Hi,

Thank you for visiting my Personal Fundraising Page. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to my fundraising efforts. Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!

On May 6th 2012, directly after graduating from Florida Institute of Technology, I will be beginning my 4700 mile cycling adventure across the country.  I will be traveling alone and will have everything I need with me on my bike.  Right now my plan is to leave from Melbourne, Fl the day after graduating on May 5th.  Then, I will begin my tour up the east coast until I reach my home in central Pennsylvania.  My goal is to reach PA around May 27th where my family and friends are organizing a welcoming fundraising event for me and scleroderma.  My anticpated route for this part of the trip can be seen by clicking here.  After some rest, I will begin the next part of my trip, which is to bike across the northern United States.  The precise route for this part can be seen here.  I plan to average between 50 and 100 miles per day and I hope to finish by mid-August in order to begin graduate school soon after.  This is my only summer I'll have free in a long time so it's now or never.  

Now for the reason why I am doing this:

In September 2010, my father, James Dauberman, passed away due to complications from scleroderma. It was not found soon enough and doctors did not know the correct way to fight it. I feel as though his death never had to happen and could have been avoided with the right treatment.  My mom had to fight to get them to start a certain treatment, and by the time they allowed it, it was too late.  After countless surgeries, he ended up contracting an infection and could not fight it off. I do not know all the details exactly, because I was at school in Florida while most of this was going on back home in PA. However, I did get to spend my last summer at home with him, and I will cherish that forever.

I figured since I am a cycling instructor and personal trainer at school and love biking that this would be a great way to raise money and awareness.  However, I can only do so much and is why I am asking you to help out.  I have been known to push myself for a cause in the past by riding a stationary bike for 15 straight hours and raising over 500 dollars for the American Cancer Society.  Now it's time to one up that and do it for a reason that is dear to my heart.  My dad was a great person and was taken way too early.  I do not want to see this to happen to other individuals and will do everything I can to help fight it.  

Thank you so much for your time and any donations.  All donations raised directly fund the Scleroderma Foundation's mission of support, education and research on behalf of scleroderma patients and their families.  For more information on how your donation will help, please see their three-fold mission below:  

The Three-Fold Mission of Support, Education, and Research:
Support: To help patients and their families cope with scleroderma through mutual support programs, peer counseling, physician referrals, and educational information.
Education: To promote public awareness and education through patient and health professional seminars, literature, and publicity campaigns.
Research: To stimulate and support research to improve treatment and ultimately find the cause of and cure for scleroderma and related diseases. 

If you do not have enough money to make a donation, it is fine.  It you still want to help, you can help in spreading the word about the trip, and I will be more than grateful.  I have set a fundraising goal of $4700 dollars to match about 1 dollar per each mile.  I'm hoping to raise that goal throughout the trip.  I have a feeling this could turn into something great, and I am extremely excited to begin the trip.  Let's just say I am more excited for this than I am to graduate college.  Thanks again for everything and all of your support!  You are what keeps me pedaling!    

If you would like to follow along during my trip, I will be keeping a blog. The site is up and running and can be viewed here.

 

Special thanks goes out to the many business and organizations have contributed great amounts to the ride.  They include:

College Park Bikes (bike123.com)

The Scleroderma Foundation

Fuji Bikes/Advanced Sports Inc.

Warrior Run Student Council

Florida Tech Clemente Center

RideForGood.org

 

Finally, none of this would be possible without the help and support of my family.  They are working just as hard as I am to help make this a sucess.

 

Thank you,

Wade Dauberman

"Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things." - Joe Paterno