by Kevin Cody
Massimo Armato, 8, of Hermosa Beach, was surprised Saturday evening at Hermosa Cyclery by the gift of a Strand cruiser lit up by over 1,000, individually programmable LED lights.
The bike was presented to Massimo in appreciation of his participation in the annual Glow Ride for Cystic Fibrosis. Massimo, and his mother Stacey, a former Hermosa councilmember, have participated in the ride since 2016.
The ride is a fundraiser for Claire’s Place, based in Redondo Beach. The foundation was founded by cystic fibrosis patient Claire Wineland in 2011, when she was 13. During a hospital stay, Wineland recognized many of her fellow patients had little or no social or financial support. Since then, the foundation has raised nearly $1 million and helped over 5,000 hospitalized cystic fibrosis patients.
Randal Williams, a member of the Venice Electric Light Parade, presented the bike to Massimo. The bike’s LED lights were installed by Clay Claybourne, of Linux Beach Bike Lights. The bike includes a smart phone app that controls the lights’ colors. The Venice Electric Parade holds Glow Rides every Sunday through the summer at the Venice Boardwalk, starting at the Windward Plaza Park.
This year’s Glow Ride is Saturday, August 12. Participants will gather at 5:30 p.m. at the Hermosa Beach pier, ride to the Manhattan Beach pier and then ride back to the Hermosa pier.
Hermosa Cyclery is lending bicycles and safety gear to riders at no charge.
To register for the ride go to Glowride2023.funraise.org. ER
