By Dan Israeli
Three years ago, three high school freshman decided to embark on a bike expedition, pedaling the length of the barrier island. What was supposed to be a leisurely ride with friends soon took on a much bigger purpose, when the students, Casey Kantor, Billy Papetti and Matt Demerest, decided to give the bike ride a cause.
They got in touch with Jim Conlon, founder of Citizens United to Remove Barriers, or CURB, an organization dedicated to building ramps and supplying wheelchairs for the disabled. Conlon himself spent 35 years in a wheelchair after an aneurysm left him a paraplegic.
In the weeks leading up to the original ride in 2004, Conlon died of complications of his condition. With 26 riders signed up for the event, the boys decided to turn the fund-raiser into a memorial as well, and honor the man who inspired them. "At the last minute, we got all the shirts embroidered in memory of Jim," recalled Papetti, who, along with Kantor and Demerest, graduated from Long Beach High School in June. Since the inaugural ride in 2004, the event has grown in numbers and awareness every year, doubling to 52 riders in 2005 and attracting more than 70 last year.
This time around, the three teenage organizers hope to draw more than 100 participants, which seems likely based on early registration. Kantor said it was important for him and his colleagues to make the event more widely known and to attract more members of the community.
"We realized early on how much effort we would have to put into it," Kantor said. "Our goal is to make it for everybody." To that end, this year the ride will be held on a weekend for the first time. In addition, its distance has been reduced from 25 miles to 10.
Jim Monahan has been CURB's president for the past 20 years. A paraplegic himself, Monahan was Conlon's good friend, and is happy to see his memory live on through the bike ride. "These kids are the best," he said of the event organizers. "What fine young men they are to do this. Jim was a true advocate for the disabled, and it's great to have an event that can honor him while also supporting the very cause he fought so hard for."
CURB supplies ramps, wheelchairs and other equipment with funds raised through donations year-round and at a booth at Long Beach's annual arts and crafts fair. Monahan credits retired New York City Fire Captain John McCarthy and Chief Eddie Cunningham for building a number of the ramps through the years.
To date, the bike ride has raised more than $8,500 for the cause. While Kantor, Papetti and Demerest will all be going off to college this fall, they intend to continue their efforts in the future. "I look at the registration forms and see 'fourth annual,' and I can honestly imagine seeing '25th annual' one day," Papetti said. "We want to keep it going forever."
A new bike will be raffled off at the event, and there will be pizza for all the participants at ride's end. In addition, a garden on Pennsylvania Avenue will be dedicated to Conlon's memory. Registration is $25 for adults and $20 for children under 17. Event-day registration is welcomed.
