Representative from the Mohawk Valley Chapter of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) recently visited both N.A Walbran Elementary and Oriskany Jr./Sr. High School to speak to students about the Ride for Missing Children, bicycle safety, personal safety and internet safety.

The presentations were tailored to each age group and focused on a variety of topics meant to help keep students safe and raise awareness of the Ride for Missing Children.

NCMEC, established in 1984, is a non-profit whose mission is to help find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation and prevent child victimization. During the last 33 years, the organization has circulated billions of photos of missing children, assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 237,000 missing children and facilitated training for more than 331,000 law enforcement, criminal/juvenile justice and healthcare professionals. Its national toll-free hotline has received more than 4.3 million calls.

The Ride for Missing Children takes place every year in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany and Utica. The roughly 100 mile bike ride features thousands of riders, and honors and raises funds for our country’s missing children. The Utica ride, which this year is taking place on June 1, starts at the New York State Police barracks in Oneida and finishes at the New Hartford Recreation Center.