By now, almost everyone knows about ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Many have had the misfortune of direct experience with the disease. Suffice it to say that it is a devastating and dreadful disease. We are committed to eradicating it.
ALS is not incurable. Rather, it is underfunded. The Tri-State Trek provides a meaningful portion of the annual budget of the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS-TDI). ALS-TDI is the world's foremost drug discovery center focused exclusively on ALS. Pioneering the "biotech model," ALS-TDI places the patient at the center of every decision made in the lab. The team of scientists at ALS-TDI collaborates daily in the lab and through pharmaceutical company partnerships worldwide to discover cures and treatment for ALS.
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In its twenty-three years of existence, the Tri-State Trek has raised more than $11 million to fund ALS research. What did ALS-TDI do with your contribution last year? Among other things, ALS-TDI advanced a new drug (Program: TDI 1831), as required by the FDA, into human clinical trial. And simultaneously, the lab is analyzing data to determine which patients have the best chance of responding to this drug. Slowly, but surely, a cure is coming.
And what will ALS-TDI do with this year’s contribution? Thanks to a lead gift from Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS (https://augiesquest.org/) of $3 million, the lab is moving into a larger space (34,000 sf from 15,000 sf) and increasing its staff of researchers and upgrading its technology because, according to VP Carol Hamilton, “There are more good ideas than there is infrastructure.” The Trek constitutes 10% of ALS-TDI’s annual budget.
I am both privileged and honored to ride for Team Bannon-Crush ALS. In its sixteen year history, this team alone has raised in excess of $2.5 million in contributions to the Tri-State Trek. While this is an accomplishment of which we are very proud, we have not completed our mission-to eradicate ALS. This can only happen through the continued generosity and compassion of our wonderful donors.
The Tri-State Trek is a challenging cycling adventure. Encompassing parts of three states, the ride covers two weekend days. The ride begins and ends each day at the University of New Hampshire. Completing a century ride each day (100 miles), we will traverse the hills and valleys of New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts on June 27 and June 28.
This will be my twelfth consecutive year of participation in this great event. Your contribution will automatically qualify you as a member of my team of more than 150 donors known as Team Higgs and will place your name on the list of recipients of my daily ride updates, which I will provide in the same fashion as in prior years, as I share this unique experience with you.
While I have not had a relative diagnosed with ALS, I have clearly been impacted by the disease through the people I have met who are associated with the Tri-State Trek and ALS TDI. The riders and those they ride for, as well as the doctors and staff at ALS TDI, are truly inspirational. It is rewarding to see our team grow and our fundraising efforts flourish for such a worthwhile cause. This is the only cause for which you will ever receive a fundraising plea from me.
Please be as generous as you can. Every little bit helps. And please take a moment to view the brief inspirational video directly below promoting this year's Trek. Team Bannon appears at the 45-second mark. I hope that you will find this to be a worthwhile cause. Thank you, in advance, for your support.
Riding until we have a cure,
Bob
