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/.