It was November 17, 1991 the Detroit Lions had scored in a crucial game against the Los Angeles Rams. Mike Utley felt he was invincible at 6' 6" and 315 pounds. He was at the top of his game, a champion, and thrilled to be doing what he loved, playing football. Mike Utley was attempting to throw a block during a pass play when he went down, Mike knew immediately that something was wrong. An eerie silence descended over the stadium as Mike lay there motionless. When they wheeled him off the field Mike gave the crowd a Thumbs Up! to let them know that he would return. Mike Utley #60 was paralyzed.

Mike's courageous Thumbs Up! gesture has come to symbolize his fighting spirit. In his own fight to walk again Mike has focused all of his energies towards others suffering from spinal cord injuries. The Mike Utley Foundation was founded in January 1992 and is committed to providing financial support for rehabilitation, education and research for spinal cord related injuries.

The 2006 DAM2DAM Thumbs Up! Bike Tour will move us closer to our ultimate goal of finding a cure for spinal cord injuries. With your help we can make a difference.

RIDE WITH A MISSION

This September 30th capture the opportunity to ride the DAM2DAM Thumbs Up! Bike Tour. You will marvel at the beautiful scenery while cycling along the Columbia River in Eastern Washington. The ride will be a complete experience knowing that you are making a difference in the lives of those disabled through spinal cord injuries.

PICK YOUR OWN CYCLING CHALLENGE

This September 30th, capture the opportunity to marvel at the beautiful scenery while cycling along the Columbia River in Eastern Washington. This ride will be a complete cycling experience knowing that you're making a difference in the lives of those disabled by spinal cord injuries.

Choose one of three options for this cycling adventure: 25, 50 or the 100 mile ride. The bike tour is ideal for the professional as well as the recreational cyclist with rest stops located intermittently along the route.

• Download the Bike Tour route and elevation map

All registered riders will receive a DAM2DAM Thumbs Up! Bike Tour jacket, goodie bag, refreshments at rest stops and a Bikers BBQ at the finish line. Relax and visit over a delicious dinner knowing that you have reached your goal and supported Mike in "Finding a Cure for Paralysis."

REGISTRATION

Registration fee is $75.00 that includes a TYVEK jacket, refreshments and the finish line Bikers' BBQ.

SAVE – Register by August 22nd and you will receive the entire package for $60.00 commemorating Mikes' #60 Registration and Check in at: Lincoln Rock State Park Highway 97, East Wenatchee, Washington September 30, 2006 Registration: 7:00 A.M. Kick Off: 8:00 A.M.

Register and charge your Visa, MC, or Discover Card online or mail the completed registration form enclosing the registration fee payable to the Mike Utley Foundation in the form of a check or money order to: Mike Utley Foundation, P.O. Box 458, Orondo, WA 98843, 1.800.294.4683, Email utley60@aol.com The Mike Utley Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) Organization. Registration fees are not tax deductible.

VOLUNTEERS

DAM2DAM Thumbs Up! Bike Tour HOST HOTEL: Holiday Inn Express. Ask for the D2D Code. Rate $65/night. For more information on the Wenatchee Valley go to: Holiday Inn Express.

DID YOU KNOW?

Volunteers are an integral part of the success of the DAM2DAM Thumbs Up! Bike Tour. If you or someone you know are interested, call 1.800.294.4683 or email utley60@aol.com.

• There are approximately two million people worldwide living with spinal cord injury; 11,000 new injuries are reported every year in the US with a new injury occurring every 48 minutes.
• Lifetime costs incurred by SCI individuals average $900,000 and can reach as high as $2.7 million depending on the level of injury.
• Vehicular accidents cause 50.4% of these spinal cord injuries. one-quarter 11.2% are the result of violence and 23.8% are the result of falls. Sports injuries account for 9.0% of these injuries. the remaining 5.6% of spinal cord injuries result from work related or other accidents.
• More than half (55%) of the SCI population was injured between the ages of 16 and 30. 80% of SCI individuals are male and approximately half (47%) are married at time of injury. 10 years after spinal cord injury, 58.1% are unemployed.
• The nation currently invests less than 1% of the costs of spinal cord injury into research that has the potential to restore function and substantially reduce the costs. Current annual costs of injuries: $9.7 billion; current research investments: less than $100 million from all sources- Federal, industry, foundation, and private donations.

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