Saul Raisin: Raisin Hope

At twenty-three years old Saul Raisin had already proven himself as one of America's most promising road cyclists. The Dalton, Georgia native had already won the Best Young Rider jersey at the Tour de Georgia, won the toughest climbing stage of the Tour of Langkawi, turned in the strongest American performance at the 2006 World Championships, and captured ninth place overall at the incredibly difficult and prestigious Tour of Germany. Within a month he would be riding in his first Grand Tour, the Giro d'Italia, but on April 4, 2006 his concentration was on completing Stage One of the Circuit de la Sarthe. Three kilometers before the finish line disaster struck.

At home in Georgia, Saul's parents waited for the simple but comforting text message he always sent to let them know he'd finished the day's race safely: "OK". It never arrived. They soon learned that he'd crashed, breaking several bones and hitting his head. His condition seemed to have stabilized, but unbeknownst to anybody he was now bleeding into his skull cavity. The blood eventually forced his brain pressure so high that Saul fell into a coma. Emergency brain surgery was the only option to save his life.

Jim and Yvonne Raisin rushed to their son's bedside in Angers, France where they learned more devastating news. He wasn't expected to survive. Doctors explained that in the unlikely event Saul lived he'd need full-time nursing care for life. Among other serious problems, the left side of his body would definitely be permanently paralyzed.

Still in shock, the Raisins were discussing their options, including donating his organs, when Saul gradually began to regain consciousness. Observers were both thrilled and stunned by his successful efforts to slightly move all four extremities and also communicate at a very basic level. Over the next several months Saul fought the battle of his life to return to some semblance of normalcy. He had to re-learn the simplest of tasks. Even forming basic thoughts exhausted him. He battled fatigue and pain that went far beyond anything he'd ever experienced in his most difficult bicycle race.

Against all odds, by mid-May Saul was walking. By early August he rode his bicycle on the road again. In January he attended Crédit Agricole team training camp where, to the shock of everybody, he proved to be the strongest climber on the entire squad. He's on track to be cleared to race again by late 2007 and has targeted the US National Championships as his first contest.

Saul attributes his miraculous recovery to tremendous good fortune, great support from family, friends, and medical staff, and an absolute unwillingness to give up. He's determined to create a positive outcome from this intensely negative experience by inspiring other victims and their loved ones to fight with everything they've got, regardless of the odds. This is the mission behind Saul's first annual Raisin' Hope Charity Ride (March 31, 2007), his upcoming biography Tour de Life: From Coma to Competition (publication date September 1, 2007), and his relentless drive to compete in and win cycling's biggest races, including the Tour de France. Saul wants to redefine what's possible for brain injury victims, and there are a growing number of fans who believe that he'll do just that. In the hospital bed Saul said to his mother, "Mom if I ever get back to cycling I want to help people like me." He still stands by this and wants to give back to people that are not as fortunate as him. Through cycling he believes he can reach out further and show the world that anything is possible. Creating the Raisin Hope foundation is one way Saul wants to give back.. Please help Saul give the smiles back to many good people that have lost him.. Please help Saul Raisin hope..

Contributions go to support charaties such as:

Shepherd Center – www.shepherd.org

Camp Twin Lakes – www.camptwinlakes.org

The Brain Injury Association of Georgia - www.birf.info

To make a tax deductable donation, mail a check or money order (in $US) to:

Raisin Hope Foundation P.O. Box 6126 Dalton, Ga 30722-6126 USA