September 11, 2008

By Rick Winterson

Sr. Maryadele, the Director of the Laboure Center, has assembled a team of four for her third Rodman “Ride for Kids”.  She, Tiziana Dearing, Amy Schoemaker, and Heather Ho will bicycle 25 miles.  Their goal this year:  $15,000, so the team needs your help.  John Rodman and his donors underwrite all expenses involved in the “Ride for Kids”, which means that 100% of every dollar you pledge will go to Laboure youth programs.

The Rodman “Ride for Kids” is an umbrella matching gift charity.  It raises funds for at-risk youth programs in Massachusetts.  So far, it has distributed more than $30 million to non-profit programs that benefit these young people.

Under the Rodman “umbrella” concept, a local agency can join the Rodman “Ride for Kids” to benefit their own programs.  Don Rodman of Rodman Ford in Foxboro, working with a number of donors as well as his own money, pays all of the “Ride for Kids” expenses.  As a result, every dollar raised by the bicyclists goes back to their own agencies.

For the past two years, Sr. Maryadele, who is the Director of the Laboure Center, has pedaled 25 miles to raise funds for two key Laboure programs – YTY (Youth Teaching Youth) and TEAM (Together Engaging Adolescents in Mentoring).  She did this alone in the past, raising $5,000 and $6,000 in ’06 and ’07, respectively.  She even obtained a free three-speed, Ross European bicycle, courtesy of South Boston’s Emerson Street bicycle man, Charlie Federico.

Those of you who know Sr. Maryadele won’t be surprised to hear that she is upping her sights significantly for this year’s Rodman “Ride for Kids”, which takes place on Saturday, September 27, 2008.  She has assembled a team of four riders, who call themselves “The Good Sisters of Laboure”.

In addition to Sr. Maryadele herself, the four-person team includes Heather Ho, YTY Program Coordinator, and Amy Schoemaker, YTY Curriculum Director and TEAM mentor.  Rounding out the team is Tiziana Dearing.  She assumed the position of President of Catholic Charities last year.  Dearing is a hard-working, hands-on executive, who firmly believes in getting out to support Catholic Charities and Laboure in the most direct way possible.

With her team behind her, Sr. Maryadele has upped her 2008 goal to $15,000 – two-and-a-half times the amount raised in 2007.  That’s a very significant increase, so Team Laboure – “the Good Sisters of Laboure” - needs your assistance.  Give Laboure a call at (617)268-9670 and ask for Sr. Maryadele Robinson.  Or you can log onto Maryadele_Robinson@ccab.org   Every dollar of your donation or pledge will end up in the YTY and TEAM programs for young people.

Even though this isn’t a race, it’s not an easy ride.  By itself, 25 miles on the flat is a long way to pedal; the Rodman “Ride for Kids” route is hilly and full of curves.  To prepare herself, Sr. Maryadele arises four mornings a week and bicycles 10 miles or more.  She also takes a spinning class at the “L” three times a week.  After last year’s “Ride”, she claimed, “There’s nothing like the exhilaration of crossing that finish line in good shape.”

Amy Schoemaker is from South Boston and teaches English at Latin Academy.  She says, “I’m all set to go.  And it’s for the kids.”  Teammate Heather Ho says, “When Sister asked me to take part, I wasn’t sure I could do it, but it’s an example of what we tell the kids about trying to do things.  Many of the kids themselves have contributed a dollar or two to the Ride.”

Ride, Sisters, Ride!