[FLARES] Tour de Cure - Feb. 26, 2006

[Ron Wetjen]

The American Diabetes Association "Tour de Cure" 100K bicycle event was
held for the first time in Sarasota on Sunday, February 26. Over 100
SERC (Sarasota Emergency Radio Club) member hours went into the planning 
and execution of the communications plan that supported the staff and 
riders on a blustery, rainy Sunday morning. The weather failed to dampen 
the spirits of the riders however, as hundreds of them pedaled the back 
roads of Sarasota and Manatee counties, raising donations for research 
into a cure for this dangerous, and often undetected disease. Rest 
stops, support vehicles, and logistics staging areas were manned by hams 
who assisted in matters of safety and flow of the riders. The event 
concluded with entertainment, festivities and great eats at the Clay 
Gully Pavilion at Myakka State Park.

The SERC team wishes to express it's thanks to the West Central Florida
Group, Inc. for use of the NI4CE repeater system during the event. Our
thanks and hats are off to the entire West Central Florida amateur radio
community in general for the uninterrupted use of the system during the
event.

Those amateurs participating in this event include:

Bob, KA4BOB
Vini, W4VIN
Marlin, K4UOT
Ted, KI4HOK
Jim, WA9TIR
Adriaan, KB3GCQ
Dave, K9DAV
Doug, KG4QCR
Eddie, K4JP
Ron, WD4AHZ


Bob, KA4BOB