OSWEGO – ARISE revved up its annual Ride for Ramps program on Saturday under clear blue skies as around 70 motorcycles roared away on their annual goodwill trek.
A little divine intervention facilitated the birth of event.
“Pastor Vivian (Summerville) is the one that got me started in all of this,” Jason Noyes, who started the ride fundraiser nine years ago, told Oswego County Today. “I used to go to her church and one day she’s in there talking about how this program lost $5,000 in state funding. I said, ‘You know what? There’s a good thing to raise money for!’ And, it’s continued to grow each year. I really appreciate all the support we get from an awful lot of people and groups.”
Members of ARISE and dozens of volunteers hosted the fundraiser with assistance from Lighthouse Lanes and Oswego Speedway.
“It’s a great day and a great cause,” one rider told Oswego County Today and he prepared to head out for the Sandy Pond area.
“It is a beautiful day for a ride. Be safe,” Tonya Anderson, the chief executive officer of ARISE, told everyone.
The ramp program is a critical piece of what ARISE does, she said.
“I call it the gateway, because people come to ARISE wanting a ramp but they might have other needs as well and we’re able to connect with people like that,” she explained. “We support people so they can be independent in the community. What you (riders) are doing is so important; not just for the ramp program, but for all of what we do. I appreciate your support so much. Have a safe ride, come back and eat a lot of barbecue!”
The group also had a 5-K run at Oswego Speedway, Sabine Ingerson, of ARISE’s Oswego County offices, noted.
“I just want to thank you all for coming today. Enjoy your ride and be safe,” she told the large crowd gathered in the Lighthouse Lanes’ parking lot. “We have a great BBQ, 50-50s, some music, wonderful raffles, and more.”
“This is the only program in the state of New York like this,” said James Karasek of ARISE.
ARISE has installed many ramps to ensure more and more people do have access to home environment, Karasek said.
He told of a lady who looked out the window and watched as her ramp was being built.
“She watched and she watched. Then, we brought her out. I wish we could have videotaped it. The whole time down the ramp in her (wheel)chair, which was a long ramp, she was ‘Woooooo!'” he said, throwing both hands in the air for emphasis. “Those are moments we get to share with people every year – because of you. It’s amazing that you show up year after year to support us.”
The event helps support the program, raising funds for materials and more, he told the riders.
The ramp program isn’t just for the elderly.
In 2015, they installed two ramps for children who were under the age of 12.
“We build 30 ramps a year,” Karasek told Oswego County Today.
“On behalf of those of us who have ramps and will have ramps, I want to say thank you very much for your generosity,” Pat McMahon, ARISE’s welcoming ambassador for the event, told the riders. “It is greatly appreciated.”
“They are the heroes in our lives. Because without them, we can’t do what we do,” she added.
The one year Karasek did the blessing, people pointed out that he didn’t do a “motorcycle prayer,” he said.
And so, Pastor Summerville, of the Oswego County Comets Motorcycle Riding Club, delivered the blessing as the riders prepared to head out.
“Nine years of riding for ramps. This is absolutely marvelous,” she said. “We cannot outgive God. So when we’re humble and kind to other human beings, we’re going to receive it back in some way at some time.”
Seven years ago, Karasek said he cooked hot dogs and hamburgers for six riders.
“Look where we are today,” he told OCT. “This is just amazing. This is truly amazing. We appreciate the support of the riders and all the volunteers. I have a phenomenal group of people helping me. And, to the ones that have been here every year, God bless you!”
The squadron of volunteers included members of the Oswego Police and Fire departments.
Noyes thanked the nearly seven dozen motorcycle riders who showed up for Saturday’s event.
“Next year will be the 10 year anniversary. Hopefully everybody will be here and bring a couple of friends,” he said. “When we started we had six bikes and made $600 – not even enough to totally build one ramp. We started with just a handful of riders. Now, it’s grown into this chaos!” he said. “Thank you. Enjoy the ride and be safe.”
The ARISE ramp program was started several years ago at the First United Methodist Church in Oswego to take care of the needs of those that required a ramp for safe entry and exit from their home.
As the program grew, First United partnered with ARISE to meet the growing requests that were coming in.
Through the generosity of donors, ARISE funds the purchase of materials and then the process shifts back to the original start of the program.
The First United Methodist Church has turned part of the basement into a workshop that constructs the ramp sections.
More Volunteers Sought
“ARISE does the intake process, draws the plans and assembles the volunteers for the ramp build. The ramp then is assembled in schedule with the volunteers’ availability. We sometimes have company teams that come together for a volunteer day, a team building exercise, or just for the concept of returning to the community. We welcome each of these teams,” Karasek explained.
The Ride for Ramps is the annual fundraiser for the program.
The event offered a choice of a chicken BBQ or pulled pork. There were activities for the kids and adults.
For further information about ARISE, contact Karasek at 315-342-4088 x206 or [email protected]
About ARISE
ARISE is a non-profit Independent Living Center run by and for people with disabilities.
The organization has been providing advocacy and services since 1979.
Each year ARISE works with approximately 4,000 people of all ages who have all types of disabilities.
ARISE has offices in Onondaga, Oswego, Madison, Cayuga, and Seneca counties and operates ARISE at the Farm, a 77-acre recreational facility in Chittenango, and ARISE and Ski at Toggenburg Winter Sports Center in Fabius.
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It would have been nice to have taken pictures of the two bands that preformed. They went mentioned in the article so I’ll mention them. They were Acoustic Chaos and Crazy Neighbors
Thanks for the update.