2009: The year in review ..

Halethorpe, Md., Jan. 08, 2010 - The past year of 2009 was an incredible year for Adventures for the Cure (AFC). The support we received from our donors, fans and supporters inspired us to improve our outreach programs and services to adults and children living with diabetes and our support for other worthy causes such as Kupenda for the Children and beyond.

Also, check out this athlete profile video spotlighting AFC co-founder Adam Driscoll at the JDRF 2009 Capitol Chapter Gala.



And now, a serious (and not-so-serious) look back at 2009 ...

January

• 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.

February

• 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?

March

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

April

• 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.

May

• 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.

June

• 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. ;-)
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July

• 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.
• Phelps Luck swim team campaigns for AFC with swim-a-thon to raise funds for Extreme Weekend for children with diabetes.

August

• 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.

September

• 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.

October

• 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

November

• 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.

December

• 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.

Stay tuned for what's on the horizon in 2010.

Love Life!

AFC raises more than $3,500 for disabled children

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/.