Hi, Sunrisers,

Some folks from NFRMC contacted me because: 1) I'm a bit young for heart attack, they want to target folks in 40-50-60 year range, 2) an athlete, they want to target "fit" older (??) adults, and 3) because I reacted pretty fast once I recognized and accepted that I was having a heart attack...many people stay in denial and ignore symptoms for hours, sometimes days. I had sent a thank you letter to NFRMC because of all the great care from arriving in ER to discharge. They reviewed my case and contacted me because they said I fit the patient profile they were looking for.

There are NO promises because all of this is tentative...but here's what the current plan is:  they want to tell the stories of a male/female pair who have survived a heart attack and another pair who have survived a stroke.  They want to try to send the message of what symptoms to be aware of and what to do if you realize it is happening to you.  To do this they essentially want to tell our stories by putting this out locally on TV, newspaper, magazines, etc.

Yea, TV...hmm...having a HA is somehow giving me 15 minutes of fame.   Not really comfortable about that...until it was explained that they want to film me riding and I suggested filming me wearing the old GCC jersey I was wearing that day and riding with the people I was riding with that day.  They were all over that idea. You guys being with me for this makes it a bit more acceptable. It's a lucky opportunity to say thanks for all that you have done for me, we all will get to publicize GCC, cycling, it benefits, and maybe help someone else out there recognize that they are having a HA and save themselves...particularly somebody like us...fit athletes.

So...if you were with us on 20 June when I DNFed that ride...I remember most of who was with us that day. Or, if you have ever ridden with us on the Sunrise ride and just happened to miss that day....keep your eyes here.  Some time ~19 Sept plus or minus a week or so...they want to meet us at the Chevron and film us.  That is as much I know at this point. I know they seem to want us altogether, then me riding alone...you know, like when you all raced off and left me...just kidding ;).

While they are willing to meet us at ~730 am, yes, this might disrupt the Sunrise ride that morning if they do multiple takes. I may go with them all sweaty to NFRMC to take more shots near ER and with docs and nurses who saved me so I will likely miss the ride that day.  Yes, they will have to get releases to use your images on film or print media...if you are in witness protection, might want to skip that day. And, let's be sure we observe road rules before they film us for posterity.

I'll send a mail again when I know more about exact dates and times and what they really want to film....let us not end up on a cutting room floor.  If all this somehow caves, I'll not care too much at all and look forward to just going for a ride with you all.

spin the hills...Bob Howland