Reprinted with permission of the Morris County Daily Record, Parsippany, NJ
DAILY RECORD STAFF REPORTS, Fall 2007

MORRISTOWN -- In memory of his twin sister who died seven years ago, Michael Santoro led the annual Courage Ride Saturday to raise money to try and beat the disease that took her life.

Santoro, who is now a junior at Morristown High School, was the lead biker for the event that included walking, biking and a ceremonial release of butterflies. Money raised from the event goes to the Paula Rosina Santoro Foundation, which supports research and outreach about Cushing's Syndrome.

Morris Township, Sept. 1, 2007 - Mike Santoro, 17, leads the pack in the Hike and Bike with Mike fundraiser at Loantaka Park. About 150 people turned out for the event to raise money in memory of Paula Rosina Santoro. She and her brother Mike are twins; she died of Cushings Syndrome in 2000 when they were in 4th grade. Over the years, the fundraisers have collected $65,000 for research. Karen Mancinelli photo/2007

Michael's twin sister, Paula, succumbed in December of 2000 to Cushing's, a rare disease of the endocrine system, according to Mary Donohoe, a spokeswoman for the Morris School District, which helped out with the event. Michael and Paula were fourth graders at the Normandy Park School at the time of her death.

The goal of the Santoro Foundation is to fund research so that a cure for the disease may be found, Donohoe said. "One of the projects we're funding is outreach and education to pediatricians and nurses with new information about Pediatric Cushings," Michael's mother, Pam Bennett-Santoro, said in an e-mail.

The event took place from 2 to 4 p.m., at Loantaka Park, beginning at the South Street entrance in Morristown. The Paula Rosina Santoro Foundation is an IRS 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and a NJ registered charity. For more information about Cushing's Syndrome, go to www.csrf.net. Details about the Paula Rosina Santoro Foundation can be obtained by e-mailing jpmp010@aol.com or by calling (973) 539-9255.

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