BY CHERYL SHUMWAY
North Country This Week

NORWOOD – Hundreds of all-terrain recreational riders from across the North Country hit the trails in the 10th annual Dustin Berger Memorial ATV Ride Saturday morning, May 21.

The event was started ten years ago by Jake Clark as a memorial to honor Dustin Berger, his childhood friend.

It has since grown by over seven times since it began a decade ago.

“We feel we have a nice community event in Dustin’s memory,” said Mary Phillips, Berger’s mother and co-organizer of the run.

Berger was a 15-year old student at Norwood-Norfolk Central School when he tragically died in a cabin fire in April, 2010.

“Dustin loved anything outdoors: hunting, fishing, camping. He raced his four-wheeler many times, participating in all of the American Legion-hosted ATV rides, was a certified underwater diver and a junior firefighter,” said Phillips.

The 366 riders this year helped raise over $4,000 that will be donated to St. Lawrence County Chemical Dependency.

“We try to change the beneficiary every year, with what Dustin would want in mind,” said Phillips.

Past donations have been given to local food pantries, Norwood Fire Department, Norwood American Legion, Norfolk-Norwood Figure Skating Club, scholarships to Norwood-Norfolk School seniors and Blue Fin Diving School, Believe NNY, Rider Down Foundation, and Norfolk Rod and Gun Club.

The 50-mile trip to Moira and back to the Norwood American Legion ended with an afternoon of music provided by Ben Todd and food by Gideon’s Food Truck.

“Dustin was very passionate about his mother, brother Devin and sisters. He was a friend to many and a helping hand to all,” said his mother.

[img_assist|nid=320254|title=Dustin Berger, left, and Codey Bond at an American Legion ATV event when Dustin was a teen. Because of Dustin’s love of the outdoors and ATV riding, the Dustin Berger Memorial Ride was started after his death. Photo submitted by his mother.|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=1200|height=892]