[row] [col class="span6"] [/col] [col class="span6"]

Ataxia is a disorder that may affect the fingers, hands, arms, legs, body, speech, and eye movements. Ride Ataxia's Kyle Bryant knows all too well the embarrassment that this disorder can bring. When he was younger, people chalked-up Kyle's incoordination to clumsiness. When he was diagnosed with Friedrich's Ataxia, Kyle felt like his life was over as there is no known cure. However, he discovered strenuous exercise helps alleviate his symptoms. Kyle started Ride Ataxia to help fund research and understanding of this complicated disorder. The Ride Ataxia Cycling Team has traveled 3,100 miles in the past two years raising invaluable Ataxia awareness and bringing together $350,000 in research funds in collaboration with the National Ataxia Foundation and the Friedrich's Ataxia Research Alliance. For more information call 484-875-3015.

[/col] [/row]

Seattle—Kyle Bryant and a team of 65 cyclists will arrive at the Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport Thursday, March 19 at 2pm completing a 200 mile cycling journey to draw attention and raise research funds for the rare neuromuscular disorder Friedreich’s ataxia with which Bryant and other teammates, including Seattle native Sam Bridgman, are affected. Bridgman is a senior at Nathan Hale High School, works for the Seattle Mariners and will be cycling this year with his family and three of his close friends.

Bryant stated, “In 2009 Ride Ataxia looks forward t o continued success raising awareness, collaboratively funding research, and em powering ataxians and others to seek their fitness goals and have fun doing it.” The riders began their journey March 16 on the Oregon Health and Science University Campus in Port land. Bryant and the Ride Ataxia team will conclude the journey at the National Ataxia Foundation’s 52nd Annual Membership Meeting.

Read More: Cyclist with Rare Neuromuscular Disorder to Arrive in Seattle March 19 Completing 4 Day Cycling Journey

Sacramento native Kyle Bryant and a team of 65 riders will leave from the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) campus Monday, March 16 at 9 a.m. beginning a cycling journey to draw attention and raise research funds for the rare neuromuscular disorder Friedreich’s ataxia- with which Bryant and other teammates are affected. It will be a 4-day trip covering 200 mile s. The riders will begin assembling for their third annual cycling journey at 7 a.m. at the Center of Health and Healing on the OHSU Campus in Portland, Oregon, and will kick off the ride with addresses from Bryant, episodic ataxia researchers at OHSU- Dr. John Nutt and Dr. James Maylie as well as Dr. Lawrence Schut- the National Ataxia Foundation’s Medical Director.

There will also be a photo opportunity prior to the team’s departure. Bryant and Team Ride Ataxia will conclude their rid e in Seattle, WA on March 19, 2009 at the National Ataxia Foundation’s 52nd Annual Meeting being held at the Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport.

Read More: Cyclist with a Rare Neuromuscular Disorder to Begin Third Cycling Journey from Portland

The Cake Eaters, a film directed by Mary Stuart Masterson, written by Jayce Bartok and featuring an incredible ensemble c ast including Kristen Stewart (Twilight) as a young woman with the neuro-degenera tive disease Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), will be released in select cities including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago (among others) on March 13th starting with a sneak preview in Los Angeles on March 11th.

Friedreich’s ataxia is a progressive debilitating li fe shortening, neuro-muscular disorder that robs people of the ability to walk, and can compromise their ability to perform the daily activities many of us take for granted. Scoli osis, diabetes, and serious heart disorders are also common with FA which affects an estimated 5,000 children and adults in the United States.

Read More: New Film, Directed by Mary Stuart Masterson, Features Kristen Stewart as a Young Woman with the Neuro-degenerative disease Friedreich's ataxia

By the time Zac Zies was in preschool and kindergarten, he started having trouble walking and tripped often.

"All the doctors told me 'He's a boy - don't worry about it,' " recalled his mother, Suzy Zies.

Yet Mrs. Zies insisted there was more wrong with her son than a typical active boy's coordination problems. The Perrysburg family was referred to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where specialists in 2001 determined Zac has a degenerative neuromuscular disorder called Friedreich's ataxia.

"Initially, I thought they were going to tell me I'm nuts," Mrs. Zies said of diagnosing the couple's only child. "If only that were the case."