Ride-4-Erik

The Ride-4-Erik started as a motorcycle run fundraiser that, in its few years of existence, has grown into SO much more. The Ride-4-Erik has become a community EVENT that includes; food, music, activities (children and adults), auctions, vendors, etc. In other words, you don’t need to ride a motorcycle to enjoy the event.

The Ride was initially started three years ago by Susie Gherardi in order to help raise funds for a local family in an effort to help them with their medical expenses that had built up over the past several years.

The family is that of Erik and Norma Zimmerman of Ringoes, NJ (East Amwell Township). Their son Erik Jr. was diagnosed in November of 1992 (at the age of 17 months) with medulloblastoma, a cancer of the brain and spine. On June 7th of this year (2008), Erik Jr. will be 17, and is considered cured; however, he continues to deal with many of the long term affects from the very treatment that saved his life. For additional details on the trials and tribulations that this young man continues to face, please click here.

“There are no words to express what it is like to watch your child go through treatment for cancer. We are still losing so many children to this horrible disease. It is our goal to raise awareness and money for pediatric cancer research with ride4erik” says Norma Zimmerman.

The Zimmerman family had to deal with the emotional turmoil of learning that their 17 month old child had a life threatening cancer as well as face years of doctors, treatments, and medical expenses. Through all of these emotionally and financially trying times, the Zimmerman family focused on doing everything could to give back by becoming long time organizers and supporters of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Now, the Zimmerman’s are fulfilling their long time hearfelt dream by bringing the Ride4Erik to the next level, a full charitable non-profit organization, all in an effort to help raise money and awareness for childhood cancer research as well as help local families with a newly diagnosed child (two families have been helped so far).

Mrs. Zimmerman pleads, “Please support us in trying to make a difference in the lives of kids with cancer…this is a heartfelt dream of mine and I need your help to make this possible.”

No one should EVER hear the words, “your child has cancer…”