Mission Statement


SammyRides is a project sponsored by Team Will, a non-profit organization made up of cyclists who volunteer their time and resources to support research, and help families whose children are currently undergoing cancer treatment.

In 2009, two couples from Greater Sun City Center, Florida (GSCC) considered the possibility of bicycling 2,400 miles across the Southern Tier of the United States in order to raise awareness of the many thousands of children who are being diagnosed every day with some form of Pediatric Cancer. One of these couples was Lois and Mike Libenson, who lost their precious granddaughter, Sammy, at the age of 9 to Osteosarcoma. From their dreams, SammyRides was born. Volunteers from all walks of life who are now living in a 55 and older community in GSCC, Florida, have banded together and expanded those ideas into reality.

Our slogan has become "Grandparents Riding for the Health of Grandchildren". SammyRides' volunteers are all senior citizens with decades of life experiences. We are using our talents, energy, and determination to make a difference for our children and grandchildren. Through our volunteer efforts we will bring awareness and funds to the effort to eliminate pediatric cancer.

Vision


On March 2, 2011, our team of four riders whose average age is 70 will start their 2,400 mile bicycle journey across the southern tier of the United States. Their ride honors our hero, Sammy Rotman, and has brought the dreams of Michael and Lois to help other children who are now, or may in the future be faced with some form of pediatric cancer. Lois Libenson will be driving across the miles in the sag wagon and she will also serve as the group's EMT.

On May 1, 2011, our four man team will complete their ride in Greater Sun City Center, Florida, and join with all the residents of our community to celebrate their successful endeavor and the beginning of the year-long celebration of our city's 50th anniversary.

Why Team Will


After an extensive search of several weeks on the internet, and after eliminating other potential 501(c)3 organizations for a variety of reasons, SammyRides discovered Team Will in one of our internet searches. The website intrigued us as its mission dovetailed precisely with our objective of specifically helping children afflicted with pediatric cancer.

Ken Scarberry, Executive Director of Team Will, was contacted and a connection "larger than life" was made. Sometimes, in life, when we try to quantify an emotional connection, we find that the reason and the philosophy simply follow the chemistry. In speaking with Ken, listening to his passion and his commitment to serve the needs of children and families who struggle with pediatric cancer, we knew that we had found the right home for Sammyrides.

And, if that did not suffice, then the concurrent careful and detailed examination of the Team Will website, underscored by the presentation of little heroes....some of whom, like Samantha, succumbed to the disease; further reinforced our conviction that the people who make up the volunteer cadre of Team Will are compassionate, dedicated and committed to the struggle to eliminate pediatric cancer and ease the suffering of families and children who are battling this disease.

We at SammyRides thank God for the good fortune that led us to Team Will and we are comforted daily by knowing that its director and its board are committed with all of us at Sammyrides, to "Go the Distance".

Goals


  1. To bring national awareness to our nation, that there are thousands of children and their families dealing everyday with Pediatric Cancer.
  2. To visit hospitals along our route and let the children and families know that there is hope and that it is coming from seniors who care about them and about their future.
  3. To bring our message of volunteerism to universities in cities along the way.
  4. To highlight our community as senior citizens who are active and committed to make the world of our children and grandchildren a better place than the one we found.
  5. To demonstrate to the nation that many seniors are still vibrant, energetic, and productive; that we live energetically in the present and continue to plan for the future.