Team Stable, led by Steven Leonard, is currently a 13-member group representing a local bar in downtown Providence. Over the past two years, all members of Team Stable have invested further in the sport of cycling to help better their own lives, as well as utilize their health to help individuals struggling with wellness, via cycling fundraisers and charity events throughout New England. The team is comprised of staff, family and patrons – each with a passion for an active and healthy lifestyle.
PBN: Your 13-person team represents The Stable, a bar in Providence. What drew you to become involved in the Ride ’Round Rhody charity bike-a-thon on July 16?
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LEONARD: The Stable staff is as active as any group in Rhode Island. All of us do our best to keep active, even going so far as to utilize the same gyms together. Cancer hits home for too many of us here at the bar. We have regulars who come in that we know are suffering from some form of the disease and it hurts that compassion and kind words are not enough to heal them. Those same people who spend their days with us as the timer is ticking are the ones who unselfishly support us at the bar. There is no better way to say thank you than to give them something you can’t put a price on – time. Ride ’Round Rhody could not have been a better opportunity for everyone here to truly show our sincerest sympathy and appreciation for those affected by cancer.
PBN: Tell me about the members of your team – what parts of the community do they represent?
LEONARD: We are “Team Stable.” What started out last year as a small gathering of some co-workers at the bar has turned into a majority of the staff and several patrons for this upcoming RRR event. Our backgrounds are as diverse, each occupying a niche in the community – health and fitness, architecture, sales, marketing and graphic design, and so many more. The commonality is our passion for giving back. This event is just one example of Stable staff getting together as a team to let loose and have fun, while getting involved as a team to help make a stronger impact in our community.
PBN: How does Ride ’Round Rhody help raise awareness for cancer care and research in Rhode Island?
LEONARD: Raising awareness comes in many different shapes and sizes. Lifecycle [Inc.] does a great job updating their website to list grants issued via funds raised through RRR, so being able to share that page with potential donors to our team helps illustrate the impact of this ride. It also shows the effect all donations, regardless of denomination, have on the overall cause. I also feel that page and list of grantees helps people grasp the incredible work being done here in Rhode Island, around both cancer care and cancer research. We may be a small state, but there’s nothing small about the innovation and progress being made.
Above all, sadly, I think cancer – in one form or another – has touched nearly all of our lives; the diagnosis of a loved one, friend or co-worker. I truly believe that there’s power in numbers. When people see the activity surrounding RRR and its mission, they want to learn more and when they learn more, they want to get involved. Once someone gets involved, not only do they stay involved but they also tend to get others involved. To me, that’s one of the strongest ways of raising awareness that you’ll find.
PBN: What other types of fundraising and/or support do you provide the local community impacted by this disease and how do you engage your customers in the causes you’re involved with?
LEONARD: Everyone can say they are personally touched by cancer – whether it is through a family member or relative, a friend, or through the stories other people are personally dealing with. The beauty of Providence is that we are small enough to band together to form a community built upon strangers. Too many have been victimized by cancer, and the Stable staff is no exception, so we recognize the importance of fundraising and holding charity events throughout the year. We want to help provide a financial cushion for other brothers and sisters in the city faced with the burden of cancer, but also for other diseases that we all may be affected by.
Internally, we often utilize one-day events to foster a sense of community within The Stable. Our patrons recognize our passion and devotion, which in turn adds to their own sense of engagement with The Stable and increases their willingness to contribute. Whether through donating, riding, or simply frequenting our bar more often, the community feeling we have at The Stable rivals any business in Rhode Island.
PBN: Do you have any personal and/or fundraising goals for the race?
LEONARD: It is difficult to set a definitive goal when it comes to raising money for something you feel passionately about. We always want to push ourselves to hit the next mark, to get that extra person involved, to spend one more day in the community making a difference. This year, Team Stable hit a record-breaking number – $10,000 and counting! With 13 current members on our team, each one of us has playfully competed against each other in the name of bettering the lives of local cancer patients and raise as much as possible.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a PBN staff writer. Email her at Gowdey-Backus@PBN.com, or you can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey.
