Star Track Changes Lives: Our 2024 Benefit Dinner

Since 2004, when Deirdre Murphy Bader and Delroy Walters founded our zero-barriers program, NYC kids have been able to discover the joys and rewards of bicycle racing regardless of family income, experience or background. Today, nearly 200 children have fun, get fit, make friends and develop their cycling skills each semester at Kissena Velodrome. Every single child benefits from the experience Star Track provides — gaining strength, self-esteem and resilience — and for those who aim to compete, they embark on a journey that has no limits. We have seen it so many times over two decades. This program truly changes lives.

2024 has been an extraordinary year for Star Track. In both spring and summer, we enrolled a record number of kids into our program at Kissena Park. On August 1, more than 20 of our juniors took to the track at the USA Cycling Jr. National Championships in Redmond, Washington. Just three days later, with their young teammates watching and cheering from thousands of miles away, two Star Track UCI racers began competing at the Olympic Games in Paris, France. This achievement culminated two decades of effort and determination, completing a pathway that can lead from a modest track in eastern Queens to the very highest reaches of the sport.

On October 30th, we are coming together to celebrate the successes you have made possible and support the future of the most unique cycling program in the country. Our aim is to ensure that we are able to introduce new riders to bike racing as our third decade continues to unfold — and that we can continue to change children’s lives in New York City. As on day one, we can only ride because of you.

The event includes cocktails, dinner, and much, much more at Current’s beautiful space at Chelsea Piers. We are thrilled to introduce Rahsaan Bahati as our special guest host (graciously stepping in for Matt Stephens who is recovering from a bike crash!) We will also be joined by Star Track UCI’s Olympic racers, Grant Koontz (Team USA) and Maggie Coles-Lyster (Team Canada), 3x Olympic Champion Kristin Armstrong and American cycling legend Bobby Julich among a galaxy of past, present and future cycling stars.

Even if you can't join us on October 30th, we encourage you to support our program by making a gift today — Your kindness and generosity are what keeps New York City's best free youth sports program alive!