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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Contact Rhonda Hillman 810-373-4043

NATIONALLY RENOWNED ANTI-BULLYING ADVOCATE
TO MARCH IN AMERICA'S THANKSGIVING PARADE

MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER GABRIELLE FORD SPREADS MESSAGE

AT 85^th ANNUAL PARADE

Detroit, (1 November 2011). Gabrielle Ford, renowned anti-bullying speaker, will march in the 85^th annual America's Thanksgiving Parade, one of the nation's longest-running parades, Thursday, November 24, 2011.

Ford is perfectly matched to this year's parade, given its theme: So Much to Believe In. Alongside the community leaders and celebrities, Ford will help bring exposure to her hopeful anti-bullying message. She will ride on a float as America's Voice For the Bullied with a school bus of children behind her. She will ride in front of hundreds of thousands of parade-goers at 9:20 a.m. on Woodward Avenue in Detroit. The nationally broadcast parade will be aired locally in metro Detroit on WDIV Local 4 and WJR 760 AM.

Ford never dreamed that a long-eared coonhound could change her life. But that's just what happened when she cared for her ailing pet Izzy and found the voice to help others in need as a nationally-known motivational speaker. Today Gabe's incredible story has drawn media attention from The Today Show, Cosmopolitan Magazine and Animal Planet, among others.  In her 2009 autobiography, STILL DANCING and in schools across the country, she shares the inspirational details from her life as a way to encourage others that anything is possible.

As a child, Gabrielle loved dance and dreamed of becoming a prima ballerina. That dream was shattered by a rare genetic neuromuscular disease, Friedreich's Ataxia, that would eventually place her in a wheelchair. Gabe not only struggled with the devastation of the illness, but endured constant and cruel bullying from classmates. The constant torment took her on a path of depression and isolation.

That all changed when Izzy, a long-eared coonhound pup, entered Gabe's life. Izzy became Gabe's best friend and constant companion. When this special friend mysteriously developed a condition mirroring Gabe's, Gabe re-entered the world to get Izzy the best treatment available.

Speaking out for the voiceless Izzy gave her the courage to speak out for another voiceless group: the thousands of children bullied in American schools every day. Through countless personal trials, Gabe found her way back to the stage as an outspoken advocate against school bullying. In addition to reaching thousands of students in schools across the country, she has been a keynote speaker at various conferences such as the Michigan Reading Association's Annual Convention in 2010 and the International Reading Association's Annual Convention in Phoenix, Arizona in 2009. Her dedication has even earned her honors from community groups. Genesee County Community For Peace honored Gabe with the Gandhi Peace Maker of the Year Award 2011-2012. Toastmasters International granted her the 2011 Communications and Leadership Award and she earned the Community Hero Award in 2008 from the Fenton Regional Chamber of Commerce.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER AND AUTHOR:

Gabrielle Ford resides in Fenton Michigan with her family, canine friends Lindsey Bell and Dominic, and feline friends Sweetie and Bob. For more information on Gabe, to book an appearance, or to purchase her book, please visit www.gabeandizzy.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

STILL DANCING is a rallying cry for recognizing bullying's lifetime impact and nurturing the self-worth of every child. Packed with fun and poignant anecdotes from Gabe's adventures - such as bargaining with her family for a new pet and exploring New York City in a wheelchair - her story is sure to bring smiles and inspiration.

STILL DANCING
Still Dancing: One Dream, One Dog, One Stage
Ridding the World of Bullies One School at a Time
Gabrielle Ford
Gabe and Izzy Publishing
November 2009 / Hardcover / Original / Non-Fiction
$24.99 / ISBN-13-978-0-984176-0-5
Author Residence: Fenton, Michigan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

          Ben, Izzy's brother, who was known as the yellow boy passed away this morning.

            When Izzy started to get really sick about a month ago, Ben started to get sick around that time. This Saturday he was fine, playing and running around. Sunday evening is when he got really sick.

            I was told he had pneumonia and a collapsed lung. He barely made it through the night but he did. This morning my mom was on the phone with Chris aka Grandma Hooker ... and she told me that Ben had passed away.

            We released a light pink balloon for Izzy and a yellow balloon for Ben. While they were flying away in the air, one of them was higher and far away from the other ... then they got close and it looked like they touched! I believe it was Ben's balloon catching up to Izzy's.

            It reminds me in a way of 'Where the Red Fern Grows' ... which happens to be about  brother and sister coonhounds! Where one sibling dies and the one left misses them so much, they die shortly after.

            I love you "my Benjamin." Take care of my little girl ... I know you are. You are both with your mom & dad running and playing like you did as puppies.