***UPDATE***  

We rode 100.4 miles in over 8hr 30min.  A BIG THANK YOU for your support!!!

My name is Bryan Watt and on Oct. 10th I will be cycling 100 miles in Florence Hoffman's honor.  Florence is my mother-in-law who has Lupus.  While cycling 100 miles I will burn over 15,000 cal’s which is based on my heart rate monitor which you enter in your weight and age and it will use this information while using your heart rate to determine how many cal’s you are burning.  I am thinking it will take around 8 plus hours to complete this ride which I will do on the Natchez Trace Parkway.

I am trying to lose 30 - 50 pounds before this date so no more cupcakes for me....  The truth is I may be the heaviest person in American, or the World who rides 100 miles on this date.  (Really!!!) 

I am asking for you to sponsor me $1 per mile that I ride (or as you feel lead) the money donated will go to the Lupus Foundation of America which will use this money to help in researching for a cure for Lupus, and also educate about Lupus.  Please take the time and visit this link and think about what life is like with Lupus.

http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_learnunderstanding.aspx?articleid=2231&zoneid=523

Please read Florence’s story below.  Thank you for your support and for your time in helping us battle Lupus.

Bryan

  Florence's Lupus Story 

"My journey began in 2003 when I was diagnosed with Lupus. Accepting what my future would hold has been many highs and lows, but with the love and support of my family I continue to live life and enjoy everything I can still do and enjoy watching the things I can no longer do.   It was really hard for me since there are not any visible signs of the disease I felt like people around me would not realize how much discomfort and pain I was in or they would think I was a hypochondriac. So my pat answer has always been when asked I am fine.    Lupus is a unique disease in that it has flare ups so some days I feel quite good and then there are times I struggle to get out of bed.   The uncertainty of what each day will bring contributes to feeling like I lack control of my life sometimes.   I have been blessed with a husband who has taken the challenge to help me go through whatever the future holds and has had to pick up my slack even though he struggles with constant pain himself. That was really hard for me to accept but I have had to realize I have a chronic disease and there is no cure so I will live every day doing the most I can and accept that there are a lot of things I will never be able to do. Chronic joint pain, headaches and muscle pain sometimes makes it difficult but I am still trying to work.   One of the most frustrating aspects   is memory loss sometimes I feel like I am in a fog. Of course lupus causes it and the medications you take to treat also can cause these symptoms also. At least so far this has been a symptom that comes and goes but I realize that each time the fog may not lift it could be from here on out. So that has always been in the back of my mind, since my Mother had Alzheimer’s and one of my greatest fears.      I am still working at my job and hope I will be able to continue for a few years but I realize when my body tells me I can no longer handle the daily routine with fatigue and pain that I will have to give in as I have precious grandchildren I want to be able to enjoy for many years to come. I am under a team of doctors who are making sure that my lupus remains treated with medication, lifestyle changes and trying to minimize damage to organs.     The medication regime is a challenge in itself.   Some of the medications as well as Lupus have made being outdoors in sunshine a real problem. I have to keep all parts of my body covered or I have small red fluid filled lesions appear. So I really miss being able to spend a lot of time gardening but I have made adjustments to clothing and find shade so I can still enjoy the outdoors. I take anti –inflammatory, corticosteroids, immunosuppressive, hypertensive medications (hypertension a complication that I acquired after lupus, pain medication, anti depression medications, two medications to help with bladder and kidney function, medication to control stomach acid from the anti-inflammatory medication, medication to control sores in mouth caused by immunosuppressive medications, high doses of vitamin D and calcium for bone loss. Well enough about pills, needless to say I am on first name basis with the pharmacist. Also I have been on corticosteroids for over six years now so my body has to have a rest so I am in the process of trying to find a way to go off of this medication for a while and this has been a struggle so far. Lupus can affect many different parts of the body I have been blessed so far that I have had no major organ involvement and pray that this continues. Lupus is not a fatal disease but organ failure is always a major complication and concern. I have been truly blessed and have a much greater appreciation for things I used to take for granted and now with love and support of my family I am finding activities that I CAN DO so I chose to be grateful for all the support around me and will face whatever challenges that lie ahead knowing there are those around to help. " 

Florence

Check or Cash contributors and there message:

1.)  Janis and Brian Kiel - $100 - "Thanks Bryan for your efforts in honor of Florence"'

2.)  Virgil Hoffman - $200 - "Good luck, and best wishes!!!"

3.)  Fred and Sue Rykaczewski - $50

4.)  Alan and Sandra Watt - $200

5.)  Merle and Avis Watt - $20 

6.) Paul and Jeanine Schmierbach - $25.00

7.) Bob and Robin Donsbach - $50.00

8.)  Bill and Kathy Paul - $50.00