Fun Rides & Kids Stuff

Supported by the Zuckerman Community Outreach Foundation

Editor Note:
The essays below are absolutely outstanding.  Because it was impossible to choose one essay over another, the winner was chosen in a random drawing.  Congratulations to all students who rode the 2011 El Tour for a friend, coach, group, teacher and beloved family member and took the time to share their experience and thoughts.

Mr. Paun, Wakefield Middle School teacher; Efren Cortes, student; Sally Valenzuela
and Sheila Foraker, Perimeter staff. Efren Cortes won a free bicycle for writing a
paragraph for Kids Riding For Those That Can’t. -Elaine Mariolle Photo

“My Dad because I have not seen him in for four years. I would ride for him because he wanted me to do something I enjoy life. He told me he would go with anything I do. That’s why I would work to ride for my Dad. I think of him when he told me once, “Nunca pares ole hacer algo que te gusta.” (“Never stop doing something you love.”)

-Efren Cortes, Age 11, Tucson, AZ (winner)

“My name is Seth Villa, I am 8 years old.  I live in Tucson, Arizona.  My mom could not join me because she died.  I miss her a lot.  So I rode for her.  I rode 6 miles last year I did 3.”

-Seth Villa, age 8, Tucson, AZ

“Mick McLeod.  Mickey is a friend of ours who got badly injured in a bike crash and is now a quadriplegic.  He was a bike mechanic.  He liked helping people with their bikes and he loved to ride.  My Nana and Mickey use to ride together often.  He is now in a wheelchair doing hand exercises.  In spite of his injury, he encourages me to keep riding.”

-Hunter Stutz, age 10, San Diego, CA

“Someone very special to me that cannot ride a bike is my grandma. My grandma has been handicapped since she was 50 years old. She was in a coma for about seven months and my grandpa-her husband had to take care of her and with a lot of care from him for 30 years, she eventually recovered, but not fully. To this day, she can barely walk without anyone helping her or standing with her. She has a cane and she can barely walk by herself even with the walker. Her cane is her only friend when no one is there with her. My grandma has recently suffered a huge loss. A couple months ago, my grandpa died and my entire family was very sad-especially my grandma. My grandma couldn’t live fending for herself so she moved in with our family. My brother, sister and I all wanted to make her feel at home and heal from the horrible loss that she suffered. I decided to play my flute for the church to make her feel proud and happy that she still had another family here for her. My brother started to play the piano because my mom convinced him to play for her and he almost immediately wanted to try it. My sister started playing the violin for her, but then started flute like me because it seemed easier for her to use and seemed to be our grandmother’s favorite instrument. However, I soon learned from my mom that you could ride for the ones who couldn’t. I began riding my bike when I was about 7 years old, but when I first entered middle school, I didn’t have time to ride my bike and I soon got lazy, but when my grandma came to move into our home, and after I learned that I could ride a bike for her, I started to ask my mom for a new bike that actually fit me, and soon, she agreed that I should start riding a bike again and he bought me a new bike. I started to ride again for her sake, and I began wishing that my grandma would ride a bike with me and my family. I hope that one day she will learn to ride a bike with me and the rest of my family.”

-Maggie Hong, age 13, Tucson, AZ

“Lahiza because she has always been there for me. She is my best friend.  We were friends since kindergarten.  We stopped until 5th grade because I am in a different school now.  I miss her and I wish I could see her again. BFF’S”

-Leslie Navarro, age 11, Tucson, AZ

“I want to do this for my Mom.  She inspired me to do the Jr. El Tour.  She was there for me in the El Tour de Tucson.”

-Edgar Caceres Macias, age 11, Tucson, AZ

“Ben A. When our classmates were in chapel, the school nurse rushed into the room she whispered “Ben had a seizure”.  Mrs. Burger (our principal) rushed out of the room and down the hall.  I got really worried.  10 min. later I heard the siren.  He had a tumor in his ear.  The next day he had surgery in his ear.  God bless him.  This year I am riding for Ben. “

-Ellie Black, age 9, Tucson, AZ

“ I am riding in El Tour de Tucson for all the foster children in Tucson.  There are about 2,500 foster children in Pima County.  My siblings and I created a program we are calling HEARTAZ 4 KIDZ where we are trying to collect toys for foster child for Christmas.  For more info about HEARTAZ 4 KIDZ, check out our video on YouTube also called HEARTAZ 4 KIDZ.  When foster children come into foster care, they usually don’t have anything but the clothes they are wearing.  It would be awesome to give a new bike to a child in foster care.”

-Caleb Graham, Age 13, Tucson, AZ

“I am riding in the El Tour for Toni Beth Stebbins.  Toni Beth Stebbins is my aunt who was adopted by my grandmother when she was just a baby.  Toni is visually impaired has, cerebral palsy, and sever lung disease.  Toni used to be able to walk but now it is too hard for her so she has to ride a wheelchair.  I am riding in her honor.  She can’t talk but she will be smiling and I know she will be proud of me.”

-Jonny Graham, Age 11, Tucson, AZ

“I rode for my sister, Renayla.  I want to teach her how to experience new things.  You should be brave and confident in yourself.  There is nothing worse than doing something and saying you can’t because you can do it.  I also ride for the animals because they can’t bike ride and I wish animals can experience it, too.”

-Ashlyn Macomber, Age 11, Tucson, AZ

“I would like to ride for my Tia who has died from cancer in 2006.  She was very nice and she cared about everybody.”

-Cesar Gonzalez, Age 11, Tucson, AZ

“I would like to ride for Dennis because he helped me to get ready for the El Tour de Tucson.  I like him because he is a good teacher.”

-Andres Alvarez, Age 6, Tucson, AZ

“Coach Dennis because he taught me how to use arm signals and shifting gears.  I learned how to ride for a team. Also, I would like to ride the 111  mile ride one day.”

-Adam Feldman, Age 12, Tucson, AZ

“Debbie  because I promised to pass all my classes.  Also, I promised to be good.”

-Flavio Estrella, Age 11, Tucson, AZ

“My special person is my friend and my Nana.  I rode in her honor because my Nana has diabetes and can still take care of me and three sisters because my Mom is always in the hospital.  My Nana likes to ride a bike but can’t because her feet hurt all the time.  My Nana talks me into getting into sports, she encourages me and tells me she is happy for me.  She tells me I can do any I want-not to be afraid to try.  I love my Nana and my Mom and my three sisters.”

-Jesus Leal, Age 9, Tucson, AZ

“I rode in the Tour of Tucson Fun Ride for my grandfather.  In fact, I rode his bike.  When my grandfather was in his 40’s-50”s he was very active.  He ran a marathon, competed in a triathlon, biked a lot and played tennis (he still plays tennis).  Then he got scoliosis and arthritis so he couldn’t run or bike any more.  So, he gave his bike to my Mom and she gave it to me.  And that is how I got my bike. Alexandra for my grandpa.”

-Alexandra Ralles Martinez, Age 12, Tucson, AZ

“Bikes because I now know how to shift gears and fix flat tires.”

-Ryan Feldman, Age 11, Tucson AZ

“I rode in honor of my cousin, uncle and my Dad.  My uncle and my Dad have holes in their feet and my cousin was born with a birth defect.  He cannot ride a bike because he can’t stretch his arms or legs.”

-Cesar Gonzalez, Age 11, Tucson, AZ

”I am going to write about my best friend Megan.  I am writing about her because she is going through some really tough times.  Her parents split up and she had to move far away and away from her friends.  When I was riding, I was thinking of her and that made me pedal faster.  I really feel bad for her so that is the reasons that I rode for Megan.”

-Ariana Deitch, Age 10, Tucson, AZ

“My name is Rashelle Outlaw and I am 8 years old.  I rode my bike in the tour in honor of my great grandpa and my great grandma.  My great grandpa passed away in October from brain cancer and I know that he would have loved to ride his bike with me.  My great grandma would have liked to be able to ride also, but she was in a wheelchair and couldn’t walk anymore. My great grandma has passed away since the ride and so this ride was for both of them. We have only been in AZ for 1 year because my daddy is in the military and I just got to spend time with my great grandpa and great grandma and they really enjoyed sports.  I rode very hard for them and I know that my great grandpa was watching me from heaven.  I miss them both very much and I was sad that they couldn’t be there.”

-Rashelle Outlaw, Age 8, Vail, AZ

”Hello, my name is Miya Luezano.  I am six years old and my special person I will be riding in honor of is my Tia Ody.  My Tia is very close to my heart.  She is kind, honest, loving and always caring, hardworking, respectful, outgoing and is always smiling.  I want her always to know how much she means and is valued in our family.  Last year in 2010, my Tia asked me if I would like to ride with her in El Tour de Tucson.  I thought I was too little at the time.  I was only 5 and didn’t have faith in myself that I could do it.  I said, ’No maybe next year, Tia.’  In June 2011, Tia Ody asked me again if I would ride with her in El Tour.  I said, ’Yes, I’d love to’. I practiced when I could.  Tia encouraged me to keep trying.  Riding in El Tour de Tucson with my Tia is an honor and the most exciting part is that this will be my first 3-mile ride ever and together we will finish.”

-Miya  Luevano, Age 6, Tucson, AZ

“My Dad because he had past away.  I joined this (Project LIFE) so I can be good.   My Dad helps me keep on going on and that is why I will ride for my Dad.

-Daniel Ortiz, Age 12 , Tucson, AZ

“This year I rode in El Tour de Tucson for Katie.  Katie was a happy 5th grader but like many of us she caught the flu.  Unfortunately, the virus attacked her heart causing her to have two heart attacks.  She fought for her life for several weeks.  For several months she was in the hospital, and then finally, returned home.  And just because of a virus Katie is now mentally and physically challenged.  Now, she is back in school but not able to ride a bike.  So, for Katie I rode El Tour de Tucson.”

-Athena Ralles, Age 10, Tucson, AZ

“The El Tour was great, but there (is) one thing missing, my grandmother was not there to watch me.  I rode the El Tour in honor of my grandmother who passed away on August 18, 2010.  My grandmother was very close to me and was a very important part of my life.  My grandmother always would encourage me to ride a bike because she had to escape Nazi Germany and never had the opportunity to ride a bike.  That is was led me to ride in the El Tour.

-Jade Skolnik, Age 12, Tucson, AZ

“I am riding for my Grandfather because he is a quadriplegic.  I call him Tata.”

-Christian Neave, age 8, Tucson, AZ