10th Annual Bike Tour Raises Money for Rye Brook Teen's Rare Disease

This weekend, Rye Brook teen Rebecca Newman gets to see dozens of friends, family and even strangers bicycle 15 to 20 miles to raise money for an organization that is working to find a cure for her disorder, familial dysautonomia.

Newman's parents started the annual Tour de Foliage event ten years ago to help their daughter and the only 350 other people in the world who are diagnosed with the neurological disorder. Of those diagnosed, 60 live right here in Westchester. 

The Tour de Foliage raises money for the Dysautonomia Foundation, which funds research and treatment of FD. Over the last 60 years since the foundation was created, there have been great strides in research, helping people diagnosed to live into adulthood instead of dying as children as they once did.  

This Sunday, Sept. 22,  friends, family and community will come together at the tenth annual event this fall to support Rebecca and others in this community diagnosed with this rare disease. 

Read the Newman’s full press release here for more information. 

To read more about Rebecca and her journey in our 2012 article, "Rye Brook Community Supports Teen with Rare Disease," click here.