Athletes
Donations made on behalf of an athlete will be directly sent to The Seeing Eye, Inc.
Jim Freiss
Founder of Puppy Ride Long Island.
I am involved with Puppy Ride Long Island to honor and remember my late brother John, his guide dog Hero and to support an organization that did so much for him. I know what we do here will continue to help others who are sight impaired like my brother. The Seeing Eye, Inc. is an awesome organization with an incredibly passionate team of employees and volunteers that deliver dignity and mobility to the blind through their guide dog foundation! I am all in with The Seeing Eye!
Previous Events for the Puppies:
Zion 100 Trail Run - 2018
Solo Crossing Puppy Ride of New York – 2020
Washington DC to Pittsburg Puppy Ride - 2021
Cincinnati to Cleveland Puppy Ride – 2022
Niagara to Long Island Puppy Ride - 2023
Moab 240 Trail Run - 2023
Boston to Canada - 2024
Cocodona 250 - 2025
Bill Gironda
Looking forward to Puppyride 2025!
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This years ride will have a slightly different set up to it. We will have home base to work from the hotel in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and will do a number of different ride routes this year.
Our last ride Saturday will be to Arrowood Farms Brewery in Accord, N.Y. to end the ride and the trip together and celebrate.
This year we wont have the need to pack and unpack daily, so that might give the team a little more free time to enjoy the surrounding area.
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We are planning to be joined on our rides by Griffin Pinkow to ride with us. Griffin is a Seeing Eye Graduate and founder of The Foreseeable Future Foundation (www.foreseeablefuture.org)
Griffin works to fund camps and campers with sight impairment to attend the camps to help them to realize they have no limits to what they can do. He does this by words but by his example as a Tandem cyclist, Marathoner and all around adventurer. His team “see no limits” just came off from riding the 5 Boro Bike Tour in NYC.
We hope to be able to both support him with this ride as well as to bring awareness to the tremendous things Forseeable Future Foundation does.
The important work the Seeing Eye does has given Griffin better opportunities to expand his reach, more importantly what Griffin does with that is to work going forward with others to give them the awareness that “they have no limits”!!
I hope you can support us and allow us to support these organizations that make a difference daily to improve the lives of those around us.
Come Join us on the ride for any amount of days or distance, Join us at the Saturday after Party, Support us with a donation or…. Hopefully All Three.
Looking forward to seeing you on the roads!
Previous Events for the Puppies:
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Niagara Falls to Long island Puppy Ride – 2023
Boston to Canada – Maine Coast Puppy Ride - 2024
Barbara McCoy
Having lost my mom to cancer then supporting my husband who has been battling Parkinson’s disease for over 17 years, I was inspired to participate in fundraising activities respectively for Leukemia Lymphoma Society and Michael J Fox Foundation. In 2021, my friend and fellow athlete, Jim Freiss, graciously assisted my husband in adopting Hunter, a change in career seeing eye dog. Hunter is a precious Golden Retriever who, as my husband’s companion, has become a beloved member of our family. Having already participated in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 Puppy Rides, I am honored and privileged to again join this year’s Puppy Ride from Boston to Calais, Canada in remembrance of Jim’s late brother, John, and his guide dog, Hero, to support The Seeing Eye’s great work.
Past Fundraising Activities: (LLS & MJF Foundation Fundraising)
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2022: Cincinnati to Cleveland Puppy Ride
2021: DC to Pittsburg Virtual Ride
2014~2022: Marine Corp Marathon Team Chris
2016 & 2017: 5 Mile Swim LLS -- 2015
2013 – 2023: Sprint, Olympic, & Half Ironman Events in 25 states
2024: Puppy Ride Long Island
2024: Triathlons in Rhode Island & South Carolina LLS
Bill Ude
I was privileged to join our team leader Jim Freiss in 2021 and 2022 Riding for the Puppies in support of The Seeing Eye, Inc. I am looking forward to fundraising and riding the 2023 Niagara to Long Island Puppy Ride on the New York State Empire Trail in remembrance of Jim’s late brother, John and his guide dog, Hero and to support The Seeing Eye’s great work. I feel very blessed to be healthy and have the ability to help others. Last year we had the privilege of touring the facility in New Jersey, which deepened our support for this foundation.
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Previous cycling event for the Puppies:
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Washington DC to Pittsburg Puppy Ride – 2021​
Cincinnati to Cleveland Puppy Ride –2022​
Niagara Falls to Long Island Puppy Ride - 2023​
50K shore to shore ultra marathon -202​4​​
Boston to Canada Puppy Ride- 2024
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Rick Chapman
Last summer, the Puppy Riders stopped on their way across New York State for lunch in my hometown, Lockport. Together with a few of my family members, we put together a picnic lunch for the riders. During lunch, I got to meet and talk with all of the riders and I was very impressed with their dedication and how passionate they all were about raising money for the Seeing Eye Organization.
I have a long history of volunteering with a wide variety of organizations. I am especially proud of my 44 years as an active member of the National Ski Patrol. Two years ago, I got to combine my love for skiing, biking, and volunteering when my local ski area opened up mountain biking trails. With 15 other ski patrollers, we started a mountain bike first aid patrol.
So, when I was asked to join the Puppy Ride this year, which involves biking and volunteering, as a support driver, I immediately said yes.
As for my goal for this year’s ride, I plan on working hard to support the riders in every way I can so the ride will be successful.
What I have learned so far about this event is that the riders are dedicated to raising money for a worthwhile cause. The Seeing Eye Organization trains dogs to become partners with visually impaired people so that they can achieve greater independence.
Please, if you are able, donate to the ride and your donation will be put to good use.
Lastly, I would like to thank Jim Freiss for putting his faith in me to help with this year’s ride.
Victor Fassano
I was fortunate enough to meet Jim Freiss a few years ago. He told me stories of he’s brother John and what a difference Hero He’s Seeing Eye dog made in his life. The stories moved me so much that I wanted to help. Now I’m here helping to raise money for The Seeing Eye!
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Previous Events for the Puppies:
Washington to Pittsburg Puppy Ride - 2021
Cincinnati to Cleveland Puppy Ride - 2022
Niagara Falls to Long Island Puppy Ride - 2023
Boston to Canada Puppy Ride - 2024
RAGBRIA- 2023 (My third in three years!)
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I’m competing in my first Iron Man 70.4 in July & my second one in September.
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Jay Ratto
I am involved with Puppy Ride Long Island to honor and remember my Buddy Jim Freiss’s late brother John, his guide dog Hero and to support an organization that did so much for him. I know what we do here will continue to help others who are sight impaired like John. The Seeing Eye, Inc. is an awesome organization with an incredibly passionate team of employees and volunteers that deliver dignity and mobility to the blind through their guide dog foundation! I am all in with The Seeing Eye!
Previous Events for the Puppies:
Washington DC to Pittsburg Puppy Ride - 2021
Cincinnati to Cleveland Puppy Ride – 2022
Niagara to Long Island Puppy Ride - 2023
Boston to Canada Long Island Puppy Ride - 2024
Glenn Morse
I’ve been doing multi-day and across state bike rides for over 40 years, including several fundraisers for the South Dakota Lung Association. I was privileged to join
our team leader Jim Freiss the last 3 years Riding for the Puppies in support of The Seeing Eye, Inc, the premiere guide dog training organization in the country. Together, running and riding, the team has raised over $ 200,000 since 2018.
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I am looking forward to fundraising for The Seeing Eye again this year and riding the 2025 multi-day Long Island Puppy Ride from Poughkeepsie, NY on surround roads and trails, including a few trips across the spectacular Walkway Over the Hudson. We will ride again in
remembrance of Jim’s late brother, John and his guide dog, Hero.
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This year’s ride will allow me to once again combine my passion for cycling while contributing to the great work being done by The Seeing Eye.
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Previous Cycling Activities:
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South Dakota Lung Association Black Hills Rides
RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across
Iowa - 40 years)
Cycle Oregon
Ride Idaho
Bike Virginia
Ride the Rockies
In addition to the 2025 Ride for the Puppies, I will be doing my 41th RAGBRAI in July.
Kevin Green
​​​I am proud to be involved in Puppy Ride Long Island. I give thanks to Jim for asking me to be part of this great group. I am proud to be able to contribute in a small way to making the rides a success. Over the last two years I have supported this team in their ride across the state of Ohio and most recently their ride across the state of New York! As of last year, the team has elected me the Logistics Captain!
Previous Events for the Puppies:
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Cincinnati to Cleveland Puppy Ride – 2022
Niagara to Long Island Puppy Ride - 2023
Boston to Canada Puppy Ride - 2024
Kate and David Mickle
​Kate and David have family activities this year that are keeping them from joining us again! Hope we see them again on future rides!
This event and The Seeing Eye, Inc. are dear to our hearts. We witnessed first-hand how our brother John’s life dramatically improved with his seeing eye dog, Hero. We love that we can help raise funds and awareness for the generous organization.
The bonus is that we can support and cheer on our brother, Jim and the Puppy Ride Long Island Group!
Miriam Fein
I have been an avid ultramarathon runner for many years, running distances up to and including 100 miles, which is how I met Jim Freiss, who I lovingly refer to as my “running dad”. I have been privileged to support him on some of his (crazy) endeavors, and he has always been a tremendous inspiration for me. Although cycling was never my sport, I have dealt with several serious injuries over the last few years and more than my share of surgeries, which has restricted my ability to run. I finally decided to take the leap and purchase a new bicycle, knowing that I wanted to join the Puppy Ride this year. I’m excited to be a part of this incredible team and help raise money for a wonderful cause that means so much to Jim- and therefore means so much to me.
Michele Kelly
Over the past few years, I’ve had the chance to get to know the amazing Puppy Riders—and I’ve become good friends with many of them. To finally be joining them in the 2025 Puppy Ride - New Paltz Edition feels like such an honor, and honestly, I couldn’t be more proud.
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For the past two years, at the end of their ride, I had the privilege of escorting them from the Port Jefferson Ferry to Blue Point Brewery in Patchogue for their big finish. It was always such a powerful moment—seeing their joy, their purpose, and everything they had just accomplished. Being part of that, even in a small way, left a mark on me. And now, to actually ride alongside them this year is something I’m truly excited about.
I’ve been riding for years—tackling long-distance rides, jumping in for early morning spins before work, and soaking in the connection and community that riding brings. It’s something I love.
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But this ride isn’t just about the biking. It’s about helping others experience something we might take for granted—freedom. A seeing eye dog can change someone’s entire world, giving them independence, confidence, and the ability to move through life with more ease and possibility. Being part of making that happen? That’s what makes this ride matter.
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This year, I’m thrilled to turn my miles into something meaningful—and to be riding for a cause I really believe in, “The Seeing Eye”.
