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Kelly Brush Ride Raises $275,000 for SCI Research and Prevention

675 Riders Make A Positive Difference For Those With SCI

BURLINGTON, Vt., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 5th annual Kelly Brush Century Ride drew 675 riders and raised $275,000 for spinal cord injury prevention and research on Saturday.

The ride, which began and ended at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt. included 23 participants using hand cycles.

"We are absolutely thrilled to see such strong support for the foundation and our mission," said Charlie Brush, Kelly Brush Foundation president. "Our thanks goes to each and every rider whose participation helps the Kelly Brush Foundation make a positive difference in the lives of those with SCI and raises the bar for ski racing safety."

The 100-mile ride raises money for improving ski racing safety, enhancing the quality of life for those with SCI through adaptive sports equipment grants, advancing scientific research on SCI and supporting the U.S. Adaptive Ski Team.

The number of participants grew this year by about 175 this year and fund raising increased by about 40 percent.

The Kelly Brush Century Ride was started by the Middlebury College Ski Team as a way to raise money to buy an adaptive mono-ski for team member Kelly Brush, who was paralyzed as the result of a ski racing crash. Brush and her family later founded a non-profit, and the ride was opened to the public. On Saturday's ride, participants rode distances of 28, 50 or 100 miles.

The ride is possible thanks to the generosity of participants and sponsors including: VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, Sugarbush Resort, Shearer Audi, Audi of America, KeyBank, Saatchi & Saatchi, Champlain Investment Partners and others.

About the foundation: The Kelly Brush Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving ski racing safety, enhancing the quality of life for those with spinal cord injury(SCI) through providing adaptive sports equipment, advancing scientific research on SCI and supporting the U.S. Adaptive Ski Team. Kelly Brush, together with her family, started the foundation in 2006 after she sustained a severe spinal cord injury while racing in NCAA Div. 1 competition as a member of the Middlebury College Ski Team in Vermont. The Kelly Brush Foundation affirms Kelly's ongoing commitment to live life on her own terms and better the lives of others living with SCI. www.kellybrushfoundation.org

SOURCE Kelly Brush Foundation