Kendall Park Resident's Memory Lives on Through Foundation

When Kendall Park resident Arie Behar lost his wife Amy to breast cancer in 2007 after a six-year battle with the disease, he was determined to see Amy's memory live on.  It was then that Behar decided to do something to honor Amy's memory and to help other women fight breast cancer.

"Amy was extremely concerned about women’s issues," Behar said.  "She cared about those who couldn’t afford health insurance and she always said how lucky we were to have insurance. So the idea of combining her interest in women’s issues and helping fight the disease she didn’t survive is something she would appreciate."

Behar established The Amy Foundation that same year with a mission to help women over the age of 40, who are without health insurance, obtain free screening mammograms.  Since that time the foundation has raised over $200,000 and has helped about 1,000 women obtain a free mammogram.

"Amy would be very proud of the work we've done because she understood the importance of detecting this disease in a stage where it could be removed," Behar said.  "I know that if she is watching us she would be extremely proud and appreciative."

The first Bike Ride for Amy fundraiser was held in July, 2008 and it was a small ride with only 28 people.  The annual bike ride has grown each year to include more people and has helped to raise even more money for the Amy Foundation.  

"I think it would be important for her to know the impact we've had on people who couldn't afford medical treatment and hopefully helped to save a life," Behar said.  "It's unfair in our system that someone is not able to access medical treatment because they can't afford it.  She would be very proud that we help to provide it in her name."

The foundation also works to raise funds to promote awareness and education on the importance of early detection. The foundation works with St. Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick and other local radiology centers. As a result of donations from the foundation, uninsured women age 40 or older can get free mammograms and free doctor visits to read those screenings, as well as help deal with the results.

"Breast cancer is not a discriminatory disease," Behar said. "It could happen to anyone and you never know when someone in your own family could get afflicted."

This year's Bike Ride for Amy will be held on June 5 at 8 a.m. at South Brunswick High School.  The ride features three courses:

• A 25-mile route that is a very flat, easy ride for all levels, running through Plainsboro and South Brunswick.
• A 35-mile route that is more challenging and includes the hills on Herrontown and Coppermine Roads.
• A 50-mile route that is very challenging with 2,700 feet of climbing, including the above climbs and Sourland Mountain.

Halter's Cycles will give a 10 percent discount on bicycle tune-ups to all Bike Ride for Amy registrants.  Entry costs $25 and includes a t-shirt, water bottle and wrist band.  The foundation is also asking all participants to raise a minimum of $140, including the entry fee, which is the cost of a mammogram for an uninsured woman.  Anyone who raises the cost of three mammograms will be given a bicycling shirt.  

"It's been great to hear some of the stories of women who have emailed me and to know the impact the foundation has caused in their lives," Behar said.  "It's a tremendous feeling to know that we maybe helped to save someone's life. We don't know for sure, because we don't know the names of who is found to be in the second stage of the disease.  But we know that some women had it found in a stage early enough to fight.  We work very hard and it's a tremendous commitment. But it's an extremely rewarding feeling to know that we have made an impact in the lives of some of these women, which makes all the hard work worth it."

Click here to register for the fourth annual Bike Ride for Amy.