Ride for Life Ride for Life began in 1998 when a small group of patients rode their electric wheelchairs over 350 miles from Yankee Stadium to Washington D.C. to raise ALS awareness. Since then, Ride for Life has raised nearly two million dollars to fund ALS research and patient services. Ride for Life 2007 began April 28 in Montauk, Long Island and ended nine days later at Columbia University. The riders made stops at schools, parks, and businesses where they educated listeners about ALS and spoke about their valiant battles with the disease. Along the way, the riders raised money. A check was presented to Dr. Mitsumoto at the closing ceremony. The money will be used to fund crucial ALS research at the Columbia MDA/ALS Research Center. The closing ceremony was performed amongst a bright display of 6,000 pinwheels planted on the lawn in the center of Columbia's campus. The pinwheels represented the 6,000 patients that die each year from ALS. Four patients from the Columbia ALS Research Center showed their courage by participating in the long ride. They were Norma Steck, a member of Ride for Life’s Board of Directors and Ride for Life research committee, Rich Kornak, Jack Elwood, and Stan Silver. Fern Cohen, who attends Columbia’s ALS support group, also participated. They all found the event inspiring and came away with hope that a cure would eventually be found for this difficult disease. Note from a member of Ride for Life’s Board of Directors This is my fifth year on the Ride and each year gets better. Joining Ride For Life has afforded me the opportunity to meet some of the most incredible, dynamic, caring, determined and devoted people in the fight to cure ALS. The wonderful PALS, CALS, family, friends, students, volunteers and walkers make each day of the Ride special and memorable. All along the route from Montauk to Manhattan we are greeted and cheered. School children from kindergarten through high school greet us with music, gifts, lunches and incredible donations they collected by having ALS fund raisers. They provide me with renewed strength to fight ALS and bring hope to finding a cure. It's an event that truly enriches your life and puts it back in perspective. Experience it first hand by joining us on this journey to raise awareness and funds for ALS! Norma Steck - PALS http://www.rideforlife.com/