Rolling with the aid of their three mountain bikes, brothers Tommy, Michael and Joey Natelli ensured that 130 people with AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses will eat 21 meals for an entire week.
"Four hours ago, we sent 3,000 meals, some to people in Washington, D.C., some to people in Montgomery County, some to your neighbors in Potomac," said Craig Shniderman, executive director of Food & Friends.
"The thing that is true about all these people — whether they are people who are sick, living with AIDS, breast cancer, colon cancer… some are moms who can't take care of their children — they are going to eat today because of you," said Shniderman to the Natelli brothers and their friends.
AFTER BEING TOLD they were too young to participate in the DC AIDS ride in 2001, Tommy, 16, Michael, 14, and Joey, 12, organized an AIDS awareness ride of their own, specifically for youth.
"We rode as a family last year, we decided to do it again," said Tommy, 16, a rising junior at Gonzaga High School.
This year, the Natelli brothers invited 17 of their friends and classmates to ride with them. They asked that each raise $500 to participate.
Their fundraising efforts have raised over $13,000 so far.
"More is still coming in," said Karen Natelli, their mother.
For $115 a week, Food and Friends can deliver 21 meals to a person, said Shniderman. "13,000 makes a real impact. I think this is a remarkable thing. This is an effort by young people, organized by them to help."
THE 20 RIDERS drove — with the assistance of parents, cars and trucks — to the waterfront of Old Town Alexandria where they rode their bikes to historic Mount Vernon and back.
"The ride is beautiful, it makes it so much easier to do," said Kelsey Daniels, who will be a ninth grader at Holy Cross next year.
The boys and their friends soaked in their efforts at a pool party at the Avenel Swim Club on Oaklyn Drive.
"It was a lot of hard work. To sit back and realize that we are making a difference even though it was hard was worth it," said Michael, an eighth grader at Our Lady of Mercy.
"Doing the bike ride makes me feel good, it helps other people and raises money so people get food to eat," said Joey, also a student at Our Lady of Mercy.
THE THREE BROTHERS also learned the power of bypassing or transcending the word "No."
"It is very inspirational. I didn't think kids our age would be able to do something like this to help," said Kelsey.
"It shows their determination and leadership that they'd do this.
That they really did a lot to help others," said Fran Vaghi, 14, who will be a student at Stone Ridge next falls.
Jacqueline Greeves, 14, who will attend Georgetown Visitation next fall, said the camaraderie and support all their friends gave each other during the ride was also inspiring.
"More kids should do it. Tell more kids to do it," said Kelsey.
MICHAEL AND HIS CLASS at Our Lady of Mercy went on a human service project during the school year to Food And Friends to learn more about the organization's efforts.
"That motivated us," said Michael. "We got to see them making food, boxing food, organizing. You realize that so many people suffer.
"It makes me feel really good to know we did something to make people feel better and that people thank us for doing this," said Michael.
But the boys also learned one way they can take action to help.
"It doesn't take that much to help out if you set your mind to it," said Tommy. "It's a big thing to have everybody come out and participate."
"I hope it gets bigger and bigger so we raise a lot more money and so other families start their own efforts," said Joey.
Natelli Communities offered a $2,500 college scholarship, which was raffled off at the swim party. Patrick Doyle was the winner.