For three decades, cyclists have gathered at Harry Tappen Beach, in Sea Cliff to ride the winding roads of Long Island’s North Shore while raising money for children in need.
The Nassau Bicycle Challenge will celebrate its 30th anniversary on June 28, bringing riders of all ages and skill levels together for a community event that has raised more than $325,000 for children’s charities since its founding in 1997. Proceeds benefit the Kiwanis Club of North Shore Foundation, a nonprofit that supports programs including the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, the Pediatric Lyme Disease Foundation, Kamp Kiwanis, Nosh Delivers and other youth-focused initiatives.
The ride began as a personal mission for Thomas DeStio, a Sea Cliff resident and longtime Kiwanis member. His son, Tommy, was born prematurely in 1996 with serious health complications, and spent time in the critical care unit at what is now the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center in New Hyde Park.
“He was very premature, and the kid was really in bad shape,” DeStio recalled. “The only way I could come up with something to help was to create the bike ride.”
An avid long-distance cyclist who had taken part in endurance rides across the country, DeStio saw an opportunity to combine his passion for the sport with a desire to give back.
“I kind of put two and two together,” he said. “Kiwanis was a community-minded organization, and they gave me a tool to possibly put together a bike ride to raise money to give to the hospital.”
Today, 36-year-old Tommy DeStio is a successful marketing executive, a husband and a father-to-be. His journey from medically fragile infant to thriving adult remains a source of inspiration for his father, and for the event he created.
The ride, formerly known as the Nassau-to-Suffolk Bicycle Challenge, now focuses exclusively on Nassau County. Riders can choose between a 25-mile route or a more demanding one that’s 10 miles longer. Both begin at the Harry Tappen Beach Boat Basin and wind through some of Long Island’s most scenic North Shore communities, including Locust Valley and Bayville, offering waterfront views and the Gold Coast’s rolling landscapes.
“It’s not a race,” Leslie Kle, treasurer of North Shore Kiwanis and one of the event organizers, said. “We have all levels of riders. It’s all fun.”
Kle said that many participants return year after year, drawn by the event’s welcoming atmosphere and charitable mission. “We’ve had riders that have come, if not all of the 29 years, then very many of those years,” she said. “They would be upset to see it go. So we have a lot of loyal riders who continue to come back year after year.”
Organizing the ride is a months-long effort. Planning begins in February, with permit applications, followed by sponsorship outreach, publicity campaigns and route preparation. Volunteers distribute fliers to bicycle shops, post signs throughout the area and coordinate food, refreshments and rider support.
The event includes rest stops in Bayville and Locust Valley stocked with water, sports drinks, fruit and snacks. Organizers also provide cue sheets, digital maps and extensive route markings to ensure that riders stay on course.
“One of the things that we kind of pride ourselves on is we have every turn marked on the ride,” Kle said. “When they come back, many of them say it’s the best-marked ride that they’re ever on.”
More than 20 volunteers help manage registration, staff rest stops and support riders throughout the day. Family members and members of North Shore Kiwanis’s Young Professionals group also pitch in.
“We cheer every rider when they come in, and we celebrate them and congratulate them,” Kle said. “We have raffles. We try to make it a little bit more of a party atmosphere.”
Kiwanis President Chris Salmon said the challenge has become known for its camaraderie as much as its fundraising. “Rain or shine, a lot of people attend,” Salmon said. “There’s great fun and enjoyment. It’s a very festive atmosphere.”
Salmon emphasized that every dollar raised supports charitable causes. The club foundation also funds programs such as Klothes 4 Kids, which provides back-to-school clothing for children in need, scholarships; community food assistance efforts; and support for local families facing hardships.
For DeStio, the ride’s longevity is proof that a simple idea can have a lasting impact. “It takes months to put that together,” he said. “But everything led to helping out the hospital. This was a way we could give back.”
Online registration is $50 through June 23, with walk-in registration available on the day of the ride for $60. Additional information is available at n2nbc.org.
