On Saturday, April 9, at 5 p.m. the Sandy Hook Ride on Washington will make its one New Jersey stop on its 400-mile bicycle ride from Newtown, Connecticut, to the nation’s capital to advocate for common-sense gun legislation.
The 26 riders — representing the 26 staffers and children who died in a mass shooting at Sandy Hook School on Dec. 14, 2012 — will arrive to a welcome rally at Morristown’s Town Hall by gun violence prevention organizations, advocates and supporters. The event is open to the public and families are encouraged to attend.
Following at 7 p.m. at Hyatt Morristown, Team 26 will be the guests at a fundraising dinner hosted by Mayor Timothy P. Dougherty. The New Jersey Youth Chorus will perform.
Jed Kornbluh of Hopewell is one of the riders who is participating. He said he accepted an invitation to join the ride because “I believe that logical and thoughtful gun safety legislation is the responsibility of a civilized society and it is our duty to protect our friends, loved ones and the community at large from the myriad gun violence that plagues our country.”
Proceeds benefit Mary’s Fund, in memory of Mary Sherlach, who was the school psychologist at the Sandy Hook School and was mother of South Jersey resident and teacher Maura Sherlach. Mary’s Fund supports programs that aid the mental and social wellness of children and adolescents, just as Mary Sherlach did in her day-to-day life.
Tickets are $100. Register at www.shride.eventbrite.com.
On Sunday, April 10, at 8:30 a.m. supporters will gather for a send-off of Team 26 from the Speedwell Avenue doors of the Hyatt. Area bicyclists are invited to follow behind the 26 green-clad cyclists for as long as they are able as the Sandy Hook Ride on Washington continues on to Philadelphia.
Local event organizer and former Town Council President Rebecca Feldman says, “There should be nothing political or partisan about protecting all our children, all our communities, from gun violence. The Newtown school shooting awakened my conscience but it did not move Congress to stop playing politics with all our children’s’ lives.”
Ms. Feldman expressed her disappointment in Congress, pointing out, “If they reflected the will of the overwhelming majority us, every member of New Jersey’s Congressional delegation would support universal background checks, which would stem the flow of illegal guns into New Jersey.”
