June 6 to August 9, 2009 65 days on the open road!
I am very excited about the summer of 2009 when I will take on the bicycle ride of a lifetime - the Coast-to-Coast Bike for Arthritis. I will ride solo in memory of my mom, who was wheelchair-bound with spinal stenosis and osteoarthritis for 15 years and in honor of others I have met whose lives have been profoundly impacted by arthritis. After her long battle with arthritis mom recently passed away on November 26, 2008.
A few years ago, I developed arthritis in my knees and had to give up running. I traded in my running shoes for a bicycle and have been riding ever since.
From June 6 to August 9, 2009, I will ride a 4,000 mile trail for 65 days from Seattle to Cape May, New Jersey. Riding across America may seem like a huge undertaking but cannot compare to the pain and suffering that my mom and others with arthritis endure every day.
My goal is to raise $50,000 for the Arthritis Foundation's program services and arthritis research to improve the lives of those with arthritis and related diseases and to increase arthritis awareness.
Did you know that 46 million Americans (1 in 5 adults) including 300,000 children have some form of arthritis? Predictions call arthritis the epidemic of the future. Rates of arthritis are expected to increase by 50% by the year 2030. Imagine, arthritis costs the United States' economy nearly $86.2 billion annually.
I hope you will consider helping me reach my goal by making a tax deductible donation. Any amount will be greatly appreciated!
