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PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. David Brenner, executive director of The Dysautonomia Foundation, believes it is a no-brainer to hold the Tour De Foliage charity bicycle riding event in Pleasantville for the eighth straight year.
"We choose Pleasantville every year because of the beautiful and challenging terrain in Pleasantville and the surrounding areas," Brenner said.
The 8th annual Tour De Foliage will take place Sunday at 8:00 a.m at the Pace University campus in Pleasantville. One of the many charity events held by The Dysautonomia Foundation, Tour De Foliage brings in about $100,000 per year in support of the disease Familial Dysautonomia every year.
"Our riders have been fantastic in raising money for this event, we're extremely grateful to them," Brenner said.
Riders have the opportunity to participate in a 15-mile ride, or a 50-mile ride for the more ambitious. The rides travel through sections of Pleasantville, Mount Pleasant, Sleepy Hollow and Briarcliff Manor before returning back to Pace. After the race, riders will be served lunch.
The Dysautonomia Foundation, which is based in New York City, received great help from three local women on the foundation's committee organizing this event. Brenner said that Lisa Newman of Rye Brook, Melissa Slive of Chappaqua and Lisa Rudley of Briarcliff Manor have all made great efforts to plan and coordinate the eighth year of the tour's existence.
"They gave a tremendous effort to make this a success and without these three people this event could never take place," Brenner.
In addition to donations from riders, Brenner said that over 25 corporate and local businesses in the area have sponsored or donated food and other items. These businesses include Tarrytown's Cycles, Lange's Little Store in Chappaqua, Rye Beverage Mart, and many more.
Familial Dysautonomia is a rare genetic and neurological disease that affects the sensory and autonomic nervous systems which may include insensitivity to pain, poor growth, an absence of tears, along with unstable blood pressure and body temperature.
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