Press: Rise Above Tour Cycles Into Ann Arbor
September 26, 2008
ANN ARBOR, MI - NuStep, Inc., originator of the NuStep Recumbent Cross Trainer, is hosting team members of the 2008 Rise Above U.S. Bicycle Tour for a meet and greet on Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at NuStep headquarters in Ann Arbor.
The Rise Above Tour, a four-month, 4,200 mile cross-country trek from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. sponsored by NuStep, Inc., was led by Aaron Baker of Carmel, Calif. to raise awareness about the importance of on-going therapeutic exercise for people recovering from catastrophic injuries or living with chronic health conditions.
A former competitive motocross racer, Baker, 29, became a quadriplegic after suffering a spinal chord injury in 1999. At the time of his injury, Baker's family was told there was a one-in-a-million chance of him ever recovering any function from the neck down.
Today, after eight years in an intensive therapeutic exercise program, Baker is ambulatory, using only a cane for assistance. And since June, Baker has been peddling across America on a custom three-wheel bicycle, along with his mother and primary teammate, Laquita Conway, and other family members and friends. Along the way, the mother and son duo, who rode into Washington D.C. on Sept. 24, have shared their story of hope with physical therapists, exercise physiologists, and rehabilitation patients.
"We are honored to sponsor Aaron and Laquita's Rise Above Tour, showcasing their incredible journey from receiving a devastating diagnosis to a story of accomplishment and continued progress that inspires anyone fortunate to enough to meet them," says Steve Sarns, NuStep vice president of sales and marketing. "The fact that the NuStep Recumbent Cross Trainer is a vital part of Aaron's recovery and has been for the past six years keeps all of us at NuStep motivated to continue our mission of Transforming Lives®."
Another goal of the Rise Above Tour (www.RiseAboveTour.com) is to raise funds for the Center of Rehabilitative Exercise, Inc. (C.O.R.E., Inc.) C.O.R.E., Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation founded by Baker. Its mission is to build accessible, state-of-the-art rehabilitative facilities with specialized exercise equipment all over the country. C.O.R.E., Inc. facilities would provide low-cost integrated exercise programs for those with special needs to help them improve function and build independence.
About NuStep
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., NuStep, Inc. is the manufacturer of the NuStep Recumbent Cross Trainers. These patented machines were developed by exercise physiologists to help people stay in motion regardless of physical condition. The company's products are used at fitness, wellness and rehabilitation centers around the world, including the Mayo Clinic, the University of Michigan, the Cleveland Clinic and the Duke Center for Living. For more information, call 800-322-2209 or visit www.nustep.com.