Throughout the Second Annual Transverse Myelitis Symposium, we held an auction to raise funds for TM research. Items were donated from various sources. Ms. Deana Green and her friend, Ralph Robinson, donated some beautiful paintings. Richard Boyle donated many items that he had collected and Beth Lekander brought us a lot of rock and roll and country items signed by celebrities.

The auction was a lot of fun to put on and all of us involved met some truly wonderful and giving people. The auction raised $2001.00 for the TMA's Research Fund.

I would like to thank the Johns Hopkins Transverse Myelopathy Center for allowing us the space at the back of the conference room, Beth Lekander for all her hard work, Richard Boyle for collecting so many wonderful items and Deana and Robbie for the beautiful paintings.

Without people donating items and people willing to purchase items, the auction would not have been such a success. Thank you to all those that helped us by bidding on the items that interested you! We hope you enjoy them.

I am currently working on the raffling of a new 2002 Harley Davidson Motorcycle. This raffle will take place in the spring of 2002. There will be 2000 tickets sold at $25.00 per ticket. The drawing will be held during a party where food and drink will be provided for all ticket holders. The proceeds of this fundraiser will go to the TMA's Research Fund. If you would like to get more information about this fundraiser, please feel free to contact me at:

Lori Biehler
44 Morris Lake Road
Sparta, NJ 07871
(973) 726-5591
lostinwoods[AT SIGN]earthlink.net

A month ago I got to be a part of the Attachmate Corporation golf tournament. It was a beautiful day at Eaglemont Golf Course in Mount Vernon, WA. It was my brother, Buddy Peltier's, 10th year in a row organizing this annual event. He and I both work for Attachmate Corporation. For the past four years, any fundraising activities done at the tournaments, such as raffles for a hole-in-one have been to benefit The Transverse Myelitis Association. This year's fundraising was specifically done for the TMA Children's Workshop to be held next summer. We employed a great fundraising event at this year's tournament; it was used at the Cody Unser First Step Foundation golf tournament which Buddy and I had attended in August. On the 10th hole, the teams had to tee off sitting in a wheelchair. In order for that stroke not to count against the team, they each had to pay $10. I'm pleased to say that with the matching funds from Attachmate, the golf tournament raised over $2000 for the TMA Children's Workshop. My-sister-in law, Shauna, and I sat at the hole to encourage and collect the donations. The event was a great success.

Please join me in thanking Buddy for all the hard work he has put in these past four years organizing the tournaments in support of the TMA. You all don't get to see him everyday walking the halls of Attachmate with me, lunching with me, and helping me when I need it. Because of these efforts, combined with others, we are four years closer to finding a cure. Buddy, you are the greatest brother any girl could ever ask for … I love you!