I Challenge Myself
By Going the Distance, Kids Learn What is Possible
In 2000, Ana Reyes signed up for the Boston-New York AIDS Ride, a 286 mile journey on a bike in support of AIDS research. Ana had very little experience riding a bike, and on her first training ride in Central Park, crashed into a horse and buggy (both rider and horse were fine). Nevertheless, Ana persevered with her training, and in the end completed the three day ride. “The enormous sense of accomplishment that I felt was something I wanted to recreate for inner-city youth,” Ana said.
Ana decided to design a program harnessing the power of endurance training (and the self-confidence and sense of accomplishment that endurance sports provide) to help at-risk youth realize their potential. I Challenge Myself’s mission is to help young people lead healthier and more productive lives through endurance fitness challenges and leadership development. Launched in February 2005, ICM’s school-based Cycling Smarts program is focused on character development through fitness. To date ICM has directly served over 500 public high school students in the Bronx, Washington Heights, Harlem and Bushwick. The Cycling Smarts program combines rigorous indoor and outdoor cycling training culminating in a 100-mile ride at the end of the semester, along with goal setting and reflection activities designed to help students track their progress. Cycling Smarts also connects these physical activities to academic concepts such as tracking aerobic heart rate, map reading, and application of physics. Along with physical conditioning and weight loss, students gain motivation, self-confidence, and expand their awareness of what is possible.
In a city where budgets for PE and sports programs are being cut, and where 30% of high school students are overweight, the need for programs like ICM has never been greater. The Catalog for Giving is proud to support I Challenge Myself so that they can help more youth live healthier and more productive lives.
“It’s a really great feeling. I’m so proud of myself.” –Cinthia, 16
