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Dear Friends,
For the third straight year, the champion bicycling team, All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia (AW4F), will be hitting the road once again to raise funds and awareness for the National Fibromyalgia Association.
This time, AW4F, which finished in first place in the 4-person mixed category and second place overall in last year's Race Across America 3,000-mile competition---the team's 6 days, 5 hours record is the second fastest time in the 30 year history of the Race Across America---will be racing in Race Across the West (RAW) and Race Across the Alps (RATA).
We are so grateful to the team members of All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia for raising awareness of the NFA and fibromyalgia across the United States, and now for the first time in Europe! These dedicated team members are not professional cyclists, but they are involved in research for FM in their professional lives. Their record breaking performances have personalized what the race means to our patient population.
 We are also very grateful to the patients and support groups who met the AW4F team along the route of last year's race and cheered them on in their amazing efforts. Coming out with cheerful signs and smiles at all hours of the day and night, these patients offered that extra "oomph!" that the team members needed during their grueling trek across the U.S. No other race team had such extremely dedicated supporters!
We hope you will join us again in cheering on these remarkable athletes who have also become our friends. Your donation for the All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia races will go towards research to help evaluate new and better treatments for fibromyalgia.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Lynne Matallana
Founder and President
National Fibromyalgia Association
More details below. For complete information on both races, please visit our special website: All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia
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 | | NFA staff with members of the All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia at the start of 2010 Race Across America send-off at Oceanside Pier, Oceanside, Calif. AW4F finished first place in the 4-person mixed category & 2nd place overall. Their 6 days, 5 hours record for 3,000 miles is the second fastest time in the 30 year history of the Race Across America! |
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Race Across the West (RAW)  | | www.raceacrossthewest.org |
When: June 15 - June 17, 2011
Kick-Off: Oceanside Pier, Oceanside, California
What: Race Across the West is one of the most challenging bicycle races and the second longest endurance cycling race in the United States. The route is about 860 miles long, passing through 4 states and climbing over 40,000 feet before ending in the Rockies of Durango, Colorado. The 2-racers from AW4F will cover the distance in 2+ days, averaging 350 to over 500 miles per day, using a relay format and race 24 hours a day.
 | | From left: Brenda Weaver, Denise Stone & Deb Feather, who has fibromyalgia and has been the inspiration for All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia |
Team: All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia's two racers for this race are brother and sister, Denise Stone and Karl Wianecki, who were part of RAAM 2010. Denise was a college roommate and good friend of Deb Feathers, who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia over 15 years ago, and was the inspiration for the All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia team.
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Race Across the Alps (RATA)
 | | AW4F rider, Gernot Wolfram with a fellow rider |
When: June 24, 2011 Kick-Off: Nauders, Austria What: With its 525 km and more than 40,000 climbing feet including 11 of the most famous alpine passes, the race is regarded as the toughest 1-stage race in the world. The race starts in Nauders, Austria, passing Switzerland and Italy to return to Nauders within a time limit of 32 hours. Since the turn of the century in 2000, 292 male and only 6 female riders challenged their stamina. Team: AW4F racer Gernot Wolfram and his crew of 6 will raise awareness for fibromyalgia, with any prize money going to the National Fibromyalgia Association. In April, Gernot also represented AW4F in "M312," the longest 1-stage race in Spain starting in Mallorca and riding 312 km with more than 13,000 climbing feet and a time limit of 14 hours. Gernot made climbs of up to 3,000 feet above sea level followed by endless flats and gruelling head wind for almost the entire race.Gernot finished 56th in 11 hours, 42 minutes, ahead of celebrities such as 2006 Tour de France winner Oscar Pereiro who came in 99th apparently after having some Café Latte with some of his many local friends. |
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About All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia
In 2010, All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia partnered with the National Fibromyalgia Association and select sponsors to raise funds and awareness of fibromyalgia. The NFA is grateful that of all the charities to choose from, the cycling team of 4 cyclists and 12 crew members chose to raise awareness and funds that go directly to the NFA. If you would like to donate and support the All Wheels 4 Fibromyalgia in Race Across the West, please click on the Donate button on the right to make your donation online or send your tax deductible donations to: National Fibromyalgia Association
1000 Bristol Street N #17-247
Newport Beach, CA 92660-8916
Attention: RAW |
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"Most people do not understand that you may feel good one day and horrible the next.
Awareness, understanding, empathy and a possible cure in the future are the reasons why I choose to help the NFA."
----Deb Feather, AW4F rider crew, diagnosed with fibromyalgia 15 years ago
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"I am thrilled to again race this year for the NFA and the fibromyalgia community in what will be another challenging endurance test for the entire team including our very own inspiration Deb Feather who has fibromyalgia. In my 4 years in the Race Across America - no other charity has provided more to support its team than the NFA and your entire community. It has been so inspiring and motivating for us all to have supporters come out to cheer us on - even in the middle of the night! I am very proud to once again be a part of raising awareness and support for fibro!"
---Denise Stone, cyclist and friends with crew member, Deb Feather
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"I am truly honored to represent the NFA and the fibromyalgia community in our pursuit of the Race Across the West. It has been amazing hearing from so many of our fans - through their encouraging words and coming out to cheering us on - we are very lucky to have such wonderful support and look forward to continuing to raise awareness for fibromyalgia!"
---Karl Wianecki, cyclist and brother of Denise Stone
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"It is amazing what motivation and enthusiasm can do to overcome the suffering of almost 12 hours in pain. There were many folks asking what Fibromyalgia is about, and I was more than happy to spread the word and raise some awareness for Fibromyalgia in Europe."
- Gernot Wolfram, AW4F racer, Race Across the Alps
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Thank You to Our Sponsors!
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