NYFAC’s Director of Development Toni Cimino, President Andrew Baumann, board member and event organizer Ann Marie Gurino,Angelo Gurino, Joe Mure and Julia Briggs of JDRF. Photo by Patricia Adams
Registrants poured into the parking lot at the NYFAC facility beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning. Photo by Patricia Adams
One idea, a lot of hard work and determination, 250 cyclists, a sea of volunteers, a ton of donations, four local ambulance corps and a full compliment of NYPD officers from 5 precincts across Queens and Brooklyn–that’s what went into “The Loop”, a hugely successful cycling fund-raiser held in Howard Beach on Saturday .
It began when Howard Beach resident Ann Marie Gurino was asked to assume a position on the Board of Directors of New York Families for Autistic Children (NYFAC) earlier this year.
Well wishers Supreme Court Justic Augie Agate, restauranteur and president of the SS of Cosma & Damiano, Joe DeCandia and Doreen Decandia , with some of the days cyclists Angelo Natoli, Diego Cuadros, Joe Russo, Ann Marie Gurino, Gina Barillaro and Joe Mure. Andrew Baumann looks on. Photo by Patricia Adams
Gurino, like all the other board members, would be responsible to organize and run one fundraiser for the organization every year.
After discussion with her husband Angelo, who bikes all over the country to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), she proposed that NYFAC partner with JDRF and organize The Loop, The First Annual 20-mile Bike Ride.
Together with friend and attorney Joe Mure who is a trustee of the Brooklyn/Queens chapter of JDRF and who has raised over a million dollars for JDRF, the Gurino’s and organizers at NYFAC began registering participants to come out and ride for the two especially worthy causes.
Alecia Wesner (right.) is celebrating her chance at a spot in a clinical trial for an artificial pancreas with sister Paige. Photo by Patricia Adams
Among the riders was Alecia Wesner, 41, a Type 1 diabetic for 35 years. She was recently cut from the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial at the University of Virginia, where she would have been the recipient of an artificial pancreas.
The Artificial Pancreas Project (APP) was launched back in 2006 by JDRF to expedite the production of a commercially-viable artificial pancreas, ultimately to mimic its exact biological function for patients with type 1 diabetes.
A modern age wonder facilitated by the very research that JDRF supports, the artificial pancreas is being tested in trial across the country after The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first outpatient artificial pancreas trial in the United States.
But Wesner was hardly disappointed over the lost trial at UVA as she prepared to saddle up for the 20 mile trek. “I am here celebrating with my sister Paige,” she said with well deserved enthusiasm.
Fate intervened during a recent visit with her endocrinologist at Mt. Sinai, when Wesner got another opportunity — this time to be involved in a clinical trial there at the hospital.
The first three cyclists back from the 20-mile loop struck a pose before going back to the registration zone for a barbecue. Photo by Patricia Adams
“Nothing is 100% but all I can think about is a night when I don’t have to get up without having to raise or lower sugar,” said Wesner. “A night without a pin prick in the middle of your sleep. A night of sleep uninterrupted. Oh my.”
Cyclists completing the ride were invited back to an all day barbecue at NYFAC headquarters.
Hamburgers and hot dogs piled high in tray after tray kept a hungry, tired bunch going strong well into the afternoon.
NYFAC’s Toni Ciminio even got everybody up and going for a Zumba session while DJ’s from Satisfaction Guaranteed kept the crowd moving.
Unwinding after the ride we discovered that Toni Cimino may have a back up future as a Zumba instructor but we don’t suggest Joe Mure gives up his law practice just yet. Photo by Patricia Adams
“Obvously raising money is very important but what matters is that a great group of people, some on bikes, some on foot, and a tremendous crew of volunteers, got together and made this day happen. Success isn’t just measured in how much money is raised. It’s measured in how much awareness is raised as well,” Baumann said. “We raised a lot of money today but just look at all the people we brought together for this event. At the end of the day, that’s truly what counts.”
By Patricia Adams
Kellie Newman of Century 21 Amiable and Ann Marie Gurino at Rock-N-Roll rest stop in Broad Channel during their 10 mile segment- the half-loop. Photo by Phil Corso
P.O. Gary Maher is always smiling and forever on duty. We see this guy everywhere! Photo by Patricia Adams
