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Tuesday, 26 June 2007 |
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is the nation’s largest
grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives
of persons living with serious mental illness and their families.
Dedicated NAMI members, leaders, and friends work tirelessly across all
levels to meet a shared NAMI mission of support, education, advocacy,
and research for people living with mental illness.
This was the second year for the NAMI Tour in Pampa, Texas. Volunteers
and supporters arrived Saturday, June 23, 2007 at 6:00 a.m. for
registration. The 119 registrants had donuts and coffee while waiting
for the 8:00 a.m. start. That number is a 26% increase over last years
Tour. A bicycle, five helmets, fenders, water bottles, and many other
bicycle related items were given away as prizes to riders from
Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Dallas/Ft. Worth and all over the Texas
panhandle. Seasoned riders had 4 distances from 10 to 68 miles to
choose from, and the young ones where allowed to ride their bikes and
play in the parking lot while waiting. As the Tour started with cheers
from the onlookers, the volunteers started preparing hamburgers, and
iced down drinks for their return. Five rest stops and SAG
(support/assistance/gear for riders who have had to stop riding due to
fatigue, injury, or mechanical failure) was also provided by
volunteers. Three massage therapists were available to help with those
overworked muscles after the ride.
The weather was perfect. We all had a great time and benefited a worthy cause.
Thank you to everyone involved for making this another safe and
successful panhandle event.
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