Twelve West Windsor residents will be heading to Burlington, Vermont, in July when they participate in Anchor House’ 26th Annual Ride for Runaways. The one-week, 500-mile bicycle ride raises money for the New Jersey shelter that strives to alleviate the problems encountered by runaway, homeless, and abused youths. The riders return to Quakerbridge Mall on July 17.
Veteran riders include Russ Buckley, Bill Garrett, Nicole Johnson, Eileen Murphy, Henry Murphy, Jay Skidmore, and DJ Varner. First-timers include Fred Allen, Mike Heffler, Martin Lazarus, Ken Naglak, and Ron Weinberger. They are all in training and are all seeking sponsorship.
“I like to lead a balanced life of hard work and hard play,” says Allen. “I want to give back to the community.” A longtime long-distance runner, Allen turned to cycling when his knees started to give him trouble. “I was already familiar with Anchor House through my affiliation with at Beth El Synagogue, so I signed up to help out and have a little fun.”
Born in New York City, he was raised in Queens, New York. He graduated from Stonybrook University, and has a graduate degree from Harvard in geological sciences. He works in nanotechnology at Engelhard Corporation in Iselin.
His wife, Barbara, is a liaison for the auxiliary at the Medical Center of Princeton, where she is the bridge between the staff and the volunteers. “She is very supportive and enjoys seeing me do things with other guys,” says Allen. They have lived in the area for 17 years and in West Windsor for 10 years. Their children are Eve, 15, a student at High School South; and Emma, 13, a student at Grover Middle School.
“Riding a bike in New Jersey is not easy,” Allen says. “I prefer training in some of the incredible parks in the state.” The group’s first training ride took place on Sunday at Mercer County Park.
“It is wonderful being with other neighbors and helping the community,” he says. “All around, it’s a win-win situation.”
To sponsor the riders, visit www.anchorhouseride.com, or send donations to Anchor House Foundation, Box 2357, Trenton 08607. Call 609-278-9495 for information.
