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Team Alpha-1 begins its 15th annual "Escape to the Cape" to raise Alpha-1 awareness and funds

The Alpha-1 Foundation’s Team Alpha-1 is ready to “Escape to the Cape” again.

The team will promote awareness and raise money for research on Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency during the American Lung Association of Massachusetts’ annual Autumn Bike Trek this Friday through Sunday, Oct. 1-3.

“I think we’re going to have the largest total number ever in Team Alpha-1 this year,” said Fred Walsh, AlphaNet coordinator for Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Walsh, along with fellow Alpha Joe Reidy, has been part of the annual Escape every year since Team Alpha-1 participation began.

Richard O’Brien, Team Alpha-1’s “Sweeper” at the Escape to the Cape, followed his own tradition with a “hair tattoo” again this year. He wears the logo of The Alpha-1 Project, aimed at speeding up development of new therapies. The sweeper’s job is to ride at the rear of the team and help anyone who develops problems on the ride.

Cape Cod, or just “the Cape,” is the famous arm-shaped peninsula projecting into the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of Massachusetts. Participants in this “at-your-own pace” event, some of whom routinely ride with supplemental oxygen bottles carried on their bikes, have their choice of a two-day, 105-mile bike trek or three days and 160 miles along the Cape’s coast from Plymouth to Provincetown at the Cape’s northern tip.

“We have 42 official Team Alpha-1 riders and 48 volunteer supporters who will help with registration, sweeps, sag teams and medical support,” said Foundation Director of Development Angela McBride. “Some of those volunteers will ride part of the route, too.”

Team Alpha-1 has won the annual “Silver Spoke” award for the largest team participating in the ride each of the past two years.

Team Alpha-1’s goal is to raise $25,000 this year.

The team includes riders from New England, Colorado, Florida and New Jersey.

Sponsors of Team Alpha-1 are CSL Behring and Talecris Biotherapeutics, both of whom sent riders to participate.