On Dec. 14, 26 lives were senselessly lost in the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. In order to make sure those deaths weren't in vain, 26 bicyclists are riding from Newtown down to the nation's capital in order to persuade Congress to enact common-sense gun reform.
Chris McDonnell, who's seven-year-old daughter Grace was among the victims, rode alongside Team 26 when they left Newtown on Saturday, according to The Danbury News Times.
"I ride for a child whose life was so full of promise and endless possibilities," McDonnell told The News Times. "I ride for Grace."
The team pedaled to Ridgefield, where U.S. Rep. Jim Himes and First Selectman Rudy Marconi hosted a rally, before sending them off to Washington, according to The Newtown Bee. State Rep. John Frey (R-111) and Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton were among those who spoke at the Ridgefield rally, and Himes and Bethel First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker rode with the team from Newtown to Ridgefield.
According to The News Times, the 400-mile ride was organized by Monte Frank, a Newtown resident. On Saturday, Frank told a large crowd Newtown's voice will not be silenced.
"We are Newtown," Frank said, according to The News Times. "Not only are we not fading away, we are joining with other communities that were the victims of gun violence."
Among Team 26's goals are instituting criminal background checks on all gun buyers, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, making gun trafficking a federal crime and making it harder for those with severe mental illnesses to own guns, according to The Bee.
The group is scheduled to arrive in Washington Tuesday. To follow their progress and read more updates, check out Team 26's Facebook page.
