Overcoming Adversity in Miller Place

The Miller Place School District recently welcomed ALS survivors and Miller Place community members, Chris Pendergast and Dr. Frank Verdone, to Miller Place High School to lead a powerful presentation focusing on perseverance and overcoming adversity. The special guests shared stories with students to show the incredible feats that can be reached with the right level of commitment, dedication and determination.

As part of the presentation, Pendergast and Dr. Verdone spoke about their personal battles with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and how they have been able to overcome its challenges. Students also learned how to get involved in supporting research for a cure and raising awareness about the disease, including the not-for-profit organization Ride For Life that organizes an annual 12-day, one-hundred mile patient wheelchair ride across Long Island.

The presentation was intended to provide role models for students to promote messages of hard work and overcoming adversity. For more information regarding the Miller Place School District, please visit millerplace.k12.ny.us.

Photo 1: Miller Place High School students recently learned lessons in perseverance and overcoming adversity when Miller Place community members, ALS survivors and “Ride for Life” activists Chris Pendergast and Dr. Frank Verdone came to speak with students to promote determination.

Photo 2: Miller Place High School students pose with ALS survivor Dr. Frank Verdone who has three children in the Miller Place School District. Verdone spoke alongside fellow survivor and “Ride for Life” activist Chris Pendergast to provide first-hand examples of what is possible with the right level of determination.