Being a Rider in The Ride For Missing Children is a challenging, rewarding and humbling experience.

This event is not about a bike ride. You will be a part of the biggest unified team in our area. Here, you are a family.

You’ll be riding 2 x 2 as a unified team of bicyclists for approximately 90 miles, escorted by the NYS Police and local law enforcement of the jurisdictions along our route. The Ride stops at schools along the way for educational rest stops. We engage with the students bringing our message of child safety and abduction prevention and there is often a presentation at each school. For others, we Ride by while the students cheers us on. Before the Ride we reach out to schools that may or may not be along the Ride route with educational and awareness programs. This way we reach hundreds of schools throughout the year, each year.

The bicycles are a tribute to Sara Ann Woods, who was walking her bike when she was abducted, and they are the vehicles we use to make our journey and carry our message along. They provide a visible means to spread our message about the plight of missing and exploited children, and the importance of child safety education. Our bicycles help us to communicate with those whom we ride by and to educate those that we visit.

To participate as a Rider, you must be willing and capable of making several commitments.

  • Participate in, train for, and ride in the Ride for Missing Children at a pace of 14 – 17 mph (on the flats)
  • Help NCMEC in our mission in promoting awareness of the plight of all missing and exploited children and the need for child safety and abduction prevention education
  • Support the missing child poster distribution program and mission of NCMEC-NY/Mohawk Valley by raising $500- the equivalent of 2,000 posters of missing children of missing children

To get ready for The Ride, preparations and training happen year round.

There are monthly meetings for Riders and Volunteers to understand the importance of why we ride, and conduct Ride business like having the right cycling apparel, learning how to prepare both mentally and physically, as well as garner fundraising tips.

You’ll attend training rides and become comfortable riding 2 x 2 and learning the rules of the road. Our Shepherds are experienced Riders that will help you along the way. But most importantly you will engage with other thoughtful, caring, people in our community who have joined together for a common cause.