BRANFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT

What a great day. This is what it's all about. Thank you to all the burn survivors who signed the bike yesterday and to the therapists and nurses who rode with me for a while from the Shrine. Your signatures and iron will pulled me over some heartbreaker hills yesterday as my legs were trying to cramp up on me.

BFD brought me into town with a kick butt Harley escort from a few of their FF's. Thank you to all who organized and showed up for the party at the American Legion Hall. Pipers were pipin', drummers were drummin' - AWESOME! BFD raised a ton of money for the fundraiser and is counting it as we speak. WE are ALL behind each and every burn survivor - the Phoenix Society, healthcare community, firefighters and their families. HELP AND SUPPORT ARE ON THE WAY.

I'm on to Hartford this AM after a nice pancake breakfast with my brothers. See you there!

-Mike

Photo Gallary - Day 1 Boston

Thank you to everyone who took photo's today!!

NOTE TO ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS: Let us know if you post photo's online so we can link to them here. All you need to do is post a comment below as to where to link to your photo's and any info you want to share. We moderate/approve all comments. We do that to avoid spam. But if you are shy and just want to notify us and not have your post go live ... we can accomodate that ... just let us know!

From Kathy Sexton, Middleton, MA: Photos from the Kick off event at the Shriners Hospital for Children

Media Coverage: Boston Kick Off

Firefighter Kicks Off Cross-Country Bicycle Ride For Burn Survivors

Quincy Native To Raise National Awareness

*********************************************************************

"Feeling the burn: Firefighter rides for a cause"
By LANE LAMBERT, The Patriot Ledger

*********************************************************************

Ohio Firefighter Bikes for Burn Survivors

A Great Send Off in Boston!

Thank you to everyone at Shriners, the Phoenix Society, the Boston Firefighters Association and Department, and most importantly, to all the burn survivors who showed up at the press conference this morning to offer your support. This ride is symbolic of your journey. May we inspire everyone who hears of this journey to donate to help all burn survivors.

Quincy native & firefighter begins nationwide bike ride May 8th/Boston

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jeff Derderian/Community Volunteer
401-441-7823
jeffderderian @ hotmail.com

Quincy Native & Firefighter to begin Bike Trek for Burn Survivors

3,100 mile ride starts at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Boston

Quincy native now Ohio Firefighter Mike Manning kicks-off his awareness and donation drive for burn survivors as he pedals across America to benefit The Phoenix-Society for Burn Survivors. Mike will take 7 weeks to bike from coast to coast stopping at fire stations and burn centers along his route to meet his goal of raising $100,000. After selling his own personal van on E-Bay to help a burn survivor, Mike started training for something bigger and as a first responder , he wanted to help people in their recovery and return to life.

Come hear Mike’s inspiring story and watch as Mike’s fellow firefighters from the Boston Fire Department cheer him on as he and members of Shriners Hospitals for Children ride with him out of the city. Mike will also have his own special cheerleading squad led by some of the children at Shriners Hospitals for Children.

WHAT: "Feel the Burn 07" kick off

WHERE: Shriners Hospital for Children—51 Blossom Street (outside)

WHEN: Tuesday, May 8th—10:00am

For more information on Mike’s cross country ride please go to Mike’s own biog. where you can track his progress state by state at: www.feeltheburn2007.blogspot.com You can also learn more about

Mike’s ride at The Phoenix-Society for Burn Survivors at www.phoenix-society.org. To interview Mike, please call 401-441-7823

Regis University

Thank you very much Kelli and Donny for covering this fundraiser through the Regis U. webpage. It was great meeting both of you

THANK YOU,
Mike

http://www.regis.edu/newsdetail.asp?sctn=news&p1=rdn&archive=false&year=&newsID=328&page=1

36 hours to go!!!!

Just got back from Denver, CO with diploma in hand, great weekend!

Can't wait to see all of you kids at Boston Shriners on Tuesday morning!

See you all Tuesday, keep smiling.

Mike