From Here To There 2010

I'm riding a hand cycle from St. Louis to Washington D.C. on April 28th to promote awareness for

Spinocerebellar Ataxia while raising money for physically disabled children to participate in sports

through Disabled Athletes Sports Association.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Day 20 Monday, May 17th #1
We left the monastery, getting ready to ride. Starting from Maud. It's a rainy, wet, cold day.

Day 20 Monday, May 17th #2
Mercer County - this one's for you Bob!

Posted by Allen & Andrea at 12:42 PM

Allen & Andrea: My name is Allen Baumgartner. In 2008 I was diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia, sometimes referred to as the unknown disease. Friedreich's Ataxia is a type of Spinocerebellar Ataxia, a rare and progressive neurological disease that affects the muscle and heart. It causes degeneration of the spine and cerebellum that results in loss of coordination of muscle movements (ataxia) and other symptoms. Over the course of about a year, I went from having an unusual gait (ie, walk) to a cane to a wheelchair. It was right at this same time that I moved into the wheelchair that I finally received a diagnosis of Friedreich's Ataxia. When I was diagnosed, I asked myself one question: stop or go? I chose go. Soon after, I made the decision to ride across country from St. Louis, Missouri using an arm-powered bike called a hand cycle, to raise awareness for my disease. You can find out more about my trip at my website: www.FromHereToThere2010.com

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