Bolton Hill had a strong showing in this year’s Ride for the Feast (RFTF) on May 13-14. Bolton Hillers participating in this annual fundraiser for Moveable Feast are members of Rebels With a Cause, the largest RFTF team with 77 registered riders.
The Ride’s official tag line is “2 Days. 140 Miles. 1 Cause.” That may have described the purpose of the event, but doesn’t come close to capturing the conditions on Day 1. During their 100-mile trek from Ocean City to Easton, riders faced torrential rains, 35 mph gusts and temperatures in the low 50s.
More than a few registered riders opted out due to the weather, while some of those who persevered were literally blown off their bikes. Nevertheless, over 300 riders rose to the challenge, supporting each other with camaraderie and much laughter through the long day. The hearty cheers and smiles from supporters at their six stops made the going easier.
Day 2 (Mother’s Day) erased almost all of the misery from the previous day. The weather was perfect, energy was high, and the riders completed the last 40 miles from Easton to Baltimore city on the Baltimore & Annapolis trail.
After their triumphant entrance into the city, riders rode en masse through Baltimore to a mimosa- and beer-fueled party at the Maryland Science Center. From there, they completed the final leg with a police escort to the Moveable Feast offices in East Baltimore.
The event closed with speeches from the RFTF organizers, Moveable Feast clients, and Bolton Hill neighbor Peter Jackson, a Moveable Feast board member.
The Rebels with a Cause team led donations for the event, collecting over $150,000—enough to provide one hundred Moveable Feast clients with home-delivered, nutritious meals for an entire year. The event as a whole is expected to meet this year’s goal of $800,000.The Rebels honored team member Joe Palumbo, who led the team in donations and team spirit, with a special Rebels’ Pink Pony jersey.
Rider Kendra Parlock said, “As a first time rider, I knew the ride would be tough and to prepare for the worst. What I didn’t expect was the overwhelming support from friends, family and neighbors for this amazing cause. I am so proud of what we accomplished and I can’t wait to do it again!”
She also offered an alternative tag line for next year: “The Toughest Thing You’ll Do and Love.”
Bolton Hill Rebels included Steve Marker, Joe Palumbo, Andrew Parlock, Kendra Parlock, Michael Booth, Kristine Smets, Donna Hager, Debi Celnik, Kristin Seeberger, Abby Ferretti, and Peter Jackson. Neighbors Jon Kaplan and Susan Lawrence also served as guest bartenders at the ride’s finish on Sunday.
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