Middlebury, VT – The 5th annual Kelly Brush Century Ride held earlier this month in Vermont drew 675 riders and raised $275,000 for spinal cord injury (SCI) prevention and research. The 100-mile bike ride raises money for improving ski racing safety, enhancing the quality of life for those with SCI through adaptive sports equipment grants, advancing scientific research on SCI and supporting the U.S. Adaptive Ski Team.n”We are absolutely thrilled to see such strong support for the foundation and our mission,” said Charlie Brush, Kelly Brush Foundation president and father of Kelly Brush, who along with her family started the foundation in 2006 after she sustained a severe spinal cord injury while racing in NCAA Div. 1 competition as a member of the Middlebury College Ski Team. “Our thanks goes to each and every rider whose participation helps the Kelly Brush Foundation make a positive difference in the lives of those with SCI and raises the bar for ski racing safety.”

The ride, which began and ended at Middlebury College, included 23 participants using hand cycles. The number of participants grew this year by about 175 this year and fund raising increased by about 40 percent.

The Kelly Brush Century Ride was started by the Middlebury College Ski Team as a way to raise money to buy an adaptive mono-ski for Kelly. After the non-profit was founded the ride was opened to the public. On this year’s ride, which took place on Sept. 11, participants rode distances of 28, 50 or 100 miles.