Pedaling for Parkinson's

Sue and Mark Peterson help raise money for research with every turn of the wheel

http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.a...14&TM=16835.03
7/12/2008 1:13:00 AM

By Matt Entrup
The East Oregonian

While much of the population will take today to relax after a long week at work in the comfort of their air conditioned homes, two Pendletonians will be trudging through a 206-mile bike ride to support a cause near and dear to their hearts.

Sue and Mark Peterson will attempt to complete the entire Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic today, a feat they've accomplished five times already since Mark joined Sue in the ride. The ride is not a race, but with 800-900,000 bikers it is the largest organized ride in the Northwest. Only about 1,200 of those will finish it in one day, according to Sue.

"The first time (Mark) rode the Seattle to Portland he said, 'We're going to do it in one day,' " Sue said. "I said, 'But you just started riding.' He said, 'I don't care. I want to get it over with.' "

They are riding as two of the 119 members of Team Parkinson's, representing the Northwest Parkinson's Foundation. They've been raising money for months to help the team reach it's 2008 goal of $130,000.

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