North Country This Week

COLTON -- For Jennifer Dean, a 17-year journey has not only kept her daughter’s spirits alive but has raised more than $170,000 for cystic fibrosis research.

The annual Ride to Breathe motorcycle ride is held in tribute to Bethany Dean, daughter of Jennifer and Scott Dean, Canton, who died in 2006 from cystic fibrosis.

The 2020 COVID-19 riddled event raised $9,600 and proved to be a memorable ride for Jennifer as she contemplated passing the organizer’s torch to her son Ryan.

“So last year I really was going to step down and hand it over to my son. I rode with him last year through the mountains and honestly when I was riding I literally had tears in my eyes,” said Dean. “It was a sense of compassion. I felt Bethany’s presence and warmth of love. Maybe it was because I felt her or did she feel us that we were riding together but whatever it was it was a [img_assist|nid=305940|title=|desc=This year’s T-shirt and logo for sale at a cost of $15.|link=none|align=right|width=100|height=81]sense of fullness.”

A switch from a summer to fall ride, this year’s event will also start and finish at a new venue. The ride will take place Sept. 26 at the Colton Amvets Post. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. with kickstands up at 11 a.m.

Bikers will leave Colton and cruise to the Skunk’s Nest in Hermon, then on to P-2’s Irish Pub in Tupper Lake, then return to the Colton Amvets for prizes and a barbecue.

Registration is $20 for a single rider and $30 for doubles. The cost of the dinner is $12 and T-shirts will be on sale for $15.

“I have drawn new riders this year as far as two hours away. Like I always said, you have your immediate family, your cystic fibrosis family and the family of the riders,” Dean remarked. “A big heart and a family that rides for a cause, and a cause that is close to me and the families that I have met over my journey, is a special thing.”