New World Record |
TWO PILOTS CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE GLOBE SHATTERING WORLD RECORD TO FIND CURE FOR ALS
Pilots Set New World Record to Raise Money and Awareness for Lou Gehrig's Disease
Orlando, Florida—April 2, 2009 CarolAnn Garratt and Carol Foy have shattered the world record for flying around the world westbound in a single engine, piston plane by circling the globe in only eight and a half days. The duo completed the trip to raise money and awareness for ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease which attacks the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord resulting in progressive paralysis and is considered fatal.
Crossing over 20,780 nautical miles (nearly 24,000 miles) at an average speed of 115.35 mph, Garratt and Foy broke the old world record of 54.6 mph, certified by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, which has been held for 20 years. Stopping only eight times for refueling, the two women spent 204 hours together in a cockpit. The National Aeronautic Association, the U.S. governing body, is naming the duo's flight as one of the most memorable aviation and space records of 2008.
"When a disease takes the life of a loved one, you want to do everything in your power to find a cure so that no other family has to suffer like yours," said CarolAnn Garratt. "Carol and I hope that our story will inspire others to help in any way they can so that together, we can find a cure for this fatal disease."
The women paid for the flight in its entirety, ensuring that all money raised goes directly to finding a cure for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, which kills 90 percent of its patients within five years of being diagnosed. Working closely with ALS Therapy Development Institute (TDI), the leading nonprofit organization working on a cure, the women have raised over $230,000 to date, but hope to reach $1 million after the completion of the tour promoting their book, Upon Silver Wings II; World-Record Adventure and DVD.
"We want to congratulate CarolAnn and Carol for this incredible feat of sacrifice and salvation," said Steve Perrin, Chief Scientific Officer, ALS TDI. "It is this passion and drive that will finally enable us to find a cure for this disease that takes so many lives. They are truly an inspiration to all."
If you would like to make a donation to support ALS research through Dash for a Cure, please visit http://www.alsworldflight.com. For an upcoming schedule of presentations, go to http://www.alsworldflight.com/Media.aspx.
About the ALS Therapy Development Institute
The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) (www.als.net), based in Cambridge, Mass., operates the world's largest research and development program focused exclusively on ALS. The Institute has a staff of more than 30 scientists and research technicians, working on behalf of ALS patients to discover and advance novel therapeutics for treating, and ultimately curing, ALS. The nonprofit biotechnology institute excels in identifying novel disease targets, discovering compounds that may act against these targets, and screening potential treatments for clinical development.
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Alumna sets record for flight around the world
Record Dash for a Cure
August 2009
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