Hope  After riding one hundred miles on Friday, some riders will mount their bikes again on Saturday morning for the Ride of Hope. This ride commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Mohawk Valley's NCMEC office. A ride first taken in honor and memory of Sarah Ann Wood. This year, there are a few teams to honor different missing and exploited children. I'm humbled, honored, and excited to say..."Team Heidi" is one riding on this journey. 

An organizer from The Ride contacted us when snow was still providing a white background and falling quicker than we could shovel and plow. they asked the families permission to ride for my sister, Heidi Allen, on this momentous and honoring ride. With tears streaming down my cheeks I accepted. My parents were speechless. This is such an honor. It's a bout 2,000 children that go missing on a daily basis. Today, NCMEC has a 97% success rate at locating and recovering these children. Only 3% remain missing. Of this number, only 3% are non-family or "stranger/endangered" missing, Heidi is in this 3%...stranger abduction and still missing.  So as you think about the over 400 riders departing Troop D on Friday, also remember the smaller yet just as important group leaving from the Recreation Center on Saturday morning. 

All these individuals, their sag teams, volunteers, law enforcement, and families appreciate your prayers. I'll share more about the Ride of Hope on Saturday's blog but wanted to introduce this ride to you and its purpose, and the honor bestowed on Heidi, as a team rides for her from New York to Washington. Thank you for all you do - some ride bicycles, some volunteer, most pray, and all hope!