On June 8, 2019 a team of rare disease warriors gathered as Team CADASIL to ride our first Million Dollar Bike Ride (MDBR)!  It was an early morning as my co-chair Michael Kennedy, his wife Michelleand I drove through downtown Philadelphia.  We gathered anxiously with the Team CADASIL riders at Highline Park outside the University of Pennsylvania Orphan Disease offices.  Before 8am there was hugging, picture taking and scrabbling to get bikes where they needed to be.  It was such an overwhelmingly positive feeling for cureCADASIL to be partnered with the UPenn Orphan Disease Center for this event. We were waving the Team CADASIL sign high for all to see. The starting line was filled with supporters from all the rare disease teams and there was so much energy in the air as the cyclists began their rides. Team CADASIL riders rode in the 13 mile and 34 mile rides, they all finished the race and were amazing warriors for rare disease.  Check out all the pictures in our race day video!

In addition to Team CADASIL riders, I have to brag about our Team CADASIL supporters! There were 9 CADASIL fund giving pages set up through UPenn.  These dedicated volunteers advocated for funds to be given directly to CADASIL research through this event.  Without this support from all over the country we would not have reached our goal!  If you are interested in being a champion for the 2020 MDBR Team CADASIL please visit our MDBR information page.

So, now for the best news! Thanks to all of the above supporters and HUNDREDS more donors, the MDBR CADASIL research fund raised $51,000!  With the $30,000 in matched donations offered by UPenn, the grand total was $81,000!  If I could insert fireworks here I would! The CADASIL community went above and beyond to make sure there would be a CADASIL research grant supported by this event.