Had a wonderful party at the bt tonight!! I've got awesome family and friends to see me off!!! I sure am gonna miss everyone!! I love you Gracie

Travel plan for Day 1

Hey guys. Google maps wont let me embed the cycling map to my site :( I know, booo..
The plan is to leave at 7am from my house in Beaverton. Then head towards Alma, Michigan to meet a family and have some lunch in the park. Then its off to Edmore, where I will grab some dinner and head to my campsite.
The folks at Family Campground www.gocampin.net 2851 E Edgar Rd Edmore, MI 48829 (989) 427-3239, are gracious enough to let me stay for free! Good deal!! All and all it should be a 65 mile day. When I get camp set up Saturday night I'll post my Saturday journal with news, notes, and numbers from that days' ride.

Gracie, Daddy loves you

Tuesday April 27th

Saturday is getting close. 18 months of planning is about to come to fruition and I am scared to death. Scared of what? I dont know really.. I know I can do this.. Physically I should be fine, but mentally Im worried about what kind of toll the loneliness will have on me.
When I started planning this ride I was looking forward to getting away from some people in my life. Well now, those people are gone and new and WONDERFUL people have come in to my life.. These people I dont want to leave behind. Im sure it will all be fine. It will certainly be an adventure like nothing I have ever known.

Latest press release for the ride!!

Fetal Hope Foundation
9786 S. Holland Street
Littleton, CO 80127
Contact: Talitha A. McGuinness
Director, VP of Marketing & Fundraising
Day Phone: 980-721-5799
talitha@fetalhope.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BROTHERS ON BIKES WITH ONE GOAL: TO SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT AMNIOTIC BAND SYNDROME
ALONG A 2,500 MILE ROUTE

Denver, CO, April 26, 2010 – As an Amniotic Band Syndrome (ABS) survivor, Chris Bowman will soon
attempt what no other survivor of his condition has ever done; he will bike cross-country with the
support of his brother, Ryan Owens, and his artificial leg. On May 1, 2010, Bowman and Owens will leave
from Beaverton, MI and head west on their bikes toward Boise, ID, where their inspirational road trip
will end.
The trip, sponsored by the Fetal Hope Foundation, a national non-profit supporting research and
families affected by fetal syndromes, is estimated to take around two months. In order to show support
and increase awareness of ABS, Bowman plans to meet with families along the route who have been
affected with various outcomes by the condition, a fetal syndrome that affects 1 in every 7,500 live
births. ABS is caused by the early rupture of the amnion during pregnancy. The rupture results in
amniotic bands that insert themselves around the unborn baby, most often affecting the extremities.
Complications can range from ring constrictions, to amputations, to major organ defects, and common
abnormalities that are found with ABS include clubfoot, cleft lip, cleft palate and clubhand.
“It’s very appropriate that my brother is joining me on this adventure, because he pushes me to be
better. He pushes me to find a way to make it happen on a level equal to my peers,” said Chris. “We all
need that person there to say ‘come on, I know you can do it. Don't quit…don't EVER quit!!!’ So when I
have those days when my leg hurts and I don't want to continue this ride any longer, I'll hear him saying,
‘Come on… I didn’t ride this long to only go halfway!’".

Major cities the brothers will travel through include Grand Rapids, MI, Gary, IN, Champaign, IL, Salt Lake
City, UT, Pueblo, CO, and Boise, ID, where they will board an AmTrak train for home.

Bowman plans to use his blog to upload a daily map link with estimated Departure and Arrival points,
and will document his journey via video and journal, with possible Facebook updates.

For more information on the ABS Ride for Hope or the Fetal Hope Foundation, please contact Talitha
McGuinness at 980-721-5799 or visit the website at www.fetalhope.org. To view trip updates and route
information for the ABS Ride for Hope, please visit http://2010absrideforhope.blogspot.com/.

My brother Ryan

Ya know, its very appropriate that my brother is joining me on this adventure. I cant think of another person I'd want to pedal some 2400 miles with than him. Not only because he is my brother but also because he's been my friend and a motivation and a coach to me for so long.

We actually very rarely cycle together at all. I think its because he knows cycling comes too easy for me and thats too level of a playing field!! LOL
We play alot of baseball, football and things like that.

When Im out there though and im pitching fastball's down the middle just so he can deposit it over the 200 foot sign in the little league fields, I feel like I am equal with him. He's not a star athlete but neither am I and thats alright. He pushes me to be better. He pushes me to find a way to make it happen on a level equal to my peers.

We all need that person there to say come on, I know you can do it. Don't quit..Don't EVER quit!!!

So when I have those days when my leg hurts and I don't want to continue this ride any longer. I'll hear him saying, "Come on.. I didnt ride this long to only go halfway!".
Thanks Ryan

Genr8

Just got off the phone with Tamer from Genr8. They are sending Ryan and I Vitargo to help us keep up our energy level as we ride!!
Very cool! and good tasting stuff too!!
Vist www.genr8speed.com and see how it works and how it can benefit your workout needs!!

Saturday April 17th 2010

Hey everyone,
Well I didnt ride today.. Sinus issues kickin my butt the past few weeks! I did have a great 25 mile ride yesterday, I beat the rain by minutes once again! In 2 weeks Ryan and I will be in Howard City for the first night on the road! We are both very excited to get going on this!
Im on express orders from my nurse to relax tonight.
Have a good night everybody!

Chris

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Beautiful tunnel. Redone in2008. Sanford Michigan

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Train tressel bridge sanford Michigan

At m18 and Lyle road..headed to midland.. Man it's windy and my legs are weak today!!

Bikes, Hot Nurses, and Cystic Fibrosis

Well everybody..
Its Friday!!! Woohooo.
Planning a 25 mile bike ride today to the hospital to see Miss Sarah and also Jenn. Jenn is very sick again, so say a prayer for my friend if you would.

Cant wait to hit the road!!! Ill try to update from my phone with some great pics of the Pere Marquette Rail Trail

New leg passes walking and bike test thx teter!!

Got the new leg!! Wooot!

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Test from phone

FAQS Page.. updated as needed!!

Q: When are you leaving??
A: Ryan and I will be leaving Beaverton Michigan for Howard City Michigan on May 1st.

Q: Will you have a support vehicle?
A: No, this will be a totally self-supporting trip. We do have contacts available for emergency situations.

Q: Are you nuts?
A: Yes!!...why?

Q: Ultimate Destination???
A: The moon!!! Which way???... No seriously, Boise Idaho is where this trip will cease going west..

Q: How are you getting home??
A: Rocket ship!!! or Amtrak.. which ever gets us there!

Q: Are you on Facebook?
A: Yes I am.. Add me if you would like www.facebook.com/rideforhope

Q: How will I know where you are each day??
A: I will post a google map link of Departure and Arrival points each day. The turn by turn wont be exact so don't try to follow us like creepy stalkers!! Plus, we can pedal faster than you!! Mwahahah!! I will also post things like daily mileage, overall mileage.. Number of times we think to ourselves, "What are we doin??".. that kind of thing!

What exactly is Amniotic Band Syndrome?

So what exactly is ABS and how did it affect me? It is a set of congenital birth defects believed to be caused by entrapment of fetal parts (usually a limb or digits) in fibrous amniotic bands while in utero. Before I was born the body parts that shows signs of ABS (arm, fingers, toes, etc.,) were caught up and entangled in string-like bands. This caused abnormalities that were present at birth.
With Amniotic Banding no two cases are exactly alike. There are several features that are relatively consistent: syndactyly (webbed digits), distal ring constrictions, deformity of the nails, stunted growth of the small bones in the digits, limb length discrepancy, distal lymph edema (swelling), and congenital band indentations. ABS affects approximately 1 in every 1200 live births. It is also believed to be the cause of 2% of all miscarriages. Recent literature supports that ABS occurs more often than once thought. Up to 50% of cases have other congenital anomalies including cleft lip and palate and clubbed foot deformity. Hand and finger anomalies occur in up to 80%. I was born with all of these. A cleft lip and palate is basically a giant hole in my face between my mouth and nose. The results of the upper lip and upper jaw not being completely developed, leaving a sizeable gap in the middle of my face. I am missing parts of my ring finger and all of my middle finger on my left hand. My right hand has all of the thumb and index finger but missing most of the other three fingers. On my right leg, just below the knee was a little cartilage filled foot but no lower leg bones to support it. So this was amputated, shortly after I arrived at University of Michigan Hospital after my birth. In some cases a complete “natural” amputation of a digit(s) or limb may occur before birth or the digit(s) or limbs may be necrotic (dead) and require surgical amputation following birth.
I was fitted for my first prosthesis at nine months old. I took to it pretty quickly because it gave me the freedom to keep up with the other kids. At the age of 15 months I was walking on my own with help from the prosthesis. Even to this day I would much rather wear it then to leave it off. It gives me the freedom to move when I want to and without a great deal of pain and discomfort.

More ways on how you can help!!

If you would like more information on Amniotic Band Syndrome and what is being done to help those with ABS please visit the following sites.

www.fetalhope.org

www.amnioticbandsyndrome.com

If you would like to donate to my bike ride specifically please visit:

http://www.active.com/donate/fetalhope2009/rideforhope

You can also find general donation information at www.fetalhope.org

Media Release sent out by Fetal Hope

MAN ON A MISSION: ABS SURVIVOR TO LAUNCH RIDE FOR HOPE IN MAY

Denver, CO, February 8, 2010 – Cycling across the country is something to which many people aspire each year. However, few have challenged themselves when doing so means cycling with a prosthetic leg that was placed as a result of a rare birth defect known as Amniotic Band Syndrome (ABS). On May 1, 2010, Chris Bowman will cycle over 2,500 miles from _Beaverton__, MI toward Portland, OR in order to bring hope to children and adults living with this condition around the country.

Now 33, Bowman was born in 1976 in Howell, MI with an unsuspecting birth defect known as ABS that caused a cleft lip and palate, missing fingers and toes, a club foot and the loss of a leg below his knee. ABS is caused by the early rupture of the amnion during pregnancy, which often results in amniotic bands that become attached around the unborn baby. The bands most often affect the extremities but complications can range from ring constrictions, to amputations, to major organ defects.

While Bowman has since undergone numerous surgeries to improve his quality of life, he did not learn until recently that his condition actually had a name and that an organization called the Fetal Hope Foundation supported families when diagnosed with this among many other in utero fetal syndromes.

“I grew up feeling isolated, like I was the only one like me in the world. That led to feelings of anger, bitterness, and isolation. Once I [researched my condition], I saw there were many people just like me in the world also hidden, isolated, and with no dreams or hope for a "normal" future,” said Bowman.

With this newfound information, Bowman decided to set a goal of cycling cross-country, not as an advocate, but just to prove he could do it despite all odds. However, through various social media outlets such as Facebook, he began meeting families around the country who had children living with his same condition and wanted to make a difference. As a result, he teamed up with the Fetal Hope Foundation in order to be a part of supporting families when faced with fetal syndromes.

Bowman said, “I’m not doing this ride for me anymore, I’m doing it for Kayla, and Mikhala and dozens more that I know who have ABS. I’m doing it for my friend Ron's kids so he can show them that anything is possible. I’m doing it for my mom so she doesn't have to wonder what kind of life I will have with such a disadvantage from the beginning. I am doing this ride for my daughter so she can say ‘that’s my dad!’”

Bowman will launch his ABS Ride for Hope on May 1, 2010. Along with documenting his journey via video and journal, he plans to meet many families of ABS survivors along the way, and will also be speaking at and meeting with various schools and hospitals in order to increase awareness about the condition and to spread a general message of inspiration.

The Fetal Hope Foundation focuses on providing support, providing information, funding research, increasing awareness, and serving as an outlet for leading medical information pertaining to fetal distresses and syndromes. For more information on the ABS Ride for Hope or the Fetal Hope Foundation, please contact Talitha McGuinness at 980-721-5799 or visit the website at www.fetalhope.org.