AFC Raises Over $2,500 for Cancer Research

Columbia, Md. (August 31, 2010) - Riders participating on the Adventures For The Cure team in the 24 Hours of Booty raised more than $2,500 in online and offline donations this past weekend for cancer research. 24 Hours of Booty is the official 24-hour ride of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which brings cyclists of all abilities together to raise vital funds for cancer research and survivorship. The non-competitive charity cycling event unites people who are passionate about fighting cancer. By benefiting both The Lance Armstrong Foundation and local, life-changing beneficiaries including the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults based in Howard County, Md., the 24 Hours of Booty experience represents hope, challenge, remembrance and celebration

Since its inception in 2002, 24 Hours of Booty has raised more than $1 million for cancer charities. That adds up to a lot of impactful change for the cancer community. Over $200,000 has been raised thus far from this year's Columbia, Md. event. If you would like to donate, please visit the Adventures For The Cure page.

Here are the local and national cancer charities that 24 Hours of Booty will provide funds to in 2010:

The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF)
The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) provides the practical information and tools people with cancer need to live life on their own terms. The LAF serves its mission through advocacy, public health and research.

The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults (UCF)
Based in Howard County, Maryland, the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults (UCF) was established in 1997 by Doug Ulman, a three-time cancer survivor who now serves as president of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The UCF’s mission is to enhance lives by supporting, educating and connecting young adults, and their loved ones, affected by cancer. For more information, visit www.ulmancancerfund.org or call toll-free 888-393-FUND.

The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults (UCF) was established in 1997 by Doug Ulman, a three-time cancer survivor who now serves as President and CEO of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The UCF's mission is to support, educate and connect young adults affected by cancer.

The Hendrick Marrow Program
The Hendrick Marrow Program works with Be The Match Foundation® to support the work of the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP). It raises money to add more potential marrow donors to the NMDP's Be The Match Registry®, increasing the chances that more patients find their match. It also helps patients pay for some uninsured transplant costs, which are often a barrier to treatment.

The Brain Tumor Fund for the Carolinas

An organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of the impact of brain tumors along with providing support for the development of comprehensive treatment strategies and cooperative biomedical research efforts.

The Keep Pounding Fund
Honoring the late Carolina Panthers player and coach Sam Mills and former player Mark Fields, this fund benefits the Blumenthal Center for Cancer Research at Carolinas Medical Center.

About the 24 Hours of Booty
24 Hours of Booty, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charity located in Charlotte, NC that provides an extraordinary cycling event that is safe, fun, and open to all levels of cycling ability. The organization and event were named after the three-mile loop of roadway, nicknamed the "Booty Loop" – the location of 24 Hours of Booty of Charlotte – by local runners, cyclists and sports enthusiasts, in Charlotte, N.C.'s tree-lined Myers Park neighborhood. Its mission is to increase cancer awareness, support cancer research and programs and raise funds for The Lance Armstrong Foundation and local cancer charities such as The Keep Pounding Fund at Carolinas Medical Center, the Brain Tumor Fund for the Carolinas, and the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. Since its inception in 2002, 24 Hours of Booty has raised more than $1 million for cancer charities. For more information, call toll-free at 877-365-4417, or visit www.24hoursofbooty.org.

About Adventures For The Cure
Adventures For The Cure is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization and USA Cycling Club that exists to raise awareness for diabetes, to show adults and children 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.

In addition to fighting diabetes, AFC was created to inspire everyone to use their gifts and talents to make positive change in the world around us. We have focused on using our love of cycling to accomplish this task, but any gift or talent can be used to help others and do something good! We are looking for new team members who share this vision.

The organization has also set out to inspire others to live healthy lifestyles and to adventure beyond their perceived limits, because ANYTH!NG Is Possible. For more information, visit www.adventuresforthecure.com.

AFC helps at Helping Up Mission

Yesterday, Saturday May 1st, ten AFC Team Members led by teammate Paul Patarini and newly appointed AFC Community Events Coordinator Stacey Rohr went to downtown Baltimore to help at Helping Up Mission (HUM).

HUM is a Christian based organization that has created a long-term residential Spiritual Recovery Program for men struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.

(The AFC Team at HUM)

Tracy Driscoll was one of the AFC Team Members who went to HUM yesterday. Here is her account of how it went:

Yesterday I had the opportunity to serve for the first time at the Helping Up Mission or "HUM". A spiritually based recovery program for men struggling with addiction. Myself and a few other AFC team members got to take a tour of the HUM facility, meet some folks in the recovery process, and serve dinner.

We were introduced to HUM by Barry, one of the graduates from the Mission and now a full time staff member. I was humbled by how honest so many of the men we met were. Several of the men we met shared their testimonies with us and their stories.

One of the reoccurring themes I saw with the men we met was their level of transparency. The HUM was a huge facility with several newer buildings. One of newer buildings we toured was the church sanctuary where worship and bible studies were held. On display in the hall were pictures painted and drawn by men in the mission.

At HUM men struggling with addiction and homelessness can seek refuge and recovery. HUM was able to provided medical, dental, and vision appointments to men in the program as well as an opportunity to further their education with GED classes available and tutoring. HUM also offered many of the men a strong support network to help them during their recovery. Program participants attended a series of addiction recovery classes, bible studies, and support groups. Each man participating in the program was assigned a different work responsibility at the mission. Their were men who helped cook/prepare meals, peace keepers who maintained an eye on the grounds, maintenance men and more.

Perhaps what I found to be most impressionable was that many of the men who graduated from the program remained at HUM to intern and serve as staff in helping others through the recovery phase.