| Mike's Coastal Race for Hemophilia |
Mike Brand
2012
Forty years ago I rode my bicycle from San Francisco to Los Angeles. For me, the adventure was epic. It reminded me of the Chinese Proverb, "He who returns from a journey is not the same as he who left". On August 19, 2012, I will begin a similar cycling adventure; however, this time the journey will have even more meaning \with a much greater purpose. I will be participating in the “California Coastal Race for Hemophilia”.
The California Coastal Race for Hemophilia is a weeklong bicycling trip from San Francisco to San Diego to raise awareness and money for the Hemophilia chapters of California. The event is organized every year where a team of dedicated cyclists ride over 500 miles, starting in San Francisco, winding down Highway 101 through the coastal towns of Santa Cruz, Big Sur, Monterey, San Simeon, Pismo Beach, and Santa Barbara, finishing at the HASDC Annual Picnic in San Diego.
My employer, Baxter International, develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with hemophilia. Through my job with Baxter, I work directly with the manufacturing process used to produce these lifesaving products. This has allowed me to have a greater understanding and awareness of the struggles faced by hemophiliacs and their families. It is truly amazing to see the care and support that the Hemophilia chapters of California provide to hemophiliacs and their families. I am very proud to be able to help, not only through my job, but also by riding my bike.
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