I just learned that Jimmy Zell, the ski champion we met on our way through Jackson Hole, passed away on Sunday. I shall not forget him, and send my condolences to his family and friends.
Saul
Charlie Rose interviewed Tony some three weeks before his death. The interview aired on Monday night, and is available online here.
Tony passed away yesterday, on Friday August 6th, at his home in New York City. You can see here my eulogy for him in tomorrow’s edition of The Observer.
His family (and Tony) request that any donations be directed to the Move For ALS campaign. Donations can be made by clicking the “Make A Donation” link on the right of your screen, or by visiting the Donations page on the website.
Here are the photos from our final ride on to Brighton Beach. Thank you to all who came and to Micah Shmidt for taking the photos.
Yesterday we were invited by Debbie Wilpon to ride on to the field at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets, just before the start of the Mets’ game VS the St Louis Cardinals. We rode around the outer perimeter and on to the homeplate, where we were met by Valerie and Meredith Estess (Co-Founders of Project A.L.S.), Jennifer Homans (Tony Judt’s wife), Daniel and Nicholas Judt and a large cardboard cheque for $71,000. Footage from the journey was projected onto the Giant Screens, including a large “Text ALS to 27722″ graphic: It was very special ending to a very special campaign – and you can see here the piece featured on SNY.
With that, we came off the field, got changed, took our seats and reclined for the game, comfortable in the thought that we had completed the first chapter of this journey. To be sure, Move For ALS will have a life beyond Citi Field: I hope it continues to be embraced by our friends at Project A.L.S. and the wider ALS and stem cell research communities. The ultimate goal remains the same: to find treatments and a cure for ALS. For this to happen we need money – stem cell research is expensive – but, above all, we need a concerted effort on the part of individuals, institutions and governments to put their brains, their time and their energies behind this fight. There is no reason why we should not expect our business and political leaders to join us. Like any movement, we need momentum and action: the more people on board and the more noise we make, the closer we will come to beating ALS. It is that simple.
It was always my intention to use this campaign not just to draw people’s attention to ALS, but to make them angry. This disease is disgusting. We should be angry that it exists, that it is still so misunderstood, and that not more is done at higher levels to change this. All across America we met people who had a vague understanding of ALS, but only when I showed them the videos and explained just what this disease does, physically and emotionally, could you see a real change in their expression. It is my conviction that there is no other modern disease on Earth that causes the casual observer’s jaw to drop in quite the same way that ALS does.
Finally, a personal note. It has brought me an enormous amount of pride to have done something that in some small way has softened the blow of ALS for Tony and the Judts. They are a fine family; spirited, kind-hearted, strong and determined. In spite of all the mess created by ALS, Tony, Jenny, Daniel and Nicholas remain completely themselves; indeed, it is my own feeling that this experience will foster in the boys (13 and 15) a determination of spirit that will stand them in good stead throughout their adult lives. It has really been my honour to have done this in their name, and whatever happens in my future, I will always look back upon this journey as a defining moment and a wonderful experience. I am so pleased I was able to do it.
Thank you, too, to Valerie and Meredith and our supporters at Project A.L.S., to the Wilpon family, and to all of our loyal followers. We have followed every comment and every Facebook post, and they have been a joy to read.
Please Keep Moving!
Saul x
After 3,600 miles, sixteen tyre tubes, four tyres, two months and one hospital visit, we have finally reached The Atlantic. The salt water has never tasted so sweet.
On the day we were joined on our bikes by Tony’s boys Daniel and Nicholas, Anatole (Daniel’s friend), and my good friend Neil. We rode down the Hudson, across Manhattan, over the Williamsburgh Bridge, through the heart of Brooklyn and on to the Atlantic coastline at Brighton Beach. We arrived around 5pm – an hour later than scheduled thanks to two more flat tyres, one occurring just yards from the sea. Nothing worthwhile comes easy in this world.
We were met at Brigthon Beach by a loyal band of merry men and women, including another former student of Tony’s who had read about us, a photographer and a cameraman from SNY (watch tonight at 10pm), a lady whose husband had recently passed away from ALS, and many others. Thank you to all who braved the wind and rain to be there.
Alas, there was just one disappointment. The battery in the microphone decided to pack in, rendering silent 95% of the footage captured by Charlie and Alex. Just imagine that yesterday was the 1950s and that I am Charlie Chaplain, and you shouldn’t have a problem.
One more not-so-well-kept surprise remains for this chapter of the Move For ALS campaign. Watch SNY tonight at 10pm EST, and if you’re feeling spontaneous, buy a ticket for The Mets VS The Cardinals tomorrow night at Citi Field.
The day (and, I suppose, the journey) ended last night at Tony’s apartment, where the whole family greeted us and made a toast. I was so pleased to see Tony. ALS has rendered him too dependent on expensive machinery to have risked traveling out to Brighton Beach to meet us, but he remains the same: active, determined, vocal, busy. It is the simple truth that I (we) could not have done this without him. At every stage he has dipped his hand in the stream and guided us to wherever we needed to be. Auggie and I both owe him a great debt of gratitude.
Saul x
For all those planning to join us for the Finale tomorrow, please note that for reasons of safety we have amended the cycling route through the city slightly. The difference affects the people planning to meet us at Meeting Point C – the final stop before arriving in Brighton Beach. Instead of stopping in front of the Fontbonne Hall on Shore Road, we are instead going to stop at Bensonhurt Park at approximately 3pm. The exact meeting point will be on the corner of Bay Parkway and Shore Parkway South, just in front of Wendy’s. The address is 1602 Shore Parkway. Or see here on Google Maps.
Bensonhurt Park is about 3.5 miles out of the final destination meeting point on the boardwalk at Brighton Beach – ideal for runners. The nearest subway to Bensonhurst Park is Bay Parkway on the D train.
Also note that the nearest subway to the Brighton Beach final destination point is Brighton Beach on the B train or Ocean Parkway on the Q train. From either of these stations you walk towards the sea front; when you get to the boardwalk you should take a right if coming from Brighton Beach station, or a left if coming from Ocean Parkway. There is a tall concrete arch (or gazebo) on the boardwalk in between Ocean Parkway and Coney Island Avenue, just in front of Volna and Tatiana Grill restaurants and opposite a parking lot on the corner of Brightwater and Brighton 4th. The arch is large and you should see people congregating underneath it.
We advise people planning to come to Brighton Beach to arrive there around 3.30pm. There are plenty of sea-front restaurants and Russian delights to savour. We plan to arrive at or shortly after 4pm, dismount our bikes and run into the sea. G-d knows, I could do with a swim.
The champagne is on ice and Louis XIV is back up on his feet. Join the army. Move For ALS. Tomorrow, Brighton Beach, 4pm.
Saulx
For full information on the plans tomorrow, click here.
3 days to Brighton Beach. Here are the plans for Sunday. Please join us and tell your friends!
On Sunday come out and show your support for Project A.L.S. and Tony Judt, the inspirational NYU Professor and Historian. America has Moved For ALS: now it’s over to you, New York!
(July 22nd, 2010) On Sunday July 25th, Saul Goldberg and Augustin Quancard will complete a 2-month long, coast-to-coast cycle ride across the United States. The ride forms part of Move For ALS, a global ALS-awareness and fundraising campaign inspired by historian, author and Goldberg’s former professor, Tony Judt. To date, Move For ALS has raised nearly $70,000 for Project A.L.S., the non-profit organization that funds and conducts cutting-edge scientific research seeking a cure for ALS, the fatal neurodegenerative disease.
Beginning the ride in the Pacific coastal town of Astoria, Oregon on May 25th, Goldberg and Quancard have ridden over mountains, across lakes and through deserts. On the road they have brought hope to individuals and families affected by ALS. They have been joined by cyclists and hosted by spirited people all across the country – and now they are coming home. America has Moved For ALS: now it’s over to New York.
To bring the curtain down and to show support for the campaign and for Tony Judt, Goldberg and Quancard invite people to join them as they pedal through New York City and on to Brighton Beach on Sunday, July 25th. Cyclists, long-distance runners, disabled athletes and former students of Judt’s are especially welcome.
On the Sunday there will be three meeting points where participants may meet Goldberg and Quancard on their way through New York City. The precise locations, times and distances are listed below. Please be sure to bring adequate supplies of water and food!
Meeting Point A: Project A.L.S. laboratory, 11.30am
Project A.L.S. stem cell research laboratory
3960 Broadway, Manhattan
Nearest Subway: 168th Street (1, A and C trains)
Approximately 30 miles from Brighton Beach
Meeting Point B: Underneath the Williamsburg Bridge, 2pm
Underneath the Williamsburg Bridge
Kent Avenue, Brooklyn
Nearest Subway: Marcy Avenue (J, M and Z trains)
Approx. 15 miles from Brighton Beach
Meeting Point C: In Front of The Fontbonne Hall, 3pm
In Front of The Fontbonne Hall
Shore Road, Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn
Nearest Subway: 95th Street – Bay Ridge (R train)
Approx. 5 miles away from Brighton Beach
Atlantic Coast Arrival: Brighton Beach, 4pm
Brighton Beach Boardwalk in between Ocean Parkway and Coney Island Avenue
On the boardwalk there is a large concrete arch just in front of the “Volna” and “Tatiana Grill” restaurants. The arch is opposite a parking lot located on the corner of Brightwater and Brighton 4th. The easiest approach is via Ocean Parkway or Coney Island Avenue. The concrete arch is on the boardwalk in between these two access points.
For more information on Move For ALS, and to make a donation, please visit: www.MoveForALS.com, or contact Saul Goldberg at saul@moveforals.com
[Disclaimer: Anyone joining the "Move For ALS - Grand Finale" event does so at their own risk and agrees to hold harmless Move For ALS and its affiliate Project A.L.S. for any accident, injury or harm to their person or property resulting from participating in this event. Move For ALS and its affiliate Project A.L.S. take no responsibility for any injury, illness or harm to person or property resulting from participating in this event. All participants should have medical clearance from their physicians and be healthy and able to participate in such a vigorous undertaking. Move For ALS and its affiliate Project A.L.S. take no responsibility for the safety and well-being of any participants in this event.]
Charlie and Alex Scharfman flew out to meet us in Idaho and traveled with us for a week as we pedaled through the Idaho desert, over the Teton pass and on to the Wyoming cowboy country. They shot hundreds of hours of footage for a documentary they are making on the Move For ALS campaign. Here is the trailer: a great and lasting tribute to this cause. Thank you very much, Charlie and Alex, for donating your services, and thanks too to my other old friend, Charlie Fink, for allowing us to use his song as the soundtrack. Please share this!
We spent our final weekend on The Delaware River in the small and peaceful village of Lackawaxen, right on the border of Pennsylvania and New York State. We arrived on The Delaware after an increasingly undulating ride through the Poconos Mountains on Route 6. The hills on the eastern side of America are quite different from the ones we rode over in Oregon and Wyoming. The latter were generally long and meandering but not excessively steep; you could be climbing for 10, 20 or even 30 miles, but the grades were gradual enough to allow you to settle in to the hill. Here in The Poconos the hills are shorter, sharper, straighter – and steeper.
On Thursday I entered a route into Google Maps from Tunkhannock to Scranton. Google Maps usually offers two different traveling options: driving and walking. The driving option typically follows interstates and major roads, so on this occasion I followed the walking route. What I did not realise was that this route would take me on dirt tracks, across tractor paths and through apple farms. No trouble, I thought: this bike was made for the off-road and I’ve always been an apple man.
Trouble. Big, steep, sweaty trouble. The dirt track on which I was skidding along, which had hitherto been hilly but not insurmountably so, suddenly surged upwards. It was like being on a slow-motion rollercoaster going in the wrong direction: the grade was so steep that I was literally having to pump my legs at their fullest capacity and could not let up. I knew that if I let off so much as 10% of the full muscle power – which is normally necessitated by the build-up of lactic acid in the muscles – I would fall off the bike, look ridiculous and potentially get run over by a tractor or a rolling apple. So I just pumped away, sweat pouring off my brow and down my chest, and somehow got myself over the hump.
Looking back over what I had just climbed, it occurred to me that this was really no hill at all, but a bloody great cliff. I literally climbed up a short cliff, and I’m proud of it.
5 days to Brighton Beach. What an epic journey. The Finale promises the same. Please join us!
Saul x
