NBHS Participates in Ride for Life Walk; Donates $20,000
Approximately 265 students from North Babylon, West Islip, and Washington Heights met at the NB high school on May 18 to participate in a fundraising endeavor for Ride for Life, the local ALS chapter. These students, as well as other students and staff from the high school, held an assembly to welcome the Ride for Life PALS and accompany them on part of their journey from Montauk to Manhattan. Ride for Life founder Mr. Chris Pendergast led the PALS in this annual fundraising ride in motorized wheelchairs, and on behalf of Ride for Life he accepted a $20,000 check presented to him by the high school. He was accompanied at the assemble by another Rider, Mr. Rich Kornak from Monroe, NY.
Led by Dean of Discipline and teacher Ms. Barbara Brown, the high school held a number of fundraisers throughout the year to make the $20,000 check possible. There was the annual "Hearts of Hope" Valentine's fundraiser in memory of Mrs. Mary Murphy, a beloved high school librarian who lost the battle to ALS but whose spirit and courage continues to inspire students and staff alike. Then 25 teachers in the district held a concert of Beatles music on March 25. There was also the annual ALS Teachers Happy Hour Fundraiser for staff with raffles and auctions at Mary Carrolls in Babylon Village on May 6. This event raised close to $7,000. And last was the Ride for Life walk itself in which students raised $8,000.
North Babylon had over 175 walkers, West Islip brought 80 students who were accompanied by Ginny Scudder, and Jean Ellen Murphy, the daughter of Mary Murphy, brought 40 of her 6th grade students from Community Health Academy of Washington Heights. Many of these students had lost loved ones to ALS. All of the student walkers raised a minimum of $25 but some went above and beyond. The top student fundraisers were Sulliman Noor ($550), Darrin McGarrity who lost his grandmother to ALS ($426), Brittany Robert who lost her aunt to ALS ($300), Matthew Scavone ($200), Peter Brady ($170), JoAnna Schomaker who lost her grandmother to ALS ($120), Nicole Monroe ($102), Gregory Carrick ($100), Bobby Huck ($90), Ray Zizzo ($85), Alyssa D'Amato ($80), and Leslie Ward ($73).
The walkers and others at the assembly were rapt with attention as Ms. Brown spoke about Mary Murphy by saying, "Not a single student in this school knew or remembers Mrs. Murphy but you still honor her memory and you still hear her call to find a cure echoing through our halls" And they do. They also heed the call of Mr. Pendergast whom they admire because of his bravery, leadership, and perseverance in the face of such a debilitating disease. To them he is a true hero who "walks tall" even from his wheelchair. When they look into his deep blue eyes and see what a courageous leader he is, they aspire to emulate him. When he spoke to them at the assembly very haltingly and quietly because of the damage ALS has done to his vocal chords, a hushed silence fell over a gymnasium full of students as they strained to hear his words. And he truly did inspire them when he said, "Teamwork. We are told how important it is and you are living proof of how important it is to work together. How do you measure success? Thomas Edison who had more patents than anyone else has ever had said that the key to success is due to inspiration and perspiration. Inspiration and what you do with it determines how successful you are. I want all of you to remember that when a cure is found for ALS, and a cure will be found, you have helped make history and I want you to be proud of what you have done." And they listened, and they are proud of being part of this important movement.
