Champions Start Here: Star Track's 2025 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.

2025 has been another remarkable season for our program. Despite challenging weather at our outdoor track, a record 200 New York kids have been able to develop their racing skills seven sessions a week throughout spring and summer. In late July, more than 20 of our juniors flew to Redmond, Washington for the 2025 USA Cycling Junior Track Championships. They earned more than 50 medals, and three came home wearing Stars and Stripes National Champion jerseys. As summer concludes, our young New York racers can root for their Star Track UCI teammates as they compete at the Elite National Championships, and look forward to the fall sessions when these racers come to visit Kissena and share their knowledge and experience. An extraordinary pathway has been created — one that allows a child to discover a beautiful sport at a modest track in eastern Queens and continue to that sport’s very highest reaches. It’s a pathway that only exists because of you.

On October 6th, 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 develop champions 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 will be joined by an incredible galaxy of cycling stars including featured guest Sir Mark Cavendish, Sir Bradley Wiggins, George Hincapie, Christian Vande Velde, and Bobby Julich, as well as many of the Star Track UCI race team and our 2025 honoree, Richard Carolan. We are thrilled to announce the return of Matt Stephens as the evening’s host,

Even if you can't join us on October 6th, we encourage you to support our program by making a gift today — Your kindness and generosity are what keeps the country’s best free youth cycling development program alive!