Matthew Harris and Deborah Palmer AKA Debi

c/o Brain Injury Connection

PO Box 2452
Alameda, CA 94501
August 20, 2010
Dear Friends, Family and Community:
This letter is being sent to you by Debi Palmer and Matthew Harris, in hopes that you will contribute to the Ride 2
Recovery (R2R) on their behalf. Matthew and Debi serve on the Brain Injury Connection (BIC) Board of Directors.
Matthew is a PhD candidate specializing in neuro-psychology and enjoys cycling. Matthew is the son of a military pilot
who died in a plane crash and his brother is serving in the military. Debi is a noncombat veteran, a brain injury survivor
and can attest to the therapeutic effects of cycling.
We are raising funds for the 3rd annual Ride 2 Recovery (R2R) Golden State Challenge Event starting on October 3rd.
The R2R is a program of the Fitness Challenge Foundation. It is a seven day rehabilitation and fundraising ride from San
Francisco to Los Angeles. The goal is to raise money to support Spinning® Recovery Labs and cycling programs at
military and Veterans Affairs (VA) locations around the U.S. to help injured military in their recovery.
Cycling has been found to be instrumental in recovery and rehabilitation programs because it is an activity that most
patients with mental and physical disabilities can participate and it facilitates the recovery and rehabilitation process.
The following is a compilation of a few of the R2R’s accomplishments; you can read more in the 2009 Year End Report
online. 91% of the funds raised went to programs that directly benefited injured military.

● More than 500 wounded warriors participated, including veterans from the Vietnam War and the 1st Gulf War.
● 83 bicycles, many adapted to accommodate veterans with physical injuries, were purchased so wounded warriors
could participate in R2R Challenge Rides and events at various VA centers and military instillations.
● More than 1,000 jerseys, 500 shorts, 300 helmets, & 800 socks were provided to injured veterans.
● Volunteers, recreation and physical therapists were trained to be certified spinning instructors.
Our goal is to raise $15,000. We would like to recruit 300 people and/or entities to help us raise a minimum of $50.00.
Will you help us help America’s military by helping us reach or exceed our goal? Will you make a donation? Will you
share the enclosed flyer and“pass the hat” among your coworkers and any businesses you patronize? Will you connect
with at least 9 people to make at least a $5.00 donation and ask them to recruit family, friends, coworkers, and colleagues
to donate and raise funds for this awe-inspiring program?
If you would like to learn more about the R2R, please visit their website at http://www.ride2recovery.com. Be sure to
read the blog on the home page titled, “No Arms, No Legs, No Problem.” It's a must read to give you an idea of what the
Ride 2 Recovery Program is doing for our injured military. Delvin’s picture with the million dollar smile is on the
enclosed flyer. It’s that smile why we want to raise funds and participate in this fundraising event.
To sponsor us online go to http://ride2recovery.com/sponsor-a-rider.html and enter DEBORAH PALMER or
MATTHEW HARRIS or mail a check or money order to the Fitness Challenge Foundation at 23679 Calabasas Rd
#420 Calabasas, CA 91302. Please add DEBORAH PALMER and/or MATTHEW HARRIS to the memo section to
ensure we’re credited for the donation. No donation is too small and all donations are equally appreciated. Your gift is
deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
If you believe in helping heal America's military personnel as much as we do, please make a donation and spread the word
about this program.
We want to thank you in advance for your consideration in helping us raise funds for this worthy cause. If you have any
questions, our contact information is on the enclosed flyer.

Sincerely

Matt Debi
Matthew Harris and Deborah D. Palmer