Jake's Riders push off Sunday

The Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia and Parkinson Foundation will hold its seventh Annual Jake's Ride for Dystonia Research Sunday, Sept. 28.

The community-wide bike tour attracts more than 1,000 bikers or walkers and 100 volunteers annually and features live entertainment, a silent auction, raffle prizes, food, and arts and crafts activities for children.

Jake's Ride organizers have set of goal of raising $400,000 this year for dystonia research. The event has raised more than $1.7 million in six years, funding 21 research grants for dystonia and three movement disorder fellowships.

Jake's Ride is named for Jake Silverman, a 17-year old township resident who was diagnosed with early onset childhood dystonia in 2008.

Closely related to Parkinson's disease, dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that causes uncontrollable and painful spasms, affects at least 500,000 in North America, one-third of whom are children.

The year he was diagnosed with dystonia, Jake underwent Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital. Six years after surgery, Jake is entering college and, while he has made significant progress, his dystonia is not cured.

The Bachman-Strauss Dystonia and Parkinson Foundation, along with the Silverman family, and a Jake's Ride committee, launched the first Jake's Ride for Dystonia Research to help children and adults living with dystonia.Jake's Ride starts and ends at Hartshorn School, 400 Hartshorn Drive.

The registration fee $55 for adults and $30 for children.

The event will kick off at the starting line at 9 a.m. and includes several bike-riding courses, ranging from one-mile to 20-mile routes, traveling throughout the township, as well as a one-mile walking course.

Willie Geist, co-host of NBC's "Today's Take," MSNBC's "Morning Joe" and the foundation's spokesperson, is the official emcee of the event. Willie's father, Bill Geist, a long-serving CBS news correspondent, announced in 2012 he was living with Parkinson's disease. This year, Jake's Ride has secured sponsorship from a variety of distinguished organizations, including BlackRock, Equinox Fitness Club, FirstTrust Bank, Macy's, The Mall at Short Hills and Wells Fargo, to name a few. Many of the local sponsors will be in attendance.

Originally posted here:
Jake's Riders push off Sunday