ELISA IS PEDALING TOWARD A BRIGHTER FUTURE

Elisa DiGregorio’s story is one of resilience, perseverance, and hope. After struggling with opioid addiction for over a decade, Elisa found her way back to a healthy and fulfilling life through cycling.

At 22 years old, Elisa entered a long-term treatment center. It was her third time seeking help for her addiction, but it was the last time. She spent 14 months living at the center in upstate New York and, when she returned to Brooklyn for the outpatient phase of her recovery, she had a renewed sense of motivation and purpose.

With her passion for biking, she signed up for the TD Five Boro Bike Tour to raise money for suicide prevention. The 40-mile ride was a physical challenge she was excited to take on but, more importantly, she wanted to ride in honor of her uncle, who struggled with mental health and substance use.

The Tour marked the start of her re-entry into life without drugs or substances.

“Although hadn’t trained in a while, and at some points, wanted to give up, kept riding and riding. Finishing the TD Five Boro Bike Tour was a feeling could not explain, it was the first time in as long as I could remember feeling absolutely exhilarated.”

Today, Elisa has been clean from drugs for 12 years. She went back to school to complete her degree in Dental Hygiene at NYU, became president of her class, and now works at one of the top cosmetic dentistry practices in New York. She attributes much of her success to her participation in the Tour, which motivated her to believe she could do anything, especially the things that were meaningful to her.

The TD Five Boro Bike Tour played a significant role in Elisa’s journey, but it is also a symbol of something larger; it’s a celebration of community, of coming together for a cause, and of the joy of cycling.