Way to Go! Moriches third-grader rides bike to benefit 9/11 charity
Ricky Taylor, seen here with his mother, Desiree, raised $4,000 through a 20-mile bike ride to benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. He is pictured here with his mother, Desiree. Credit: Taylor Family
A Moriches student recently raised $4,300, which was later tripled by an anonymous donor, by biking 20 miles in honor of the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
Ricky Taylor, a third-grader at Moriches Elementary School, raised the funds to benefit Tunnel to Towers Foundation during a charity bike ride at the Grumman Memorial Park in Calverton. The fundraiser featured riders from the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association and the Suffolk County Probation Officers Association.
The determined third-grader even refused to let a bloodied leg end his mission when crashed on his bike at the 14.5-mile mark.
"There was a hill with a turn at the end of it, and I went down full speed into a chain-link fence and a thorn bush," said Ricky, 8.
During the fundraiser, Ricky also encouraged his fellow participants to finish their rides "like the firemen and police finished their job on 9/11," according to his father, Nick.
Ricky was honored for his generous efforts last month with a proclamation from the Town of Brookhaven.
"We can all learn a lot from young Ricky Taylor," Brookhaven Councilman Dan Panico said. "His patriotism and drive to make a difference are positive qualities for people, whether you are 7 or 97 years old."
Ricky also has a purple belt in karate and plays Little League Baseball through the Mastic Sports Club.
— MICHAEL R. EBERT
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
