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Cochlear implant recipient Jacob Landis completes transcontinental bike ride to all 30 baseball stadiums to raise $1 Million for the hearing impaired

Jacob's Ride Finale to take place at Marlins Park on Tuesday, September 24th

MIAMI, FL (SEPTEMBER 20, 2014) - On Tuesday, September 24, Jacob Landis, 24, will complete his 175 day, 11,000 mile bicycle journey to every Major League Ballpark in the country to raise awareness about the benefits of cochlear implants. Jacob's Ride began on April 3rd in Jacob's hometown of Annapolis, MD. Deaf by age 10, Jacob received a cochlear implant allowing him to be fully functional in the hearing world. Combining his love of cycling and baseball with a desire to help others, Jacob's goal is to raise $1 million for others who could benefit from a cochlear implant but cannot afford one.

Before attending the Marlins game Whole Foods, 12150 Biscayne Blvd, N. Miami, is hosting a finale party for Jacob from 2pm-5pm. Jacob works at Whole Foods in Annapolis, MD in the prepared foods department. Speakers include a Whole Food rep, a Miami Commissioner's Office rep, Dr. Samuel Ostrower, Cochlear Implant Surgeon, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital and Dr. Ivette Cejas, Director, Barton G Kids Hear Now Cochlear Implant Family Resource Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Check presentation by Judy Horvach of Advanced Bionics as well as an award ceremony for the Dylan Challenge winner.

At 5:30pm Jacob will ride his bike through the finish line at Marlins Park (501 Marlins Way, Miami, FL) on West Plaza. Following his arrival, there will be a press conference and Jacob will be available for media along with Dr. Ostrower and Dr. Fred Telischi, Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Marlins Foundation will also be on hand to answer questions. At 6:50pm Jacob will throw the ceremonial first pitch of the game and be introduced on field.

Hearing impairment is now the number two birth defect among children born in America. With more than 500,000 Americans living in the U.S. with severe to profound hearing loss, cochlear implants are the most successful medical intervention for those profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. A small, complex electronic device, it bypasses the damaged parts of the inner ear and delivers electrical impulses to the auditory nerve sending information to the brain.

Read More: Miami Marlins