Fighting children’s cancer one mile at a time

All net proceeds benefit Sunrise Day Camp

PO Box 196 * Northport * New York * 11768
631-261-1598 (phone and fax)
www.ConnorsArmy.org 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Amy Connor
631-261-1598
Amy@ConnorsArmy.org
Photos available

January 14, 2012

  Connor’s Army Prepares for Cross Country Bicycle Ride to Benefit Sunrise Day Camp for Children with Cancer

 How far would you go to help a child with cancer?  One mile?  Ten miles?  A hundred miles?  In 2012 Gene Connor will go 3,600 miles from San Diego to New York … on a bicycle.

On June 24, 2012 Gene will set out to cycle across America to raise money for Sunrise Day Camp, the only dedicated day camp in the nation for children with cancer and their siblings.  If all goes as planned, he will pull into the camp’s grounds in Wheatley Heights NY sixty-four days later on August 27.  Along the way, in addition to raising much needed funds, he’ll be spreading the word about the work Sunrise is doing.

“What they do at Sunrise is important not just to the children experiencing this terrible disease, but to their whole family,” said Gene, who works at Sunrise during the summer recess from his job as a teacher at Syosset High School in Syosset NY .  “Watching your child suffer is hard enough; but because of the financial burden of medical care, these parents often can’t give their other children the normal experiences of children.  Sunrise gives them this opportunity at a camp equipped to handle both the physical and emotional needs of all their children.”

“My biggest dream,” he continued, “is that I’ll inspire someone in one of the communities I pass through to start a program like Sunrise in their area.”

Sunrise (www.SunriseDayCamp.org) provides day camp to children battling cancer and their siblings free of charge, and also has programs during the non-summer months to help children and their families.  These programs include Sunrise on Wheels, an outreach program for children and families who are in the Outpatient Clinic of the Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology Clinic at Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York; Sunshine from Sunrise, which brings a group of camp staff and trained volunteers to visit Sunrise children who are hospitalized; once a month Sunrise Sundays, which allow the Sunrise campers and counselors as well as other children not served by Sunrise to connect during the year; and Sunrise Fun-days during school vacations for Sunrise campers and those thinking of joining the Sunrise family.

Five years ago Gene dealt with a family crisis as one after the other three of his sisters and his mother were all diagnosed with different cancers in a two year period.  An avid cyclist, Gene founded Connor’s Army (www.ConnorsArmy.org) and began raising money to help battle cancer.

His initial campaign, in which he pledged to ride at least 2,000 commuting miles, benefitted the American Cancer Society and raised nearly $12,000.  He followed that up by organizing a Victory Ride with other cyclists that raised an additional $2,400 in its first year.  His daughter Sarah, who was 8-years-old at the time, started Connor’s Army Junior and added $1,000 to that total by riding her new two-wheeler 50 miles.

In 2010 Gene began working at Sunrise and The Victory Ride became an annual benefit for the camp.  That year almost 50 riders raised more than $4,000 for Sunrise ’s day camp and year-round programs.  His goal for Connor’s Army XC, the cross country ride, is to raise $50,000 to help Sunrise continue to provide their services free of charge to children battling cancer.

“Because of all the special services required, running a camp like Sunrise is very expensive,” explains Gene.  “$50,000 will send six children to camp for a full summer.”

Gene’s family will serve as his support team and occasional riding partners.  His now 12-year-old daughter Sarah has her own goal for the ride.

“I’m hoping,” she said, “to log at least 150 miles; but probably more.”

And the 9-year-old twins, William and James?

“They’ll just be happy to be riding with their dad,” explained mom Amy, who will be driving the van that will serve as their base for the two month trek.  “The children know what he’s doing and why, and they want to help in any way they can.  We’re all very proud of him.”

Sponsors for Connor’s Army XC include the Smiles for Scott Foundation, Coinland.com, Now What Coaching, Adams Cyclery, Spectacular Smiles, Art Studio Eighty-Five, Bicycle Times Magazine, Loudon’s Minuteman Press, RJM Computer Services, Sooner Screen Printers, A.C.T., and Merelis Productions.  Sponsorships, both financial and in-kind, are still available for this high profile nationwide event.  Information about sponsorship levels is available on the Connor’s Army web-site.

Donations can be made through the Connor’s Army web-site (www.ConnorsArmy.org) as well as on the Sunrise Day Camp web-site (www.SunriseDayCamp.org) through their “Fundraising Events” link.  Checks made out to Sunrise Day Camp can also be mailed to Connor’s Army, PO Box 196 , Northport NY 11768 .