A special project for our kids

[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.