AUBURN, N.H. — February 10, 2009 — Fischer Skis today announced that Bjorn Daehlie, the Olympic and world cross country ski champion, will help the company fundraise for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at the 36th American Birkebeiner. Daehlie will autograph his Fischer race skis for a raffle whose proceeds will be donated to the MS Society, the beneficiary of this year’s Birkie Skiers for Cures. Fischer and Daehlie will present the signed skis to the raffle winner and make its donation to the Society during the awards banquet on Saturday, Feb. 21.
Skiers will have an opportunity to meet Daehlie at Fischer’s booth at the Birkie indoor expo in the Telemark Resort on Friday, Feb. 20, from noon to 1 p.m., where he will sign custom Fischer posters. Raffle tickets will be available for $5.00 at Fischer’s booth throughout the two-day Birkie expo and at the awards banquet.
Daehlie is the most accomplished cross country skier of all time, having won 29 Olympic and World Championship medals during his career. A native of Norway, Daehlie was affiliated with Fischer throughout his racing career and continues to represent the brand. Daehlie’s mother has suffered from MS for several years, therefore the opportunity to support MS research through this fundraising effort is especially meaningful to him.
The American Birkebeiner is North America’s largest and most prestigious cross country ski race. Held in Cable and Hayward, Wis., it includes several events: the 50 kilometer Birkie Skate, 54 kilometer Birkie Classic, 23 kilometer Kortelopet and 8 kilometer Prince Haakon. More than 7,000 skiers are expected to register for the American Birkebeiner and Kortelopet, and another 2,500 are expected for the shorter races and events.
Every year, the Birkie Skiers for Cures team raises funds through sponsorships and donations for a different non-profit organization; this year’s recipient is the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and its Promise 2010 research project.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often debilitating disease that attacks the central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Symptoms may range from numbness in the limbs to paralysis or loss of vision. Progress of the disease, severity and specific symptoms are unpredictable and vary from person to person. For more information on the National Multiple Sclerosis Society please visit www.nationalmssociety.org.
About Fischer Sports Nordic Ski Division
Founded in Austria in 1924, Fischer Sports is the world’s preeminent Nordic ski manufacturer, with a long history of dominating the race circuit as well as recreational sales. Fischer Skis U.S.A. is the top-ranked Nordic ski brand sold in America today. The company also markets bindings, boots and poles for Nordic racing, cruising, touring, jumping, backcountry and recreational skiing. For more information please visit www.fischerskis.com.
![Bjorn Daehlie - Fischer](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/02/daehlie-fischer.jpg" "Bjorn Daehlie - Fischer")
