Marty Dow Jr., formerly of Auburn, and his son, Luke, were best buddies in the eighth annual Volvo Best Buddies Challenge in Cape Cod on May 19. They completed the final 20-mile stretch.

Former Auburn man, son complete ride

HYANNIS, Mass. – Marty Dow Jr. and his son, Luke, were “Best Buddies” at the eighth annual Volvo Best Buddies Challenge from Boston to Cape Cod on May 19.

Dow and Luke joined hundreds of others, like New England Patriot Teddy Bruschi and U.S Sen. John Kerry, to ride either 90 or 20 miles from the JFK Library in Boston to Cape Cod in support of people with intellectual disabilities. More than $2.5 million was raised. The pair did the final 20-mile stretch of the event, which ended in Hyannis. More than half the participants did the 20-mile stretch, with 20 to 30 of the participants mentally disabled.

Luke, who is autistic, raised more than $1,500 in pledges with his father’s assistance. All riders/participants had to raise a minimum of $1,250 to ride in the challenge.

Dow grew up in Auburn and graduated from Edward Little High School in 1969.

He moved to the Washington, D.C., area after eight years in the Navy. He still has numerous relatives living in the area, including his parents, Martin and Phyllis Dow, bother, Gary Dow, sister, Janice Packard, and nieces and nephews. Dow’s wife, Cathy, has a brother, Eric Joseph, well-known sculptor and education artist, who lives in Hebron.

Dow has worked for GEICO Insurance Co. for many years and is the chief architect of sales systems of the Web site, geico.com. He recently obtained a master of science in information systems.

Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is an international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,300 middle school, high school and college campuses across the country and internationally. For more information, go to BestBuddies.org.