[RAAM 2009 - Patrick Autissier] Day - 18

In the news...

FUNDRAISING EVENT, JUNE 9TH AT BOSTON COLLEGE

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Boston, May 28th, 2009 (day - 18)

 

I am very excited to announce that there will be a fundraising event at Boston College, just 1 week prior to the start of the race. Thanks to Film Director Stephen Auerbach, I have the great opportunity to do a special screening of his movie "Bicycle Dreams" here in Boston, MA. That's probably going to be THE only chance to watch the movie on a big screen in the Boston area. Don't miss it!

 

Nothing is fake in Bicycle Dreams. Real people, real emotions, real drama make this movie very special, whether you're a cyclist...or not!!!

More information are posted on the Contact / Event webpage at www.patrickautissier.org 

 

 

CYTEK, NEW SPONSOR

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Boston, May 28th, 2009 (day - 18)

 

Cytek is a very-well known company in the cytometry world. They design, build and support upgrades for flow cytometers since 20 years. They have been supporting me in 2007, and I'm very pleased that they are renewing again their support this year. I'm looking forward to participating in the Race Across America under their colors, and I'll be more than happy to meet them at the next ISAC meeting in Seattle, WA next year.

 

Please visit Cytek website for more information about the company.

 

Thank you for your support,

Patrick

www.patrickautissier.org

[RAAM 2009 - Patrick Autissier] Day - 26

BOSTON COLLEGE BIOLOGIST GETTING READY FOR A LONG (3,000 MILES) HAUL

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Boston, May 20th, 2009 (day - 26)

 

Patrick Autissier, a researcher in the Biology Department, will compete next month among an elite group of ultra cyclists in Race Across America

By Ed Hayward | Chronicle Staff

 

Exhaustion. Dehydration. Hallucinations. Such signs at the end of the academic year might suggest the need for a vacation more>>

 

Patrick

[RAAM 2009 - Patrick Autissier] Day - 26

In the news...

AMERICAN DOCTOR'S CHARITY SAVES LIVES AROUND THE WORLD

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Boston, May 20th, 2009 (day - 26)

 

I will race in less than 30 days for 2 charities: one of them is Partners In Health. Four years ago, a friend of mine at my former lab told me about PIH and the incredible work that they do for the poor people in several countries. Then, I read the book "Mountains beyond mountains" by Tracy Kidder who got the Pulitzer prize. This book tells the story and achievements of Partners In Health and their founders  Paul Farmer, Ophelia Dahl, Thomas J. White and Jim Yong Kim. 

 

One of their leading and oldest program is in Haiti. But the task that PIH is facing is huge because, despite recent improvements in some areas, Haiti continues to be the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. I could tell you that 54 percent of Haitians live on less than US$1 a day and 78 percent on less than US$2 a day, or that life expectancy at birth is 60 years (Source: World Bank), these numbers, although terrifying, are just numbers and do not tell the story of the human beings behind them.

 

Better than words, I urge you to watch the interview of Dr Paul Farmer, and watch it until the very end. It will take only 10 minutes of your time, and if you decide to make a donation, in the end your gift can save several lives. Plain and simple!

 

Please click on the video link here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS05uKPAcjI&feature=related

Thank you for your support,

Patrick

www.patrickautissier.org

[RAAM 2009 - Patrick Autissier] Day - 35

In the news...

TRAINING NEWS

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Boston, May 11th, 2009 (day - 35)

 

Training is going very well. I usually ride around 20 - 25 hours per week. I do short rides (2 - 3 hours) early in the morning during the week and longer ride (5 - 7 hours) in the weekend. Last Saturday, I participated in a 200 K ride organized by the New England Randonneurs. It was a very hilly ride going up to New Hampshire, and despite the rain, tons of potholes thanks to a very bad winter here in New England, I managed, along with 3 others cyclists to complete it in 6:38, averaging 19.2mph. When I looked back, it took me 7:23 in 2007 and...8:13 in 2005, the 2 years I did the solo RAAM. So what these numbers tell me is that at least my training goes into the right direction. Of course, solo RAAM is 15 times 200K on top of each other...with barely any rest in between. However, it seems like, as for a good wine, I'm getting better as I get older. After all, maybe there is some truth in that 50 is the new 30.

 

 

GOOD LUCK PAUL!

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Boston, May 11th, 2009 (day - 35)

On another note, maybe you've seen on my bio that I am a Flow Cytometry Specialist, and you're wondering: "what the heck is this guy doing???". Well, if you go to wikipedia, you'll know more about this technique which has applications in research fields as diverse as immunology, marine biology or molecular biology. Our society is called ISAC (International Society of Analytical Cytology) and I'm very proud to be a member of this family. My RAAM project have been supported over the years by many ISAC members, as well as several companies working in the cytometry field. However, one individual gave me an incredible support, by helping me finding sponsorship, allowing me to present my project during the ISAC congress in Quebec City in 2006, and convincing people to make a donation to my charities. He is the former President of ISAC and his name is Pr. Paul Robinson. If you think I'm nuts, well you don't know Paul. As I write this newsletter, he is resting at Everest Base Camp, waiting to hear from Russell Brice, the expedition leader, that it's time to pack and leave for the summit. It must be an exciting but also a very scary call. I wish him the best of luck for the summit and I'm looking forward to meeting with him at the Time Station 38 near Indianapolis.

Thank you for your support,

Patrick

www.patrickautissier.org

[RAAM 2009 - Patrick Autissier] Day - 43

In the news...

TV5MONDE, NEW SPONSOR

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Boston, May 4th, 2009 (day - 43)

 

TV5MONDE, the only French language TV broadcasted worldwide 24/7...and without commercial interruptions, is sponsoring Patrick, as it did in 2005. "It's a fascinating project, both athletically and humanly, said Patrice Courtaban, CEO of TV5MONDE USA. TV5MONDE is proud to sponsor Patrick and will help him spread the word about the charities that he supports and this absolutely crazy bike race across a continent."

 

Please visit TV5MONDE website if you ever want to know more about the French language, culture, cuisine and its people.

 

 

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: BICYCLE DREAMS

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Boston, May 4th, 2009 (day - 43)

 

And the winner is…...Bicycle Dreams by Stephen Auerbach! It's a great satisfaction to see that Stephen Auerbach's talent to tell the incredible story of RAAM 2005 has been rewarded, even by a "small" film festival. Every opportunity to show to people this fantastic race and its participants, from the riders to the crew people, to the volunteers and the race organization, is a great thing.

 

If you live in or near Hoboken, NJ or Breckenridge, CO, I encourage you to go watch the movie on June 2th and June 12th respectively. Information about tickets and schedule can be found at www.bicycledreamsmovie.com  

 

Thank you for your support,

Patrick

www.patrickautissier.org

ps: You received this email because somehow I got your email address in my contacts. If you don't want to receive anymore emails from me, just hit the reply button and type NO, I will certainly understand it and will remove your email address from the list.