LEHIGHTON, Pa. — Sandro Micocci of Schnecksville was an active member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Center, where he supported his daughter, Isabella.
"We've always benefited from being members of the Eastern Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Center — from the medical clinic, the education advocacy, we've been an active part of that,” Micocci’s widow, Jessica, said.
- The third annual Revolutions for Inclusion Bike Ride raises money for the Easter Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Center
- Saturday, June 17, in Lehighton
- The third-annual fundraising event will memorialize Sandro Micocci
An active cyclist, Micocci, a father of two, was planning an inaugural bike ride fundraiser to benefit the center.
"He came up with the ride, which kind of just blended his two worlds: his love of cycling and the love of his daughter,” Jessica Micocci said.
“After he died, I joined the committee to kind of make sure that his vision was still at the forefront and now we are at the third-annual memorial bike ride,”Jessica Micocci
However, Micocci would not live to see the first event take place. He was tragically killed when he was struck by a car while out on a ride.
His widow has persevered and made sure his memory will be kept alive through the event.
“After he died, I joined the committee to kind of make sure that his vision was still at the forefront and now we are at the third-annual memorial bike ride,” she said.
Residents' concerns
The Revolutions for Inclusion Bike Ride will take off from Lehighton on Saturday, June 17. It’s a sporting event for people of all ages and abilities.
"We really want to offer something that is accessible for everybody, whatever their abilities are, to get out on the trail and to ride a bike," Eastern Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Center Executive Director Kerri DiDario said.
"A group like this is like endless smiles. So it's a cool thing to do."Lehighton Outdoor Center owner Jerry McAward
“On average, we have about 100 people that participate, and the nice thing about this event is that it's a mix between individuals with Down Syndrome who maybe need to come and try out one of those accessible bikes, but also the community coming out to support it.”
DiDario added that special bikes for those with disabilities will be available for rent at the Lehighton Outdoor Center, where the ride begins.
"A group like this is like endless smiles," Lehighton Outdoor Center owner Jerry McAward said. "So it's a cool thing to do.
"Our building is fully handicapped accessible. Big parking, flat area, wide, square kind of area, that we kind of give them almost two-thirds of maybe 3 acres, 4 acres of a parking lot."
"It's just another opportunity for us to present to the community what an individual with Down syndrome can do, which is everything that everyone else is doing."Kerri DiDario, Executive Director, Easter Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Center
Ride options include a one- or four-mile bike ride on the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Trail. New this year, the event will also offer a 40-mile ride for more advanced cyclists.
"It's just another opportunity for us to present to the community what an individual with Down syndrome can do, which is everything that everyone else is doing,” DiDario said.
Registration for the 40-mile ride is at 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. for the shorter rides. People can register onlineor the day of the event.
