Adventures For the Cure | Blog/News

• Website is created for Adventures for the Cure: The Doc at www.adventuresforthecuremovie.com.
• Kris' Kayak Adventure Campaign nets $965 (led by Kristopher Auer) for AFC's Extreme Weekend (children with diabetes camp) and World Bicycle Relief.
  
• Luke's Bike Campaign raises more than $2,000 (led by Bike Doctor Linthicum and Brown Cycles) for bicycle built for special needs child.

• Luke rides on his maiden voyage on special bicycle.
• Lots and lots of base miles and training in preparation for record-setting push at the 2009 Race Across America (RAAM) in June. Did we mention it's still cold outside?
  

• Princeton Sports presents Adam Driscoll and Pat Blair with Cannondale road and time trial bicycles for the 2009 Race Across America (RAAM).
  

• AFC holds 1st (Annual) AFC Sugar Hill Cross-Country Mountain Bike (XC MTB) Race; raises more than $3,000 for diabetes programs.
  
• 2^nd Annual UMBC Cycle-o-Thon (led by Adam Driscoll, Alex Driscoll and Pat Blair and fellow UMBC cyclists) raise funds for Extreme Weekend and Kupenda for the Children.
• AFC has over 20 riders compete in Baker's Dozen 13-hour Mountain Bike Race.
  

• AFC holds 1st (Annual) Black-and-White Night for fundraising ($6,700+) and fun-raising.
• AFC holds 1st Extreme Weekend for Children with Diabetes Camp and it becomes an instant success with campers.
  
• AFC is one of the top 5 fundraising teams for the 2009 Maryland Tour de Cure supporting the American Diabetes Association; raising more than $8,000.
• Adam Driscoll wins 1st place (Road Cat. 3/4) at Sunday's Bound Brook Criterium at the Tour of Somerville.

• AFC's Adam Driscoll and Patrick Blair (and support crew!) compete and win the 2-man division of the 3,021-mile transcontinental event at the 2009 Race Across America (RAAM), The World's Toughest Bike Race. Raise over $30,000 for Extreme Weekend and Kupenda for the Children.
• AFC goes Web 2.0 - uses Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Picasa, Flickr and other 25 social media sites to get connect with our fans, donors and supporters. David Harrity is expected to announce his entire takeover of the Internet. ;-)
  
• 
  

• Adam and Pat sleep for 30-days straight after RAAM (haha, that's meant to be a joke).
• Greg Young competes in Swimming For Water Campaign and AFC releases more than $10,000 to Kupenda for the Children and Blood:Water Mission.
• Adam Driscoll and Tracy Kessler are married on July 12th.
• AFC joins GoodSearch and GoodShop that allows supporters to search and shop over the Internet while supporting our causes.
• Phelps Luck swim team campaigns for AFC with swim-a-thon to raise funds for Extreme Weekend for children with diabetes.
  

• Nate and Sarah Mudd get married and perform outstanding gesture to support AFC.
• Mark Pare (AFC racing team) conquers the famous (and ultra-tough) Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hill Climb; raises more than $450.
  

• Matt Gilman - Blind Time Trials Rider - joins the AFC Team; Matt was blinded by Type 1 diabetes but that doesn't stop him from performing incredible observed bike trial rides.
• Laura Matt and David Harrity become newest members of the AFC Board of Directors.
• AFC wins big at the Sugar Free Miles 5k (supporting diabetes causes). Top 2 overall (Adam Driscoll, Pat Blair), 2nd female (Tracy Kessler Driscoll) and age-group winner (Jennifer Blandford).
  
• CYCLOCROSS!!! AFC team members like to get muddy and so begins the cyclocross season with events from the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Bicycle Racing Association (MABRA) and Mid-Atlantic Cross (MAC) series.
  
• Adam Driscoll crushes the competition and wins the Cat B (Cat. 2/3/4) event at Charm City Cyclocross in Baltimore, Md.; moves up to Elite Men's (Cat. 1/2/3) races after that.
  

• Annapolis Area Christian School students (led by Roberto Irias) raise more than $5,000 with AFC Bike-a-thon for Kenyan youth suffering from skin cancer due to albinism; funds go to support surgery and medical treatments.
• "AFC Headquarters" gets much needed "woman's touch" with fresh coats of paint. (Why is this significant you ask? You have to seen the "before" and "after" shots of the townhouse to truly know why.) ;-)
  
• University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Magazine spotlights Adventures for the Cure and its causes.
• By now, AFC members have easily ridden over 5,000 miles of early morning rides as part of TheMorningRide.com (TMR). Debate rages on whether that exceeds the amount of emails flying around the TMR's Google Group. ;-)
  
• Team Adventures for the Cure racers (Bill Vickers and Mike Berry) win the EDGE 6-Hour Adventure Race.
• Adam Driscoll competes in first UCI-level race at Granogue Cross; some say it was a bit muddy (that's the understatement of the century, check out this video!)
• Numerous AFC team members compete in the Baltimore Marathon (running), Seagull Century Ride (cycling), Little River 24-hour Challenge (mountain biking), and Iron Cross (cyclocross)
  
• Jose Cepeda captured 1st place in his age group (and 6th overall) wearing his Adventures for the Cure skinsuit at the 2009 Bassman Duathlon (3.1 mile run, 58 mile bike, 13.1 mile run) held in Bass River, New Jersey. Columbia-Md.-based Allyson Tufano garnered 2nd place female overall (and 4th overall).
• Kristen Hughes Wimmer wins the solo female division in the 9 Hours of Endurance Duathlon (trail running and mountain biking relay) event at the EX2 Day of Endurance.
  
• Laura Matt and Erin Wells win the Duo Female Division of the 6 Hours of Mountain Biking event at EX2 Day of Endurance.
• Tracy Kessler capturing first overall female with a time of 22:51. And, Jen Blandford 3rd overall female with a time of 23:30 at the Harvest Harrier 5K Trail Run
  

• By now, AFC team members have likely had over 1,000 gallons of CeraSport - our favorite performance-enhancing energy/re-hydration drink.
  
• AFC supports the annual World Diabetes Day on November 14th.
• Keith Rohr captures career first win (and 2nd win and ...) in cyclocross.
  
• AFC captures 5th place overall in team standings for the 2009 MABRA Cyclocross Series Championship. Incredible support throughout season from family and friends, thanks!
  
• AFC wins "Suitcase full of Sausage" at the Tacchino Ciclocross race (yeah, we're still trying to figure that one out. ;-)
  
• Adam Driscoll wins the 2009 Maryland State Cyclocross Championship (Elite Men).
  
• Keith Rohr wins the 2009 MABRA Cyclocross Series Championship (Master's Cat. 3/4).
• Steve Klose wins the 2009 Maryland State Cyclocross Championship (Master's Cat. 3/4).
• Avy Rohr wins the 2009 MABRA Cyclocross Series Championship, Race Championship and Maryland State Championship (Junior Women U16).
• AFC begins the Christmas for Kupenda Campaign to raise funds for children with disabilities.
  

• Conducted "Living with Diabetes" education session with staff at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service.
• Adam Driscoll is upgraded to Category 1 Cyclocross by USA Cycling.
• Patrick Blair is upgraded to Category 2 Cyclocross by USA Cycling.
• Andrey Doroshenko is upgraded to Category 3 Cyclocross by USA Cycling.
• AFC documentary film is shown as pre-quel to the DC Bicycle Film Festival.
  
• GovLoop members and its AwesomeGov Fund supporters vote AFC as top charity and award more than $1,780.
• AFC supporters raise more than $3,500 in our Christmas for Kupenda Campaign.
  

Labels: 2009 raam, adventure racing, Adventures For The Cure, cancer, children, cycling, cyclocross, diabetes, disabilities, fundraising, mountain biking, social-media, speaking, swimming

Washington, DC - Jan. 05, 2010 - This Christmas, Adventures for the Cure (AFC) once again joined forces with Kupenda for the Children.

As a part of our Christmas Campaign for Kupenda, AFC raised over $3,500 for children with disabilities in Kenya! During the holiday season, supporters of both organizations were encouraged to buy a gift (or a share of a gift) in a loved one's name for Kupenda. Gifts included physical therapy, emergency medical attention, classroom furniture, assistance equipment, corrective surgery, and student/teacher supplies. Due to your generosity and compassion in giving the most meaningful of gifts, the lives of children with disabilities will be dramatically changed in the new year! Thank you!

While this specific campaign is over, AFC continues to accept general donations for our numerous programs and donors may designate support children with disabilities via Kupenda.

About Kupenda for the Children
Kupenda for the Children is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt Christian-based organization that exists to meet the needs of children, with disabilities. Ultimately the goal is that these children will feel that they are loved and accepted.

Kupenda for the Children meets this mission through advocacy and sponsorship of school fees, child assistance and medical intervention, construction of special needs facilities, and the coordination of volunteer assistance. Kupenda serves children with disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, deafness, deformed or missing limbs, spina bifida, the effects of polio, visual impairment, Downs' syndrome, autism, epilepsy, and other physical and mental disabilities. To learn more, visit http://www.kupenda.org/.

About Adventures for the Cure
Adventures For The Cure (AFC), a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization and USA Cycling club which exists to raise awareness for diabetes, to show those diagnosed with diabetes and their families how leading a healthy and active lifestyle can move you beyond your perceived limits, and to raise funds for diabetes research. The organization also raises awareness and funds for other causes that the board of directors has selected. For more details, visit http://adventuresforthecure.com/.

Labels: Adventures For The Cure, campaign, children, disabilities, fundraising, kupenda, nonprofit

Labels: Adventures For The Cure, adventuresforthecure, awesomegov, govloop, video

Mike Berry and Bill Vickers (Team Adventures for the Cure) enjoy their 1st place male and 3rd place overall finish at The EDGE 6 Hour Adventure Race.

NOTE: The following is reprinted with permission from Bill Vicker's Blog.

This is sort of hard to believe. 118 teams at an Adventure Race! Didn't know it was possible, and most folks wouldn't believe it, so I posted the garbled results below. They didn't transfer format to the mac. When I saw the park map, I was scratching my head how they could pull this off in a relatively small park and make it feel like an adventure race. My distances by digital map scale device. 10 km paddle, 8 km trek/run, 20mi bike mostly within the confines of Marsh Creek Park in Pennsylvania. Took about 90 minutes for each section. Of course the trek felt alot longer, and we even got to do a 15 meter swim--after all, it was Mike's first adventure race, and he is President of the Annapolis Triathlon Club. We had to show him all that adventure racing offers. Curiously, it was only the lead few teams that actually took that swim? That swim was followed by a nice uphill slog thru thickets of briars.


This wasn't a High Tech AR of the past--it was a true AR race. How do you do that in a sprint race?Maybe because it somehow had offtrail bushwacking, trail running, river crossings with a bike, road biking, singletrack biking, paddling amongst waterfowl and fishermen, and enough challenging navigation to make it feel adventuresome. Also, Jon N, the course designer, took the time to gps transpose the park trails to the 1:24,000 National Geographic topo map. He pain stakenly created possibly the best map in existence of that park! I asked him in detail how he did it, and he obviously has enough experience so that he pulled the design together in a long day of training. Maybe racers should always be the course designers? The gps transposed trails were a nice touch especially for those of us who had never seen the park. It helped level the playing field for out of towners. It was the best Goalsara race I have attended to date. Maybe I was just overly hyped, blessed, or happy to be out in the woods again? And I can't tell ya how fun it was. I have been having trouble with intensity sessions in racing and training, but AR was the perfect type of race right now. I really didn't think I would make it to this point again and especially run the race so well navigationally. I am definitely gonna be back in AR now and then, as it felt like home.

They broke up the teams into 4 sections to spread us out. We had a short run prologue to obtain our passport which directed us to our first section. It was partly a run up a technical washed out trail with a creek running thru it. When we got to the location of our passport/race instructions, it was the first time where I actually helped other teams jump up on the hay bales to obtain their instructions. Maybe I temporarily lost my competitive edge?

The 25 checkpoints were in a rogaine format (points assigned to each depending on distance or difficulty), the route choices had enough options to keep all of us entertained, and it was a very accessible race for newbies. Yes, they threw in "special tests" which included a memorization game which was maybe the most fun as we blew it off and took the penalty, which was slightly faster, then we progressed to tying a sequence of knots including a bowline, clove hitch, and a prussik, then floating a ping pong ball in a PVC tube by running back and forth to the Lake with a cup of water. This was a huge disadvantage with a 2-person team and our leaky tube. Realizing we would be there all day emptying the Lake water level, we took the clue from a neighboring team and bent the rules AR style. As much as I usually think "special tests" are goofy, I understood the importance of them this race. Obviously, they only had approximately 30 canoes for the teams, so spreading out the teams without delaying them on the paddle took careful planning.

Apparently 70 folks or teams were new to this, which is very nice to see. I suppose I was a wee bit confused about racing only a month ago, or ever racing again for that matter, but doing a team AR again was just the trick. I was very on the fence about registering. I ended up being glad I did, and I'm very thankful to Mike for making this happen and tolerating my hesitations. After the race, I have been doing experimental brain injury treatments that have me approaching racing form again. I couldn't be more stoked and mentally ready to start racing again on more than one cylinder!!!

This was Mike Berry's first AR race. He and I trained hard for the Mayor's Cup [New York City Kayak Championships] kayak race, so we had an advantage on the paddle. It was the fastest I have gone in a plastic canoe, as we had peaked for the Mayor's Cup only the week before and that race was cancelled due to appalling weather. I think we both felt awful or silly lapping the beginner teams ahead of us, trying to explain to them that we actually spend alot of time paddling. During one of our training sessions before the race, we bumped into a fellow triathlete who Mike knew from the tri club. Someone who looks up to Mike. Mike had to sort of play it down as he looked like an adventure racer convert all decked out in a backpack and trail shoes. I admit, I love converting triathletes to adventure racing. We are guessing his friend only thought we were out for an ultrarun, but they didn't see our kayaks stashed back at the beach.

The largest division had nearly 70 teams, and you can barely find our name on there. TMK and some superfast local folks, Tyad PT, had amazing races.

Strangely enough, I bumped into a guy who was claiming to be the oldest racer and wanted an award for that. In talking to him, I found out it was his first race back after having a right total knee replacement.

I figured he should have an award for that! So I took a picture of his knee. You can barely see the scar so don't bother straining your eyes. Medicine has progressed to the point where this guy was barely walking only 8 months ago, and he was now out doing an adventure race. With questioning, he did admit he wasn't allowed to run, but he can bike and paddle to his heart content, and was able to trek well with poles and a backpack. Inside his knee was a metal tibia/femoral prosthesis and a synthetic patella replacement. He was 54 yrs old. Pretty impressive!

Labels: adventure racing, Bill Vickers, cancer, kayaking, Mike Berry, mountain biking, paddling, Pennsylvania, trail running, USARA

Interview with Keith Rohr (Adventures for the Cure)


Keith Rohr (pictured) racing at the 2009 Tacchino Ciclocross. [Photo courtesy of Joseph W. Metro]

DH: Keith, congratulations on your first win in cyclocross. Based on the results posted on crossresults.com, it appears that you did a lot of work in the off-season preparing for this year. Is that right?

KR: I started preparing for the 2009 cyclocross season in the late winter. I almost didn't race this year because of work-related hassles, but things turned around for me. I did a lot of mountain biking and entered the first Michaux Endurance Series race in early May and felt exceptionally good. Six weeks prior I had dramatically changed my diet and went completely vegan. Oddly enough, by June, the diet led to so much weight loss that my arms weakened and actually gave out during a mountain bike race in Massanutten causing me to separate my left shoulder. Fortunately, the shoulder was much better by the time cyclocross season started and the discipline of the rehab process helped me with my training discipline.

DH: With five top 5 finishes this season, was there anything different in your preparation for Urban Cross at Ix that led to your win?

KR: Funny. I almost didn't race Urban Cross because it seemed like a long way to go for a race. However, I knew AFC was gaining on the team points and I wanted to contribute to the team efforts by having a good race at Urban Cross. It turned out to be a good call because several of the team members did well that day. I can't say I did anything different other than making sure I rested well two or three days prior.

DH: Is your goal to win the Master's Category 3/4 35+ MABRAcross championship?

KR: My original goal set back in the late winter was to place in the top 5 of the cyclocross races that I entered. After Charm City Cross I knew I was strong enough to win a race, so my new goal was to win a race or two at the Master's 3/4 level. I'd like to finish the year as the season points leader, but that's more of a formality because there is no jersey awarded at my level. Either way, it's a nice measurement of my progress in the sport. If the season ended now, I'd say that it's been a successful year for me.

DH: Are you ready to be upgraded to the Master's Elite Category 1/2/3 races?

KR: I'd like to get another win under my belt at one of the upcoming races at Howard County Double Cross and then finish the season at the at the Master's 1/2/3 level for the MABRA Cross Championship in Taneytown, Md. That would be a great way to close out the season and get a nice taste for what's in store for next year.

DH: So, who do you have to thank for getting you to this point?

KR: Oh boy, that's a long list. First and foremost, forever thanks to my wife, Stacey, who never flinches when I say I want to do something bike related. It takes a lot of pressure off you when your wife is behind you during the race season. Another big prop goes to my coach, Rodger Carter. He's always believed in me even when I didn't believe in me. He is the cornerstone for my training in 2009. Of course, I can't forget my team-mates and ride-mates, Adventures for the Cure and TheMorningRide. I wouldn't be racing if my friends weren't racing with me. You guys rock!!!

About Maryland Physical Therapy
Maryland Physical Therapy (MPT) located in Glen Burnie is dedicated to providing an atmosphere which promotes optimal healing. MPT offers a variety of services related to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of movement dysfunctions and to the enhancement of physical health and functional abilities. To learn more, visit http://www.marylandpt.net/.

About Adventures For The Cure
Adventures For The Cure (AFC), a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization and USA Cycling club which exists to raise awareness for diabetes, to show those diagnosed with diabetes and their families how leading a healthy and active lifestyle can move you beyond your perceived limits, and to raise funds for diabetes research. The organization also raises awareness and funds for other causes that the board of directors has selected. For more details, visit http://adventuresforthecure.com/.

Labels: Adventures For The Cure, adventuresforthecure, cyclocross, mabracross, Maryland Physical Therapy, racing

November 15, 2009 | Adventures for the Cure has been entered to win the AwesomeGov Fund sponsored by GovLoop.com and is seeking your votes to help us win the contest.

To vote for Adventures for the Cure, go to:

http://govloop.uservoice.com/pages/6040-awesomegov/suggestions/386668-adventures-for-the-cure-http-adventuresforthecure-com

****Don't Need to Log-In/Sign-Up - Vote/Comment Away***

Help GovLoop Give Back!

GovLoop.com will donate $1 for every government member that joins GovLoop between now and December 15. You can suggest as many charities as you like and you'll have up to 5 votes. Feel free to comment on the options, too.

The charity with the most votes as of 11:59pm ET on December 15 below gets the loot. More info at awesomegov.org

GovLoop, the premier social network for government, brings the "awesomeness" to the next level by tying in philanthropy with government 2.0 through the AwesomeGov Fund.

GovLoop is a big believer in social entrepreneurship – companies like Tom's Shoes that donate one pair of shoes for every pair of shoes purchased. We've been a big supporter of initiatives like the GovLoop Kiva groups, where over 65 GovLoopers have already come together to donate over $10,000 to charity, and big fans of the fine folks at the Combined Federal Campaign.

With that approach in mind, we came up with the idea for the AwesomeGov Fund, which aims to highlight, honor and support government by raising awareness about government-related individuals, groups and programs that are inspiring in their ability to create impact and make government better. We are committing a minimum of 5% of all revenue in 2010 to the "AwesomeGov" Charity fund.

To celebrate the launch of the fund, GovLoop will donate $1.00 for each new government professional who joins GovLoop between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15. The process will be community-driven. GovLoop members will submit charity recommendations, vote for their favorite causes and the total amount will be donated to the winning charity. You can participate at govloop.com.

Labels: Adventures For The Cure, fundraising, vote

Labels: cycling, cyclocross, mabracross, racing

-by David Harrity, Halethorpe, Maryland : November 7, 2009: What's the point of riding around in a circle? Over 30 students and parents learned why by gathering with team members from Adventures for the Cure cycling team on Sunday, October 25, for a 4-hour bike-a-thon, which circled around the 11-mile mile BWI Trail. The result was netting over $5,000 in charitable donations from friends, family and supporters from the Annapolis Area Christian School (AACS) campaign.


Roberto Irias (center, pictured above) speaks to parents, students and riders before leading them in prayer at the start of the AACS Bike-a-thon.


The bike-a-thon was organized by Rob Irias who coaches the AACS Junior Varsity soccer team. Irias teaches Spanish and the Bible at AACS. Irias said, "I had never organized a bike-a-thon before and decided to do it, in hopes of teaching my players what it means to serve." Irias who is also a member of the AFC cycling team member was asked how the idea got started. Irias replied, "I know that I love to bike and I'm sure the idea began on one of my early morning rides. I said to myself: "What if I have my guys get sponsors that will give them money for every mile they bike?" I mentioned this in passing in one of my soccer practices and I saw a spark in their eyes. The challenge of biking many miles with a group of friends proved appealing to my teenage guys."

The charitable donations have been forwarded to Kupenda for the Children to raise funds mostly for Eric Pembe (pictured before and after surgery), a young Kenyan man with Albinism who is suffering from a severe case of skin cancer that requires immediate chemotherapy and subsequent medical treatments. Irias stated, "As far as Kupenda and Erick, I consider myself blessed to be part of Adventures for the Cure. It was through them that the avenue was opened and we all (my team and I) became aware of the need that Erick had and still has." Additional funds will go to support general needs of Kupenda to support children with disabilities."

I asked Rob if his students enjoyed the ride, Irias replied "My guys kept saying what a great time they had. They had feelings of accomplishment both physically and spiritually as they knew that what they had done is going to have an eternal impact. Let's just say that AFC is well know at AACS, and it's not just because of me."

Cynthia Bauer, founder of Kupenda for the Children is a Baltimore native now living in the Boston, Mass., area and is a long-time friend of Adventures for the Cure founders Adam Driscoll and Patrick Blair. Kupenda and Adventures for the Cure often combine their fundraising efforts to raise support for children with disabilities as documented in the award-winning film, Adventures for the Cure: The Doc. On December 3, the documentary film will be shown in a Bicycle Film Festival sponsored by Bicycle Stations, located at 204 14th St. N.W., Washington, DC.



About Annapolis Area Christian School
Annapolis Area Christian School (AACS), founded in 1971, is an independent, Christian day school that concentrates on preparing students for college and for life; that has grown into a robust community of learning that is setting the standard for Christian education in the Baltimore/Washington corridor; whose faculty engages students in a rigorous college preparatory program of learning that is enhanced with electives and extracurricular activities; that stresses basic academic skills and an appreciation of the arts; whose aim is to graduate servant leaders who will represent Jesus Christ faithfully in the world; and whose graduates have been accepted at and have graduated from many of the nation's leading colleges, universities, and military academies. Visit http://www.aacsonline.org/.

About Kupenda for the Children
Kupenda for the Children is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt Christian-based organization that exists to meet the needs of children, with disabilities. Ultimately the goal is that these children will feel that they are loved and accepted.

Kupenda for the Children meets this mission through advocacy and sponsorship of school fees, child assistance and medical intervention, construction of special needs facilities, and the coordination of volunteer assistance. Kupenda serves children with disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, deafness, deformed or missing limbs, spina bifida, the effects of polio, visual impairment, Downs' syndrome, autism, epilepsy, and other physical and mental disabilities. To learn more, visit http://www.kupenda.org/.

About Adventures for the Cure
Adventures For The Cure (AFC), a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization and USA Cycling club which exists to raise awareness for diabetes, to show those diagnosed with diabetes and their families how leading a healthy and active lifestyle can move you beyond your perceived limits, and to raise funds for diabetes research. The organization also raises awareness and funds for other causes that the board of directors has selected. For more details, visit http://adventuresforthecure.com/.

Labels: AACS, Adventures For The Cure, adventuresforthecure, Annapolis Area Christian School, cancer, fundraising, kupenda

Labels: cycling, cyclocross, racing