Newtown’s Team 26 Rides Again [VIDEO]

For the fourth year in a row, Monte Frank and 25 other cyclists are on their way to Washington, D.C. to deliver petitions. They left Newtown on Saturday, and will roll into Washington, D.C. at 3 p.m. today.

On Saturday, April 9, Team 26 set off on their Sandy Hook Ride on Washington journey. The group is made up 26 professional, top amateur and master cyclists.

Before the team set off, there was a rally held at Edmond Town Hall. We heard from Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty, First Selectman Pat Llodra, Monte Frank (the gentleman who started the ride), Nelba Marquez-Greene, the mother of Ana Grace who was killed on 12/14/12, and others took to the podium to wish Team 26 luck, "Godspeed," and to thank them.

Before the riders set off, Senior Pastor Mel Kawakami, from the United Methodist Church in Newtown, said a prayer for the riders.

Why Does Team 26 Ride?

Team 26 explains why they ride, on their website. They ride to support limitations of magazines to 10 rounds, to make gun trafficking a federal crime, and to provide protection when temporary restraining orders are issued in domestic violence cases. The website also says that they "believe guns can be made safer by research and development of smart gun technology."

What is Their Route?

April 9 - From Newtown, CT to a mid-ride rally in Peekskill, NY and ending the first day in Morristown, NJ.

April 10 - From Morristown, NJ to Philadelphia, PA.

April 11 - From Philadelphia, PA to a mid-ride rally in Newark Delaware and ending in Baltimore MD.

April 12 - From Baltimore, MD to a mid-ride rally in Southeastern Washington, D.C. and ending at 3 p.m. at the Capitol on Washington D.C.

You can get more information about Team 26 and their mission at team26.org.

On a personal note, it is hugely impressive to me that these people cycle from Newtown all the way down to Washington, D.C. Be safe Team 26 and #RideOn.

Here is the touching speech from Nelba Marquez-Greene:

Here's the team setting off to Washington, D.C from Newtown, CT.:

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