43
The 270-mile Trek, known as The Ride to End ALS, runs from Boston to New York City
YOUNGSTOWN
Crush ALS/Team Bannon, led by Breen O. Bannon of Cornersburg and his sister, Lisa Bannon Steinmetz, will participate in its eighth-consecutive, three-day 270-mile ALS-TDI Tri-State Trek bicycle to raise awareness and money for ALS research.
Bannon and Steinmetz began riding in the Trek, known as The Ride to End ALS, to honor their brother, Chuck Bannon, who died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
“Lisa and I still ride in memory of our brother Chuck who passed away in 2009 from this cruel disease. But over the years, we’ve also continued this crusade because we’ve met many other people whose lives have been turned upside down by ALS. Like us, they feel strongly that something must be done to stop it. So we keep going,” Breen said.
There is still no cause, treatment or cure for ALS, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
The 2016 Tri-State Trek begins at 6 a.m. Friday in Boston and concludes Sunday in New York City.
“Our team, which started out as three people in 2009, has grown to 21 riders and crew members, our biggest team yet, with members hailing from Chicago, Seattle, Boston, Washington, D.C., Ohio, New York and New Jersey. Our team fundraising goal this year is $200,000, no small feat, but obtainable with your help,” Breen said.
Including this year’s trek, Team Bannon will have bicycled more than 2,000 miles for the cause, and with the help and generosity of donors, the team will surpass $500,000 in funds raised to fight ALS, he said.
“Our team has been the top fund raiser for the trek for the past three years, quite an accomplishment for our small grass-roots effort. Your continued support has been inspirational, to say the least,” he said.
People can contribute by visiting the website at http://tst.als.net/bbannon. Those who would like to contribute by check are asked to make it out to Tri-State Trek and mail it to Breen Bannon, 3478 Bentwillow Lane, Youngstown, OH 44511.