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Ever since their days as students at St. Monica School, 17th and Ritner streets and 16th and Porter streets, Michael Gargano and Vincent Bonaccorso have served as lasting influences on each other.
Stoking esteem over their decades-long friendship, the 36-year-olds also appreciate the value of extending good vibes to in-need figures and will band together this weekend for the New Jersey-situated Bike MS: City to Shore event, a product of their desire to lessen multiple sclerosis patients’ numerous ordeals.
“It’s something that takes only my time and yields so many benefits,” Gargano said Monday evening as he and his chum rode their bicycles at Marconi Plaza, 2700 S. Broad St. “We’re excited to continue our involvement because the need for help is growing every day.”
The resident of 18th Street and Oregon Avenue and captain for the seven-member Team TBD will make his fourth trek through the Garden State, his third to show support for a neighbor battling the autoimmune disease, which affects the brain and spinal cord and wreaks havoc on bladders, bowels, faces, limbs and muscles. Bonaccorso, who in addition to attending elementary school with Gargano ventured to St. John Neumann High School, formerly 2600 Moore St., now Ss. Neumann-Goretti High School, 1736 S. 10th St., will also make his fourth journey yet first as his buddy’s teammate.
“I did it awhile back after finding out about the cause through friends,” the inhabitant of the 2100 block of Shunk Street said. “I ran into Mike last year, and that rekindled my desire to do it.”
In riding alongside each other during the non-competitive test, the two decided to mesh their enthusiasm for aiding the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s outreach to 400,000 courageous fighters. With that imposing total as added motivation, they knew their moment to amass money had arrived.
“When I did my first Bike MS ride, I was mainly looking for a challenge and seeing it as a push-myself type of thing,” Marconi’s Gargano said of his 2010 debut. “The fundraising aspect has come to be such a rewarding component of it.”
He has enjoyed steady bumps in his procured riches and had obtained close to $6,000 as of press time, setting the pace for Team TBD, whose shirts feature question marks surrounding The Riddler, which has a $10,000 goal. He and his Girard Estate-based confidant helped to generate a hefty chunk of the currency through a Sept. 13 gathering at the Citizens Bank Park-situated McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon, 1 Citizens Bank Way, and can accept contributions even after their excursion.
“It gives us a great feeling when all is said and done,” Gargano said. “It keeps us in shape, but, more importantly, it provides hope.”
Relying on his Type-A personality for another dose of diligence, the team leader built up his resolve through Sunday sojourns atop his trusty bicycle. Using the Schuylkill River Trail as a chief destination, he and Bonaccorso gradually upped their endurance challenges and find themselves the epitome of prepared for their bonding experience.
“The list grows each year of those I know or come into contact with who have MS,” Bonaccorso, a senior fraud investigator for a Trenton-centered company said. “Because of that, there are many personal rewards to my participation.”
To make sure they shred their legs, the pals have elected to ride 100 miles Saturday and 75 Sunday, with Gargano expecting their outings to last 11 hours.
“And after that, we’re going to swim 10 miles and run,” Bonaccorso said jokingly.
With Gargano, the director of food safety for a Southwest Philly-situated outfit, at the helm, the riders, including some event rookies, will become weekend warriors for a cause that has raised more than $50 million since the ride’s 1980 inception. The locals make their mounting their main way to support the fight against multiple sclerosis and do so while being well aware of their decision’s emotional qualities.
“My pain is temporary; theirs is permanent,” Bonaccorso, who is married with two children, said. “We definitely don’t do this for any reason other than to build up the people who will benefit from what happens this weekend.”
As the second largest MS fundraiser of its kind in the United States, trailing only a Houston-based one, the Bike MS: City to Shore challenge serves to aid patients’ handling of the incurable disease, with at least 14,000 sufferers residing in the Philadelphia area. Though their team name reflects a touch of uncertainty, Gargano and Bonaccorso have no doubts about how much their participation will profit the afflicted individuals.
“It’s been great to prepare together because it takes unity to fight back against MS,” Gargano, who is married with three children, said. “As we go forward, we hope to raise even more to try to make an even bigger difference.”
“That’s what it’s about,” Bonaccorso added. “Keeping up the momentum and building more.”
To contribute, visit main.nationalmssociety.org.
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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