Heading up to Colebrook Tomorrow

Drinking a pint of Leviathan at the Vermont Brewery

In less then 24 hours we head north to the Canadian border to participate in the Trans New Hampshire Bike Ride. It’s been an interesting riding season up to this point and by interesting i mean WET. On my way into work this morning the radio reported that we’ve received double the average rainfall for the month, and it’s going to rain some more this weekend. Rain doesn’t deter our riding. On my first ride from Canada to Portsmouth we rode thorough a thunderstorm that put down some hail (good thing for helmets). I just looked at the weather for up north, and it looks to be the same as down here. Patchy sunlight through rain producing clouds!

Last weekends ‘warm-up’ ride from Boston to Vermont went off without a hitch. The day ended up being perfect for 150 miles on the bike. Overcast and not cold, with only 1 sprinkling of rain for the duration. If we can get that weather for at least 1 day I’ll take it!

I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of you who have donated and supported us for this ride. we’ve raised over $1600! That’s enough money to send 2 kids to summer camp! Thank you all for the support, and strange looks when I head out for a ’short’ 50 mile ride.

It still isn’t to late to donate. The ride has raised $95,500 so far, $500 more and we’ll have broken the $100,000 mark!

This year the ride is to honor Teagan House. He was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This genetic disease begins early in childhood and causes progressive loss of muscle strength and bulk and usually leads to death in the early 20s from respiratory or cardiac muscular failure. DMD occurs when a gene on the X chromosome fails to make the essential muscle protein dystrophin.

Teagan was the 2007 NH State Goodwill Ambassador and he has attended the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon to present a check. Teagan greeted the TNHBR riders at the Rochester Fire Station in 2007.

The money donated goes directly to helping those in need. $85 funds an hour of research, $100 runs a group support session, $800 allows a child to attend the MDA summer camp, and $2000 will give assistance with obtaining a Wheelchair or Leg Braces.

All you have to do is click here to make a secure, online donation before 06/28/09. Your donation will help families in our community who live with neuromuscular disease. I can’t wait to add you to my list of contributors.

Thanks in advance for your help. Don’t hesitate to call or email me with any questions.

Joe and Katie

P.S.  I’m counting on you, click here to donate.

If the link above does not work, please cut and paste the address below into the address bar of your Internet browser. https://www.joinmda.org/tnhbr09/jpitkin