A special project to help our children

[Guest guest]

While most families are thinking about where to go for their spring

and summer vacations, Jeff Spaetzel and Adam Dabrowski are going to

be " Pedaling for a Cure " by riding their bicycles from Los Angeles,

CA to Chicago, IL. The ride will coincide with National Autism

Awareness month. Amber, Spaetzel's eight-year old daughter who was

diagnosed with autism in December 2000, is the inspiration behind the

ride. The duo hope to raise $100,000 to help find a cure for autism

and to date have raised over $25,000.

Spaetzel and Dabrowski invite the public to attend the send-off

ceremony scheduled to begin at 10am at the Newport Beach Pier in

Newport Beach California on Sunday, April 17th. Newport Beach mayor

Steve Bromberg will conduct the official send off ceremony. From

there the riders will make their way to Riverside, CA where

Riverside mayor Loveridge will welcome the riders into town at the

42nd Street Bagel shop between 1pm-2pm.

Spaetzel and Dabrowski are staying with families who have children

with an autism spectrum disorder, police stations or fire departments

along their route between Los Angeles and Chicago. If you would like

to help, host families are still needed in the Palm Desert /Palm

Springs/Coachella Valley/Indio area as well as Clinton and Des

Moines, IA. Click on the following link for more information:

http://www.pedal4acure.org/Sponsorarider.asp

The ride will wrap-up the Cure Autism Now Walk on May 22, 2005 at

Soldier Field in Chicago, IL and will pass through over 28 cities and

nine states including: Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico,

Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. The ride is

very symbolic to those raising a loved one with an Autism Spectrum

Disorder. The $100,000 vision represents the financial burden autism

puts on families, the 2,400 mile ride represents the distances many

families travel to get help, and only two riders as opposed to a

group represent the isolation and lack of support for those with

autism.

Spaetzel and Dabrowski invite everyone to check out their website and

track the ride at http://www.pedal4acure.org The duo also invite

everyone to sign their guestbook at

http://www.pedal4acure.org/guestbook.htm with thoughts and well-

wishes to help them through the tough days ahead.

For those who may be interested in helping this cause, virtual mile

markers can be purchased and dedicated to a loved one for as little

as $10. Email notifications will be sent out as the mile marker(s)

are passed. Both riders are covering all the expenses out-of-pocket

to ensure 100% of the proceeds go to Cure Autism Now.