In two weeks we’re sending our President, Todd Greene on a 20-day, 1,500-mile bike ride from New York City to Joplin.
Huh?! What?! Why?!
Want to know more? Below you can read the official press release in conjunction with the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. You can help by donating here: CycleforJoplin.com/donate
From Central Park to Cunningham Park is 1,500 miles through 7 states and tornado alley.
TO HONOR THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE JOPLIN, MO. TORNADO, DUO TO CYCLE FROM NYC TO JOPLIN TO RAISE FUNDS FOR STORM SHELTERS
The 20 Day Ride Will Cover 1,500 Miles, Seven States, and Run Directly Through Tornado Alley
Joplin, Mo., April 15, 2012 – On Sunday, April 29, Todd Greene and David duCille will depart from Manhattan’s Central Park for a 1,500 mile, 20-day bike ride to raise funds for Joplin, Mo., the town devastated a year ago when a tornado ripped through the community. Coinciding with the first anniversary of the natural disaster, the duo plan to raise $50,000 to build an additional 20 storm shelters in the town.
Cycle for Joplin
Greene, a Joplin native, moved back to Joplin after living in New York for over decade. An avid athlete, he struck up a friendship with duCille in New York, where the gentlemen became baseball teammates and bicycling partners. duCille himself runs a personal training business in Manhattan.
“Right after the tornado hit, the idea to ride my bike from New York to Joplin to raise awareness for my hometown was stuck in my head. It was at a time of deep contemplation for me. I knew I had to do something and this seemed like a natural idea,” said Greene, who co-founded The Joplin Expats, an organization that aggregates the philanthropic passions of a global Joplinite network.
Both wanted to jump on their bikes immediately but Greene and duCille delayed the trip in “anticipation of a time when Joplin still needed help, but attention for the town may have waned,” said Greene.
The ride will take an average of eight hours each day for 20 days, and will cover 1,500 miles—much of it straight through Tornado Alley in the peak of tornado season. The duo will chronicle their trip at cycleforjoplin.com.
All money raised during the ride will support the building of 20 new storm shelters in the Joplin area.
“Todd would tell me how the children in Joplin were terrified at weather reports of rain or the simple sound of heavy wind blowing,” said duCille. “If you’d have told me a few years ago that I’d be cycling to some small town in Southwest Missouri, I’d have said you were crazy. But I did choose my personal training career to help people, and by helping Todd, and families in his home town, this is the epitome of altruism.”
The Joplin Expats is coordinating Cycle for Joplin, and The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation is managing the donations. You can follow the ride and donate to the cause at cycleforjoplin.com.
“It is unbelievable for our donors and sponsors to provide peace of mind and 
security to the children of Joplin in this way,” said Tonya Sprenkle, Vice President of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. “But what is symbolic is this ride telling the nation that Joplin is back, ready for business, and immeasurably thankful for its 120,000+ volunteers from all over the country.”
Todd adds, “No matter where you’re from, try to visit our great town. If you volunteered before: come see the progress you helped make. If you lived here in the past: come reunite with your roots. If you’re just driving through historic Route 66 or I-44 on your way to St. Louis or Tulsa, stop in and have a bite to eat. And if you’re just kind of crazy, hop on your bike and cycle from halfway across the country!”
Follow the ride, donate or sponsor by visiting CycleforJoplin.com.
So show up this afternoon and bid away! All your winning bids are tax deductible, and 100% will go directly to 
