The Fifth Annual Lauri Strauss Leukemia Foundation (LSLF) Ride for Research Bike Tour will take place in Port Washington on Sunday, May 22.
The ride is a tour for charity and not a race. The ride is held to raise money for the Lauri Strauss Leukemia Foundation, which honors the memory of Lauri Strauss, who succumbed to acute myelogenous leukemia at the early age of 26. Its mission is to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin disease, myeloma and other cancers by means of awarding Discovery Grants to innovative developmental research projects at many of the most respected medical institutions in the U.S. The foundation provides palliative care, conducts marrow donor drives and promotes cord blood donations. The Lauri Strauss Leukemia Foundation is a tax-exempt, nonprofit humanitarian organization. 
“We started the foundation because we didn’t want Lauri to be forgotten,” said Evelyn Strauss, Lauri’s mother. “My husband and I and my other daughter Julie Safran wanted her to remain a presence in the Port community where she grew up, and she has.”
Lauri grew up in Port and graduated from Schreiber. “She was in the band, she was a cheerleader and a Portet,” said Evelyn. “She was so full of life and was never sick. One day her gums started to bleed and then her tongue. She was diagnosed and died in seven months. No one knows why or how this disease strikes.”
The annual ride has been a great success since it started five years ago. Ralph Intinoli, the owner of the Port Washington Bicycle Store, is involved in the event as well. His wife died of cancer several years ago.
“The Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation is a major donor to the event,” said Laura Knepper, executive director of LSLF. “The money goes to grants for research. Last year in total we raised more than $40,000. Each year the amount has increased. Last year we had about 175 participants in the ride.”
The ride begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Soundview Marketplace. There are three options: 5-mile ride/walk (starts at 9 a.m.), 14-mile ride and 21-mile ride (start at 8:30 a.m.). Ride or walk to help raise money to beat leukemia and allied cancers. Join as an individual, or as a team with friends, family or coworkers. Free T-shirts, refreshments and raffle ticket (while supplies last). Additional raffle tickets can be purchased during the event. The top three individual and top three team fundraisers will be awarded a winner’s certificate and a valuable gift basket, along with being named in post-event publicity. All participants must have a bicycle helmet.
Karmacue at Alper’s is on the same day. Karmacue starts at noon and is a great afternoon event after the morning ride.
The ride starts at Soundview Marketplace on Shore Road. Registration fees: adults $25, children $15 (March 1 to May 12); adults $35, children $25 (May 13 to May 20); event weekend registration $50 (May 21 and May 22). Enroll online at www.lslf.org.
