John P. De Raffele

Join us in standing strong for our first responders by donating today.

This September, London and I will be participating in the First Responder Ride for Resilience—an important charity ride from Boston to New York City honoring the 25th anniversary of the September 11th tragedies. The ride starts at MIT in the Boston/Cambridge area on Sunday 9/6 and ends at the 911 Memorial in lower Manhattan on Thursday 9/10 (5 days of riding, averaging 70 miles per day).

This ride is deeply personal to me. I was born in the New York metro area, and most of my siblings still live there today. On September 11, several of my family members were in New York City as the disastrous events unfolded. One sister, a nurse, and her husband, a police officer, were called to help survivors in the aftermath. Like many of you, I also knew people directly affected—one who tragically lost their life that day, and others who lost close friends. That day changed so many lives forever.

Boston/New England Connection – I went to college in New England and spent many formative years living in Boston after college—years filled with great memories, friendships, and experiences that I still cherish today. Riding from Boston to New York is, in many ways, a journey through places that have shaped my life and areas where friends still live. This event brings those two cities—and their shared history—together in a meaningful way.

Today / Daughter / Riding - Over the past few years, my daughter London and I have been riding together on the Livestrong Challenge here in Austin. We’ve progressed from 45 miles… to 65 miles… to completing a full 100-mile ride this past November. That ride tested us in many years—including two flat tires that cost us nearly an hour—but we pushed through and finished strong within regulations.

Quality Time / Exercise - What makes that accomplishment even more meaningful is that my daughter was just 14, 15, and 16 years old during those rides. We were told she is the youngest person to finish the 100-mile Livestrong course in Austin. Training together—early mornings, long rides, pushing through challenges—has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life as a parent. In a world where high quality time together can be hard to find, those hours on the bike have created lasting memories.

These rides are about more than distance - They’re about preparation, resilience, pushing past doubt, and taking on challenges that once felt out of reach. They’re about being outdoors, staying healthy, and doing something that matters.

And most importantly—they’re about helping others. Cancer has touched our family, as it has for so many. We’ve lost loved ones, and we have family members currently fighting this disease. That’s why this ride matters even more. The funds we raise will support organizations doing critical work for first responders and their families, including:

- Friends of Firefighters 
- Livestrong 
- Boston Fire Cancer Foundation 

These are the people who run toward danger and support people in need—police officers, firefighters, EMTs, nurses, therapists, doctors and others. This ride is a way to give back to them and support them when they need it most.

I know that raising $8,000 is an ambitious goal—but I also know what can happen when people come together for a meaningful cause.  

If you’re able, I would be incredibly grateful for your support—at any level. All donations are tax deductible. Please also see if your company will match as that will double the amount.

Donate here for me:
https://impact.livestrong.org/fundraisers/johnderaffele/first-responder-ride-for-resilience

And/or here for London:

https://impact.livestrong.org/fundraisers/londonderaffele/first-responder-ride-for-resilience

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for considering supporting this worthy cause.

With gratitude, 

John (“JD”)