All eyes were focused on the North Fork this morning as Matt Lauer, host of the “Today” Show, made a stop at Sep’s Farmstand in East Marion while on a charity bike ride.
Waving signs that read “Go, Matt!” member of the Sepenoski family cheered as Lauer, who biked from Orient, rode up to the farmstand and filmed a segment of the “Today” show live in East Marion.
Lauer is in the midst of a charity bike ride to raise awareness for the first-ever Red Nose Day in the United States. Popular in Britain, the event raises money for children living in poverty. Lauer began his ride at Fenway Park in Boston, rode to Providence, then Orient, and will end today in Port Jefferson before heading to NBC’s “Today” show plaza in New York.
All told, Lauer will have biked 230 miles. Lauer, who has a home on the South Fork, said he took two ferries yesterday to make it home in time for his son’s baseball game in East Hampton. Staffers said Lauer is no stranger to the North Fork and takes the Cross Sound Ferry often.
Arriving at Sep’s in the pouring rain, Lauer laughed. “Thanks for this lovely weather,” he joked.
Gesturing to the array of fresh asparagus and other produce, Katie Sepenoski said rain was needed for the crops, and Lauer agreed.
With plans to bike 57 miles today, Lauer said he was still feeling the effects of yesterday’s journey, which, while blessed with glorious riding conditions, was a rough ride on terrain that featured many hills. “I’m feeling about a six out of 100,” he said.
The crowd of family and neighbors who gathered to see Lauer ride on the North Fork was happy to greet Lauer on his journey. “We watch Matt all the time on TV and we’ve been following his ride,” said Kristen Sepenoski. “It’s so exciting.”
“Today” show staffers handed out NBC hats to the crowd, who continued to wave their signs, reading “Go, Matt, go!” as the morning show host biked off into the rain.
Of the pit stop at Sep’s, Katie Sepenoski, who runs the stand with her husband Peter, said she thought the bike ride for charity was a wonderful effort, especially since the proceeds would benefit children. “I think it’s fantastic,” she said.
