Man Bikes Crossing Country for A.D.D.
Jun. 24, 2004



John Hollenhorst Reporting

A bicyclist pedaled through Salt Lake City today on a cross-country biking trip. That's not so unusual, you might say, but his reasons are out of the ordinary. And his bike? Now there's a story.

Michael Sandler: "The reason I'm doing this ride is to help people understand what it means to have a positive attitude with A.D.D."

Michael Sandler knows about A.D.D., he suffers from it -- Attention Deficit Disorder. That's why he's on the road, from coast to coast, with a side trip to lobby in Washington. He wants America to realize A.D.D. is a big problem, but with a positive attitude, sufferers can make a comeback.

Michael Sandler: “Every single piece of my life I rebuilt, and then I started helping others with it."

Sandler's handlebars are loaded with gizmos -- a GPS to navigate, a cell-phone to communicate, and a mini-laptop to update his website

Michael Sandler: "A camera here, and video camera. And I have internet access on it. In theory I can pump a live video-feed while I ride. But I need to get in touch with AT&T to figure out how to do that."

He even has a gizmo to measure the calories he burns, like yesterday when he pedaled 200 miles.

And you know all that controversy about people distracted by cell-phones while driving? This guy is writing a book on the road.

Michael Sandler: "Yesterday I had some great ideas about helping people with A.D.D. so I actually started typing it up as I was riding."

You can pay closer attention to Michael Sandler's ride by connecting to his website.



From: http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?nid=5&sid=102723

ADD sufferer pedaling message cross country




By IAN ST. CLAIR
The Coloradoan <HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1>

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Sherri Barber/The Coloradoan LONG ROAD AHEAD: Michael Sandler rides his bike Saturday along Horsetooth Reservoir while training for the cross-country ride he is beginning today in Portland, Ore.





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Attention deficit disorder

ADD is a syndrome, usually diagnosed in childhood, characterized by a persistent pattern of impulsiveness, a short attention span, and often hyperactivity, and interfering especially with academic, occupational and social performance.

Source: American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, fourth edition.

FYI Michael Sandler still is looking for sponsors and donations of any amount. Those interested should contact him at 308-4357 or e-mail him at mrbicyclemsn.com. Donations may be sent to Sandler, care of the Zoch family, 410 Edwards St., Fort Collins, CO 80524.


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What could you accomplish if you knew there never was a chance at failing anything that you try in life?

That is the question Michael Sandler, a Fort Collins resident and Colorado State University graduate, is asking of himself and of the people across the country who suffer from attention deficit disorder. He leaves today from Portland, Ore., on a 40-day, 4,600-mile cross country bicycle ride that will see him arrive July 19 in Washington, D. C.

The ride is to raise awareness for a disease that effects so many lives, including Sandler's.

"This is a twofold message," Sandler said. "The first is that we can be successful with ADD and with the support from the people around us and the Lord above, we can succeed. All our life, we have been told negative things and when you are constantly told negative things you're going to fail.

"The second is there are things that we can we do that will aid us in counteracting the ADD. For example, I need to multi-task and I need my palm pilot to stop from worrying and getting thoughts into my head. So there are ways to counteract the ADD, but it is going to be different for each person."

When Sandler arrives in Washington, he hopes to meet with government officials to discuss ADD and the devastating effects it can have.

"I have always wanted to speak in front of the Senate, to let them know what ADD is and what it means to have ADD," Sandler said. "But they couldn't get me to talk to Congress or the Senate, but I'll be able to knock on some doors."

Sandler, a 33-year-old writer, is embarking on this ride, which is being sponsored by Cellular Junction and Rock 'n' Road Cyclery, because of the life-altering events he suffered through 1Þ years ago.

Those events helped him realize and better understand how far people could fall because of this disease on a regular basis.

"I was in a bicycle accident that broke my collarbone and some of my ribs," he said. "At the same time, my computer got a virus that enabled me to get my PDA, my furnace blew up in the middle of the night melting my eyebrows and hair, my hot water heater flooded, and on top of all of that my dog got cancer," Sandler said. "While all of this was going, I was in the middle of financial trouble and instead of helping myself, I was doing things for my girlfriend at the time."

Sandler recalled the emotions and thoughts, which he has fought almost all of his life, which were brought on by the seemingly never ending stream of awful events.

"I remember thinking to myself, 'I am a complete failure', and those negative thoughts that are told to a person with ADD started to come back into my mind. I remember thinking I have to pay for everything that has happened to me," Sandler said. "I was an inch away from taking my life, and I learned something really important, my faith in God. I had no self-esteem, and my faith allowed me to build a foundation to build my self-esteem up. Those experiences helped me realize how important it is to get people with ADD the support they need and the importance to diagnose it early.

"Without them, I wouldn't be doing this ride."

Sandler has estimated the ride will cost him close to $9,000. He has raised between $3,000 and $4,000.

Sandler expects to ride 8-10 hours a day. His itinerary shows a high of 148.4 miles in one day and a low of 67.1. He will stay in hotels, pay for his meals -- because the equipment needed to make his own meals would be too much to carry on his ride -- and at night will do laundry in the sink of his hotel room.

"I am doing this on my own to raise awareness, and people are going have to be patient and not expect anything professionally out of my Web site," Sandler said.

Sandler grew up in Danvers, Mass., and at the age of 7 was diagnosed with ADD.

"I was an F student, and my teacher at the time, who had 30 years of experience, called me the worst student she had ever had, and my parents were absolutely mystified by that because I was a smart kid," Sandler said. "Once I was diagnosed, from then on, I moved from school to school until we found one that would place me on Ritalin. But with the unknowns of Ritalin at the time they took me off, and cycling became my Ritalin."

Cycling is what led to Sandler to Colorado College, where he graduated with a degree in political science. After graduation, Sandler spent the next 3 1/2 years riding in Europe. While riding in a race in France, he shattered his leg.

For the first 12 hours after the accident, the medical staff at the hospital didn't give him any pain medication, and for the next two weeks he was bedridden.

"It is hard for me to be bored, I can't do it," Sandler said, "I was lucky that I didn't have a shotgun in my room because I would have ended it right there. But that accident, I believe, is what has given me the strength to do this ride."

After recuperating from his injuries Sandler returned to the United States, where he eventually landed in Fort Collins and CSU, where he graduated with two masters degrees.

Sandler has just finished his first book, "Positive ADDitudes in High School and College" and said that his life couldn't be in a better place.

"This ride will change me," he said. "I am just not sure how yet." Originally published Wednesday, June 9, 2004


From: http://www.coloradoan.com/news/stories/20040609/sports/606213.html



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Here the schedule from his website : http://www.positiveadditude.com/

Bike Route/Itinerary WEEK ONE

6/08/04 (Tues) Colorado flight to Portland, Oregon
6/09/04 (Wed) Portland, Oregon to Newport, Oregon 131.3 Miles
6/10/04 (Thurs) Newport, Oregon to Port Orford, Oregon 143.9 Miles
6/11/04 (Fri) Port Orford, Oregon to Orick, California 116.8 Miles
6/12/04 (Sat) Orick, California to Piercy, California 124.6 Miles
6/13/04 (Sun) Piercy, California to Gualala, California 99.6 Miles
6/14/04 (Mon) Gualala, California to Concord, California 133.8 Miles
6/15/04 (Tues) Concord, California to Pioneer, California 114.7 Miles


WEEK TWO
6/16/04 (Wed) Pioneer, California to Fallon, Nevada 137.3 Miles
6/17/04 (Thurs) Fallon, Nevada to Austin, Nevada 110.7 Miles
6/18/04 (Fri) Austin, Nevada to Ely, Nevada 142.2 Miles
6/19/04 (Sat) Ely, Nevada to Hinckley, Utah 144.5 Miles
6/20/04 (Sun) Hinckley, Utah to Provo, Utah 111.7 Miles
6/21/04 (Mon) Provo, Utah to Roosevelt, Utah 119.1 Miles
6/22/04 (Tues) Roosevelt, Utah to Maybell, Colorado 121.5 Miles


WEEK THREE
6/23/04 (Wed) Maybell, Colorado to Walden, Colorado 126.8 Miles
6/24/04 (Thurs) Walden, Colorado to Fort Collins, Colorado 85.3 Miles
6/25/04 (Fri) Fort Collins, Colorado to Yuma, Colorado 148.4 Miles
6/26/04 (Sat) Yuma, Colorado to McCook, Nebraska 116.7 Miles
6/27/04 (Sun) McCook, Nebraska to Hastings, Nebraska 126.9 Miles
6/28/04 (Mon) Hastings, Nebraska to Wahoo, Nebraska 133.8 Miles
6/29/04 (Tues) Wahoo, Nebraska to Greenfield, Iowa 118.9 Miles


WEEK FOUR
6/30/04 (Wed) Greenfield, Iowa to Sigourney, Iowa 123.1 Miles
7/01/04 (Thurs) Sigourney, Iowa to Roseville, Illinois 117.4 Miles
7/02/04 (Fri) Roseville, Illinois to Fairbury, Illinois 120.4 Miles
7/03/04 (Sat) Fairbury, Illinois to Peru, Indiana 135.5 Miles
7/04/04 (Sun) Peru, Indiana to Ottawa, Ohio 132.0 Miles
7/05/04 (Mon) Ottawa, Ohio to Seville, Ohio 121.9 Miles
7/06/04 (Tues) Seville, Ohio to Ashtabula, Ohio 126.7 Miles


WEEK FIVE
7/07/04 (Wed) Ashtabla, Ohio to Buffalo, New York 135.0 Miles
7/08/04 (Thurs) Buffalo, New York to Seneca Falls, New York 119.8 Miles
7/09/04 (Fri) Seneca Falls, New York, to Sharon, New York 121.9 Miles
7/10/04 (Sat) Sharon, New York, to Glens Falls, New York 121.3 Miles
7/11/04 (Sun) Glens Falls, New York to Arlington, Vermont (129.5???)*
7/12/04 (Mon) Arlington, Vermont to Nashua, New Hampshire 116.7 Miles
7/13/04 (Tues) Nashua, New Hampshire to Danvers, MA 67.1 Miles
* Miles must be recalculated

WEEK SIX
7/14/04 (Wed) Danvers, MA to South Foster, Rhode Island 122.6 Miles
7/15/04 (Thurs) South Foster, RI to Millbrook, New York 118.3 Miles
7/16/04 (Fri) Millbrook, New York to West Orange, New Jersey 119.0 Miles
7/17/04 (Sat) West Orange, New Jersey to Waretown, New Jersey 119.1 Miles
7/18/04 (Sun) Waretown, New Jersey to St. Georges, Delaware 136.8 Miles
7/19/04 (Mon) St. Georges, Delaware to Washington, DC 113.7 Miles

From:http://www.positiveadditude.com/route.html

As a past bike rider/racer, what he is doing is really incredible. That is no short trek, I assure you. Hats off to his aDDventure and to bringing more light to ADD / ADHD.

I think I'm going to greet him when he comes to MA.

I couldn't help it. When I read that article, it brought tears to my eyes! Thank you Michael Sandler. Go Michael go!

Well, you know I'm NOT about to let Michael pass thru Nebraska without the proper Nebraskan cheer. So, the family and I will be going on Sat. and Sun. to show our support.

Well, I change my mind Doug had me email him and ask for the honor of buying him a meal on his way thru Nebraska. What a great thrill it would be to SHOW our kids success with ADD not just tell them about it.

*fingers crossed*

Awesome!!!!!

WEll, don't get your hopes up I only had the email address and don't know if he'll have time to contact me back but hopefully.

Make sure you take pictures if ya do!!!

We made it to McCook in time to see him leave town; but, my kids made the biggest ruccus holding up signs and screaming ADD and Proud!!!! I'm hoping that he at least saw them. As for lunch I never got an email back but I offered that should make him feel good.

Dakota and Lexi were very disappointed that they did not get to meet him and get their helmets signed; but, they were happy we at least made it to see him riding. Well, that and it's a long drive there so we turned it into a mini road trip and had a lot of fun.

As for the picture's we bought a new cam for the event and road trip if I saved the picture's right I'll be posting them here. But, I didn't actually read the directions. *cringes*

How many people would you say were there?

Well, as I told you the other day Tara I'm not really sure who we cheered on; because I know it wasn't Michael. oops talk about an ADD moment.

Luckily or should I say sadly Michael is behind schedule...He is trying really hard to push thru Jewelsburg tonight. And then push onto Kearney Ne tommorrow and that is were we have decided to pick him up. We are unsure if he will be staying with us or in a hotel (we currently have two rooms under remodeling and am a little embarrassed) but we do know that if he makes it he'll be celebrating the fourth of July with my entire family a little early. I cannot tell you how excited I and my entire family is.

I have to tell you all that he is a wonderful person...very outgoing and what he's doing is doing a lot for the ADD world. It only takes one person to change another if he touches one mind in every town he goes thru and they in return reach out to another knowledge quickly spreads like wildfire.

Michael is in need of places to stay and meals I'll post an email from him with his permission of course that has his phone number and email address for any members wishing to make contact.

Love,
Cherity

p.s. YES, BIG I'll be taking tons of picture's I've already warned him that I"m a mother armed with a camera to which he could only laugh.

From: "MICHAEL S" <MRBICYCLE@MSN.COM>Add to Address Book
Subject: Re: Your trip thru McCook-Hastings Nebraska
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 08:27:08 -0600


Hi Cherity,

Thank you for the offer. I'm trying to coordinate my route through Nebraska this morning. Feel free to call me on my cell later today or tomorrow at 970-308-4357 or email me on my cell at sandlerm at mmode.com .

Sorry this is so brief, I'm in Fort Collins just for the morning and it's VERY hectic.

Michael

Wow, futs, this is going to be so great for the kids. Is Dakota going wild about it or what? Don't worry about your house, he'll probably feel more at home there than in a hotel. :p

lol both Dakota and Alexis are going nuts about the whole thing due to the fact that Michael said he'd ride with them a little ways. If, we can get Lexi's bike fixed ya know that child don't wreck it often but when she does...she does a good job!!!!! lol

WEll, it's decided Michael will be spending the day with my family and the night at our house...your right FG after spending the night beside the highway in the rain with his cheetohs beside his head I think he can look past my half finished bathroom...hey, at least the toilet flushes right? lol

That is just so awesome :)

It doesn't feel awsome the only bed I have for him to sleep in is Dakota's and the more I try and hurry him to clean his room the slower the child moves I tell ya I"m going to have a heart attack before this is over...lol...probably stressing it a lot more than I have too but then anyone who comes to my house gets this kind of treatment. I should learn and stop having visitors. Anyway's, off and running again.

And to make matters worse my family keeps saying "we loved you guys" to my kids as if Michael is going to slaughter us in our sleep so now I'm all freaked out and for no reason I know. grrrrrrrrrr family who needs it...guess I do or I wouldn't be around anymore huh? sheesh. Ok gonna close cause I"m a nervous wreck and can ramble for days

After many telephone conversation's with Michael we finally got our ducks in a row. Sadly, he did not make it to our house to celebrate the fourth due to complications. I'm posting his update below.

"UPDATE 7/3/04 Whew...hew!!!! Internet access!!!! Man, this feels good!!! I'm sitting all sweaty in a public library in Cozad Nebraska...yes campers, howdy and welcome from the middle of Nebraska!!! Crossed my second time-line yesterday. And despite what people outside of Nebraska say...this place is BEEEEAAAAAUUUUUTIFUL country. Beautiful lush trees and vegetation along the roads, animals everywhere (what are those things that scurry into the bushes when I pass?) and SUPER FRIENDLY people!!! I can't think of a better place to be with the 4th approaching!

Have I mentioned I love a good challenge??? Well, I'm getting one today...It's at the end of a ride that I do the most damage to my body, and yesterday was no exception...I trashed my right knee...I'm actually stopping to write while hoping the swelling in my knee goes down...I probably should look for some ice. I'd say I'm in BIIIIG trouble, but if I had to, I'd pedal to DC on one leg, so no worries there! But on my pain scale of 1-10 with 7 being hospital pain, we're pegging a 9 on the 'ole knee...but I guess that's nothing, turns out the reason my gums are swollen and my face is swollen in the morning is because I cracked a tooth badly...don't know why I couldn't figure that out at first, but each day it's been getting worse, and yesterday I kept crunching tiny grains of enamel in my mouth...mmmm, mmmm, yummy...goooood. It seems anbesol is NOT the solution, it just makes the nerves more ticked off when they wake up...Soooo, I'm doing what I always do when I'm in this much pain and there's nothing I can do about it...I ignore it...focus on other things, pray, do mental visualization of it healing, and watch it go away...Today's the best it's felt in a few days, last night I almost threw up when I got to my motel, I was having too hard of a time blocking that pain and the other pains.

Seems when I stopped from overheating yesterday after 110-115 miles my body seized up. My butt was so torn up (first day riding with the shorts back in the heat!) that I couldn't get back in the saddle (i.e. why I tore up my knee again) I had chills, goose bumps, sharp pains in my knee, pains in my ankles, in my tendons by my left or good ankle, and then a mouth that was in so much pain that I'd been skipping eating, and now couldn't even tell where the pain was from....gee, are we having fun yet????

I shouldn't complain so much...come on, Michael, isn't this Positive ADDitude you're talking about??? Why yes, thank you for reminding me Alter-Ego! Ok...the good news, or the great news. First, I'm still out here...Fort Collins was tough, it completely twisted my mind...first there was the fatal car accident that happened just before I arrived on the scene while getting to town...then there was that massive headwind that crushed me as I struggled DOWNHILL to town at a maximum of 18.9 mph. Then there was everything i had to do to repack, try to get rid of the camelback (no luck there) interviews, and more...hey wait, I think I'm complaining again!!! Ok, Mr. Negative, get to the positive stuff."

So, this morning after properly chastising him for not allowing me to care for him in his time of need. I mean I am in the nursing business for pete's sake and could have found him a dentist. We finally decided to just drive along Highway 30 and meet were ever we meet. WE met in Elm Creek with a sack of Subway sandwiches, snacks for the road, frozen juice drinks (they stay colder for a longer period of time and are easily transported.) and money that we could spare.

What we met was a very energetic, entertaining, patiant man with a blue mouth...that's right folks a blue mouth...slurpies...everyone should indulge their inner child once in a while. After getting lunch over Michael patiently answered questions that only children can come up with...i.e. do you ride your bike around the country for free meals? :eek: (he did not just say that) Well, Michael just laughed and said "yes" I thought I was gonna die.

We took his extra load tent, sleeping bag, spare clothes and so forth to mail to his home for him. NOw, is were you folks come in...Michael is in desparate need of meals along the way, places to stay, a pair of XL bike shorts (if you live along Highway 30 please PM me as I have shorts just no way to get them out of the post office until Tuesday; but, I could mail them on to you.) A cushion for his seat (ya know for some reason he seems to think that riding a 100 miles or more makes his butt sore :( ) Evernitene by Enervite it's a liquid that's in a little squeeze container...has 480 calories in this tiny little thing and would greatly help him keep his energy up on the ride. They cost 4.99 each and come from local bike shops or perhaps online.

I strongly urge forum members to make the effort to at least cheer Michael on...he is determined, strong minded, articulate, organized, sweet, sincere, honest and he's just got a good heart. I promise you will not walk away from this experiance without a new found respect for Michael but with the hope for your children...YES!!!! there is success at the end of our journey as parent's.

AS Michael put it to me half the journey is fellow ADD'ers and people he meets along the way...And he is definatly someone I will keep in my life forever. :D
Love,
Cherity

Hi All,

I'm not sure if anyone will find this posting almost 4 years after that ride. But this is Michael Sandler, the cyclist who rode across the country for people with ADD.

I just finished an audiobook and paperback book for high school, college students, and adults with ADD that has some more information about the ride in it. It's College Confidence with ADD. If it's not against the rules, here's a website for info on it...but if it is against the rules, please feel free to remove this reply, or just this part of the reply (I don't want to infringe). It's www.TheCreativeLearningInstitute.com (http://www.TheCreativeLearningInstitute.com) or www.addcollegeconfidence.com (http://www.addcollegeconfidence.com).

Anyway, thanks for the posting on the ride, and no matter what, never, every give up!!!

Thank you so much, Michael.