At least three long-distance bicycle rides — one solo — are nearing Ground Zero in New York City for Sunday's 9-11 commemorations.
One of the most amazing efforts is that of Max McManus, a Reno triathlete who is blasting through the mid-Atlantic states on his way to riding through 50 states in 50 days in tribute to 9-11 victims. (The photo above from his Facebook page shows him cycling through the rain and over hills that greeted him earlier this week on Day 44 of his record-breaking ride.)
Meanwhile, two groups of firefighters — one from San Francisco and another from Los Angeles — are nearing their destination to honor fellow firefighters who died at the World Trade Center terrorist attack 10 years ago.
All are arriving on the East Coast during heavy rains that are sweeping the region. They're not letting the rain dampen their collective resolve to reach New York City for the memorial services.
Solo ride
McManus, a 47-year-old solo cyclist, is heading into Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey today. Accompanied by a support team, McManus is logging 150 miles a day to complete his goal.
Along the way, the triathlete is raising money for the 9-11 Help America Foundation that assists military families. You can read more about his trip at Freedom 50/50 website or the Freedom 50/50 Facebook page, where updates are posted. You can also make donations there as well.
I also wrote a piece about the ride here, and CNN did an interview.
The two groups of firefighters also are slogging through the rain in Pennsylvania today.
West Coast firefighters
According to an updated map on its website, the Ride for 9-11: A Ride for Honor from the Los Angeles area is nearing the Philadelphia area. They've been joined by other firefighters on portions of their rides, and cheered on in some towns, like Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Those six firefighters are raising money for The Leary Firefighters Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project. You can donate at their website.
The three Santa Clara firefighters on the Bay to Brooklyn Ride slogged through the Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania earlier this week and are on schedule to arrive in New York before Sunday. They also have a Facebook page where followers can offer support.
The trio are riding to honor the 343 firefighters who died at the World Trade Center and raising money for the National Fallen Firefighters Association. They're stopping at every firehouse they can find along the way.
Darrell Sales Sr. told WNEP:
“There hasn't been one hard day of riding, because each time we come into
a town we talk to people and they love what we're doing and are glad
we're doing it and that kind of energizes us to keep us going from town
to town and day to day.”
9-11 rides
A host of cyclists are hitting the road on shorter rides to honor people who died in the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
The Tour de Force charity bike ride is leaving Ground Zero today. The 200 cyclists will visit Philadelphia, Annapolis and Washington DC before arriving at the Pentagon on Sunday.
The Ride 2 Recovery will set out with 350 cyclists from a park with a view to the World Trade Center on Sunday. After visiting Shanksville, Pennsylvania, they cyclists will complete the 530-mile ride at the Pentagon.
Beyond the 11th is scheduled to leave Ground Zero on Friday with 50 cyclists for a ride that will arrive in Boston on Sunday. Founded by two widows of 9-11 victims, the group supports widows in Afghanistan who have been afflicted by war, terrorism and oppression.
A list of 9-11 Commemorations , as well as updates on the various memorials and museums, is available online. Here's a link to the 9/11 Memorial website.
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