SammyRides in the News



Sun City retirees bicycle 2,400 miles to raise money for pediatric cancer research

St. Petersburg Times
May 6, 2011
As family, friends and neighbors looked on, the bike riders pedaled into Sun City Center. Read full article >>

Grandparents raise more than $100,000 biking across country

Bay News 9
May 3, 2011
Two months ago a group of grandparents left on a two-and-a-half month bicycle journey across the country. Read full article >>

On the road with SammyRides

The Sun
April 27, 2011
This is the last installment of updates on the SammyRides quartet. . .who started pedaling from Sun City, AZ back to Sun City Center. Read full article >>

On the road with SammyRides

The Sun
April 20, 2011
The cancer claimed the life of Libenson's 9-year-old granddaughter, Sammy Rotman, who died of the disease in 2008. Read full article >>

SammyRides comes through Picayune

The Picayune Item
April 16, 2011
Senior Center Director, Darlene Adams speaks to SammyRides founder Mike Libenson. Read full article >>

SammyRides coming through Picayune today

The Picayune Item
April 13, 2011
The Senior Center of South Pearl River County is pleased to invite the public to a reception in honor of SammyRides on Wednesday, April 13, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Read full article >>

SammyRides: Group of grandparents bike through Pascagoula for cancer awareness

gulflive
April 15, 2011
Just after lunchtime today, four senior citizens will approach Pascagoula from the west on their bicycles, having traveled more than 1,600 miles from Sun City, Ariz., to raise awareness about pediatric cancer. Read full article >>

SammyRides travels through area

The Leakey Star
March 26, 2011
On March 23 the team of riders whose average age is 70 arrived in Leakey following a rugged ride from Camp Wood. Two of the riders are shown in the photo to the left being welcomed by a large group of local supporters at a dinner hosted by Jerry and Betty Jo Bates in ConCan. Read full article >>

Sammy Raises $105K

Terrell County News Leader
March 25, 2011
A team of three "70-plus" bicyclists riding in support of pediatric cancer research had raised more than $105,000 by the time they reached here Friday, far more than hoped. Read full article >>

Bicycling for a cause

Alpine Avalanche
March 24, 2011
Adolf Lex, Mike Brown and Mike Libenson, participants in the SammyRides project, paused for a photo north of Alpine last week as they were pedaling through the region. Read full article >>

On the road with SammyRides

The Sun
March 18, 2011
SammyRides group on the road riding toward Camp Wood and Leakey, arriving in mid-March. This is an ongoing update on the SammyRides quartet - Michael Libenson, 73; Mike Brown, 62; Adolf Lex, 71; and John Bear, 64 – who started pedaling from Sun City, Ariz. March 2 back to Sun City Center, arriving May 1. The ride is being done to raise awareness of pediatric cancer, which claimed the life of Libenson's 9-year-old granddaughter, Sammy Rotman, who died of the disease in 2008. Read full article >>

Sammy Rides Headed To Leakey – Grandparents Riding for the Health of Grandchildren

The Leakey Star
March 12, 2011
SammyRides group on the road riding toward Camp Wood and Leakey, arriving in mid-March. Some quick-facts: Ride runs from March 2-May 1; with a kickoff event in Sun City, Arizona. Read full article >>

Bikers due next week

Terrell County News Leader
March 11, 2011
The Terrell County Historical Society will welcome the "SammyRides" group of four "70-plus" bicycle riders on a cross country trip to support cancer research next week.Read full article >>

Seniors embark on 2,400 ride to raise funds for pediatric cancer research

DAILY NEWS-SUN Your West Valley
March 3, 2011
The day had finally come Wednesday for four bicycle riders to make their way back home to Sun City Center, Fla. from Sun City, a 2,400 mile trek in the name of pediatric cancer research. Read full article >>

2,400 Miles for Sammy

Your West Valley
March 2, 2011
A group of seniors is making the trip from Sun City, Ariz. to Sun City, Fla. in honor of a member's granddaughter. SammyRides, named after Sammy Libenson who died of bone cancer two years after being diagnosed, began their trek on March 2nd, 8 a.m..


Fabulous. . .SammyRides

Newszap.com
March 2, 2011
2400 miles, 60 days, 4 riders…only one word can describe it…Fabulous. Read full article >>

SammyRides

Sun Cities Today Blog
February 22, 2011
What could possibly motivate 4 old guys averaging 70 years of age to travel 2400 miles by bicycle? To ride from Sun City Arizona to Sun City Center Florida in the early morning chills of the panhandle of Texas to the steaming afternoon heat in Louisiana? No matter how much they trained, they'll wake with aches and pains, bumps and bruises yet never once question why they did it? They will endure 60 nights of strange motel rooms, different cities and towns and almost assuredly beds that have seen one too many a traveler.
Read full article >>

Senior cyclists embark on 2,400-mile trek to benefit pediatric cancer research

DAILY NEWS-SUN Your West Valley
February 22, 2011
Mike Libenson is "excited, nervous, and a little scared" to bike ride 2,400 miles with three of his friends in March.
Read full article >>

SammyRides recruits area students to spread message of hope

South Shore News & Tribune
February 16, 2011
When the members of SammyRides go on their cross-country bicycle ride next month, they will be carrying with them words of encouragement and get-well wishes from students at a pair of South Shore schools. Read full article >>

Podcast Interview with Boomer and the Babe

Paul Herrmann and Michael Libenson - Reshaping Retirement
February 10, 2011
Listen to internet radio with Boomer and The Babe on Blog Talk Radio


Grandparents Ride Bikes for Health of Their Grandkids

Bay News 9
February 9, 2011
A group of bike-riding grandparents are about to embark on a cross-country journey to raise money for a cause close to their hearts. Read full article >>

Pedal Meets Brain Power

The Sun
January 26, 2011
Some of the questions took deep thought and far reaches into the crevices of their memories. Read full article >>

Group Rides for Childhood Cancer Awareness

Daily News-Sun
November 24, 2010
They call themselves "grandparents riding for the health of grandchildren," but members of the organization SammyRides have bigger goals than that. Read full article >>

SammyRides Holiday Bazaar Set for Nov. 12

South Shore News & Tribune
October 25, 2010
As local bicyclists train for their 2,400-mile trek from Sun City, Ariz., to this community from March through May, volunteers are gearing up for the first Sammy Rides Holiday bazaar and art show. Read full article >>

AARP to Highlight SammyRides at National Expo

eNEWS - News of Greater Sun City Center
August 23, 2010
AARP and SammyRides announced they will work together to highlight the Greater Sun City Center SammyRides Project during the AARP National Event & Expo. Read full article >>

AARP Gives SammyRides a push

The Sun
August 18, 2010
What started out as a grassroots, Sun City Center-based effort to raise money to combat pediatric cancer has gone national thanks to a recent announcement by AARP that it will serve as a major sponsor of SammyRides.
Read full article >>

Sun City Center Cyclists to Pedal Against Pediatric Cancer

The St. Petersburg Times
August 13, 2010
The pack of cyclists, all in their 60s and 70s, pedaled at a comfortable pace in preparation for an ambitions journey that lies ahead.
Read full article >>

Grandparents Pedaling for the Health of Grandkids

AARP Bulletin
July 1, 2010
No unit of measurement is sufficiently expansive to gauge a grandparent's love for a grandchild.
Read full article >>

In Sun City Center: Sammy Rides Again

The Observer News
June 17, 2010
For five seniors from Sun City Center, life begins at (an average age of) 70. In March of 2011, five men from the retirement community will pedal their bicycles 2,400 miles across the country to celebrate the life of a young girl who succumbed to pediatric cancer.
Read full article >>

Senior Bicyclist Will Cross Country for Cancer Cure

South Shore News & Tribune
March 10, 2010
Michael and Lois Libensons' granddaughter was the apple of their eyes – spending time at their house, playing with Granddad and scrapbooking with Grandmom.
Read Full Article >>