Off to a good start

We are already off to a good start in 2012 thanks to TEC Electric and Lyle Williams Company, both of which, have already pledged a Sponsorship for this year's ride!

Ride for BAYLEN in 2012

Baylen was diagnosed with a type of brain tumor called PNET/Medulloblastoma in November 2009 when he was 3 ½ years old.  His cancer had spread throughout his brain stem and to the front of his brain as well as his spine.  As a part of Baylen’s battle with his cancer, he received radiation treatment and intense chemotherapy.  They were not able to remove any of the tumors with surgery because of their location in his brain.  He was given a prognosis of 40-60% that he would survive with treatment.

Today, Baylen is a happy, sweet 6 year old living with stable brain tumors.  He has been off chemotherapy since the summer of 2010.  He has an MRI and spinal tap every 3 months to monitor the tumors and make sure they are not growing and so far, the results have been good.  It has been a long road to where he is with many challenges.  As a result of his treatments, Baylen has permanent hearing loss and has to wear hearing aids.  He also has seizures caused by the tumors.  Because he was so young when he had radiation, it has had a great impact on him both cognitively and physically.  There will always be a worry about what the future holds for Baylen and if his cancer returns, his chances of survival are very slim.  He is a very special, determined, loving little boy who brings so much happiness to his family and loved ones.  We are all extremely blessed to have him in our lives.  He is an amazing example to all of us and inspires us all every day with his strength and courage. - Angela 

In hopes of having a little cooler temperatures, our Ride will be held on Aug. 25th or a Saturday in September. I will post an exact date as soon as we make a final decision. We are looking forward to making this our best year yet. 

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED OUR RIDE

2011 was our best ride ever. We raised over $14,000.00!! Thanks again to all our Sponsors and to those who came and participated in Saturdays ride. We could not do this without you. Those supporters who came on Saturday were responsible for donating over $2,200. After a long week of chemo, Skyler surprised us all and joined us at the rally. We are so glad we were able to have Skyler, his family and the family of Nicholas with us on Saturday. Thanks again to all our supporters. Mark your calendar for next year.... August 25, 2012!!

Platinum Sponsors: Codale Electric, CED in salt lake, Royal Wholesale in Ogden and Lyle Williams Company.

Gold Sponsor: UMCA

Silver Sponsors: JRC, Crescent Electric, EMS, Control Tech & NECA

Bronze Sponsors: Associated Reps & Alphagraphics in Bountiful.

Plus a special thanks to Amber and the Children and the Earth Foundation.

HOGS FOR HUMANITY BIKE RALLY

This year's bike rally will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2011
Registration is from 10am-11am

Start Location: 11am @ Brewski’s 244 25th Street, Ogden, UT

End Location: 1:30pm @ Lucky 13, 135 West 1300 South, Salt Lake City, UT

Registration Fee: $20 Includes Lunch, 1 raffle ticket & T-shirt

We will be traveling up Ogden Canyon, over Trappers Loop, through Morgan and down Immigration Canyon.

**Go to ieatoday.com for registration, donations and more information**

This year we are riding for Skyler Isaacson & Nicholas Garn.

Skyler just turned 5 years old on May 14^th and is fighting a brave fight against A.L.L. Leukemia. His father passed away about three years ago, so his extremely supportive mother, Crystal, is fighting this fight alongside Skyler. Skyler has been fighting an infection off and on since September. Every time this bacteria shows up, they have to stop his cancer treatment and it’s a huge set back. Recently Skyler has been in the hospital fighting the bacterial infection and high fevers however, on the condition that his mother would administer his medications through his port, he was released just before Mother’s Day.  He was able to enjoy Mother’s Day and his 5^th Birthday at home. Skyler has since been admitted back into Primary Childrens Hospital. His medical bills are well over $1.5 million dollars. We most likely cannot raise that amount but we can raise enough to make sure Crystal can buy his monthly prescriptions for awhile. His mother does a great job keeping up a blogspot which allows you to read what Skyler is going through on a day to day basis. Please take a look at this website, read his story and see his cute pictures. http://crystalandskyler.blogspot.com/

Nicholas Garn (19) is in an ongoing fight for life. He has had 4 open heart surgeries, the most recent of which was on July 18, 2011. This time they did extensive repair to the heart and replaced both the aortic and pulmonary valves. Even prior to this surgery, Nick has been fighting an uphill battle. On Jan 14^th of this year, he was hospitalized for a rare form of Bacterial Bartonella Disease. This disease caused Endocarditis, an infection of the lining of the heart chambers and valves. The bacteria had attached itself to his weak heart valve and became a type of living vegetation. From January through April, he was on an incredibly strong antibiotic regimen, which did get rid of the bacteria. However, the bacteria left behind a calcified shell of the vegetation.

On Sunday, May 8^th Nicholas suffered an acute septic stroke. This resulted from a piece of the vegetation on the heart valve breaking loose and lodging on the left side of the brain, a portion of which is now dead. The traditional stroke treatment could not be used in Nick’s case because the blockage in his brain is not a blood clot, but a piece of calcified bacterial vegetation that could neither be dissolved nor retrieved.

On Wednesday, June 22^nd Nick suffered another stroke resulting from two more pieces of the vegetation dislodging. One traveled to the right lobe and one to the frontal lobe of the brain. He no longer has use of his right arm or both hands; he also now suffers from aphasia, a disorder that causes problems with speaking, listening, swallowing, reading and writing. Nick has not left the hospital since May 8^th. Once he stabilizes from his heart surgery, he will need to undergo years of physical rehabilitation.
Go to NickGarnSupport.blogspot.com for up-to-date information on Nicholas' condition.

Please feel free to donate any amount at anytime, just go to ieatoday.com

Here is a list of Sponsorship levels and benefits:

Platinum Level: $2,000+ donation

       *Name or Company Name displayed on all websites, IEA newsletter

            and Bike Rally T-shirts. (if donatation made before T-shirts produced)

Special sponsorship acknowledgement during the Aug. 27^th Bike Rally,

 IEA Charity Classic and IEA Banquet.

Ride benefits for up to ten riders.

Gold Level: $1,000+ donation

*Name or Company name displayed on the IEA website.

Special sponsorship acknowledgement during the Aug. 27^th Bike Rally,

IEA Charity Classic and IEA Banquet.

Ride benefits for up to six riders.

Silver Level: $500+ donation

Special sponsorship acknowledgement during the Aug. 27^th Bike Rally,

IEA Charity Classic and IEA Banquet.

Ride benefits for up to four riders.

Bronze Level: $250+ donation

Special sponsorship acknowledgement during the Aug. 27^th Bike Rally,

IEA Charity Classic and IEA Banquet.

Ride benefits for two riders.

Silent Donor: Any amount, at any time.

Registration from 10 AM to 11 AM