An organization that helps families with children suffering from cancer or leukemia held one of its most important events for the last time.
Joseph’s Experience, a Mohawk Valley-based organization, held its final “Ride for Joe” on Saturday.
“Many years ago, I was so sick that I was planning my funeral and it was bad. And so the promise that if I had another chance, I wouldn’t waste it,” said Dr. Mark Montgomery, founder of Joseph’s Experience.
Starting at the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and ending at the Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department, Joseph’s Experience and its supporters made their final official ride Saturday morning.
“The Ride for Joe was created to simultaneously raise awareness and honor the memory of my brother Joe, who we lost to non-small cell lung cancer,” Montgomery said.
It is the last official trip as the organization is disbanding.
The high need for volunteers and the impact of COVID have taken their toll, Montgomery said.
“After COVID, people’s lives changed and their priorities changed, and volunteering was a real challenge. So we decided: you know what? Instead of just going crazy, we just need to do something different and continue to help in other ways,” he said.
Since its beginning 10 years ago, Joseph’s Experience has certainly left its mark on many people.
When Sarah Bostick’s world was rocked by a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, she says she was surrounded by Joseph’s Experience.
“I’ve met amazing people of all ages who have welcomed me into this group and helped me. I’ve also met other young kids with cancer, which has been very healing for me. And a core value of Joe’s Experience is that kind of community support. And I’m so grateful for that,” Bostick said.
Last year she suffered a relapse of leukemia.
“Dr. Mark reached out to me again and asked me to lead this ride. I am proud to be here today and healthy enough to do so,” Bostick said.
“There is more between us than our differences. Cancer and leukemia don’t care what color your skin is, how much money you make, or what party you belong to. They don’t care. So they teach us to say: You know what? We can do better. And that’s exactly what this organization does,” Montgomery said.
Montgomery hopes to continue sharing his message of hope with those affected by cancer and leukemia.
