100 cyclists ride to raise awareness for missing children through Saratoga County

HALFMOON, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The 17th Annual Albany Ride for Missing Children was held throughout the day on Friday. The bike ride was 100-miles, and riders traveled through Saratoga County. The ride started and ended at the Impact Athletic Center, and rides visited seven schools during the daylong ride, reaching over 2,000 students with the message of how to stay safe both in everyday life and online.

Nearly 100 cyclists made up the fundraiser. The riders raised money for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), all of which goes towards continued investigation on active cases and providing safety education programs to schools, parents, and community organizations.

According to Karen Del Vecchio, a member of the planning committee for the event, the riders also stopped at the seven local elementary schools to interact with students and bring the message of child safety and abduction prevention. The schools involved in the ride were: Mechanicville, Chango, Stevens, Charlton Heights, Gordon Creek, Geyser Road, and Lake Ave.

"We will be showing kids that we are coming through with the bikes, and we have already been sending education into our school to teach them about staying safe online," Del Vecchio said.

In the weeks prior to the ride, the Albany Ride for Missing Children NCMEC educator, Dave DeCelle, conducted abduction prevention safety assemblies at each of the schools to teach students lifelong safety tactics.

Several of the bikers, like Matt Freer, an organizer of the ride, have a family member that is currently missing, and they look forward to the ride every year.

“My brother, Craig Freer, has been missing since 2004," Freer said. "It’s the 20 year anniversary of his disappearance. That’s what got me involved with this ride, but it’s so much more. This is just a part of my life now, and it’s something I look forward to every year, even though the reason for me being here in the cause is so heavy.”

Freer also said the that he feels lucky to have such a committed group of people in the community that come out in support.

“These folks coming out year after year to support us it’s a big-time commitment," Freer said. "It’s a big energy commitment. They’re just fantastic, so we’re so lucky, and we’re so lucky to have such good people in the community that are willing to do this.”

The fundraiser began with a ceremony to remember those like Craig who are currently missing, those who were found, and to keep awareness about missing children alive. Jene and Trisha Sena also shared their story after Trisha’s daughter, Charlotte, was abducted nearly a year ago.

"In our experience, we were so fortunate that our missing child came back," Sena said. "So many of the families that we've met and become friends with basically and that we're here today don't have that same result. It provides hope. Charlotte is a survivor. She is not a victim. She is a survivor, and I think it provides so much hope to all of these families. That someday the loved one will return.”

The ride included rest stops at Hillcrest Fire Department, Elks Lodge, Saratoga Sheriff’s Department, Saratoga State Park, and Clifton Commons. Those in the ride also participated in silent tributes at Saratoga Sheriff’s Department, North South Road, Kelley Farms Road, and Abele Memorial Park/Harris Road.