
At 8/29/09
Target 1 = $5K by 8/31
Target 2 = $10K by 9/20
For many the riding is a challenge, but for everyone - just about - raising the $10, 000 to take part in this is a major challenge -- and I am not that much of an exception. I have come to realize that asking people for donations is as hard as climbing and especially after the first "ask" becomes somewhat a bit embarrassing! - but hey - that is what I signed up for.
For me it is a little compounded as given the nomadic lifestyle - many of my friendships are all over the country and the world - which is a good thing, but is somewhat challenging when it comes to things like raising money as no one is in the same place to hold an "event"
I think - assuming I get the required $$ this year, survive the ride and then sign up for next year - all big "
if's!" I will have learned some right ways to do this and some not so right ways
Facebook has been a good way of reaching some people, but it is easy to get lost in the noise and the same goes for email-- it is very easy to get lost in the "in-box" and then start to feel annoying to people to keep spamming them ! - although many times they intend to give but get so many emails that within a few hours you are at the bottom of the "in-box" -- still trying to figure how to deal with that one.
For me having some sponsorship is about have a degree of
accountability to people -- so that when on day 3 or 4 of this I am suffering -- I can't quit as people have put faith in me to finish. I am not saying that I plan to quit - more it is about staying true to the cause and the faith people have shown in me-- be it a $10
donation or a $1000 one - it doesn't matter they have placed that faith.
Which leads me to the $10 thing. I started to think what does $10 ( 6
GBP) buy these days --
1) Two pints of beer in London
2) 1lb of Starbucks breakfast blend coffee
3) An e-book on Kindle
4) Almost a whole
cheeseburger in New York
5) Two magazines at the
newsstand6) A sandwich on American Airlines
7)Part towards a person rediscovering the joys of sport --- IF 100 of my Face book friends all skipped the cheeseburger, (it was $15,95!) and supported me on the ride - that would be 10% of the amount I have to raise ( 100 Facebook friends is less than 50% of my total FB friends)Again, many have supported me already - and that I am very grateful for - but I know many more care and haven't seen the post or "ask" :-)
What do you get in return for $10 -- the sense of helping, a pay forward
moment, and the gratitude of a fine group of people who happen not to be so lucky as we are -- I know for me that feels good.
Read this for example -- it is quite moving- (
btw you can sponsor Rachel rather than me -- I am not proud!!! :) ))
Letter From Rachel in Miami, FL
Dear
QDMC riders,
You don’t know me, haven’t met me (yet), but you are riding for me, raising funds so I can ride with you.
Who am I? I could be your sister, your daughter, your niece, or your best friend. I am an athlete, a competitor, a tax payer, and a woman. I am 31 years old, have a PhD, drive a black two door sports car, and live alone several states away from my family. I’m also a quadriplegic. I haven’t walked or been able to tie my shoes since a car wreck 13 years ago. However, my body’s limitations do not define the boundaries of my life; they merely define a few challenges along the way.
My life has been, continues to be an amazing journey, a marvelous adventure. The
QDMC ride is just the latest manifestation. I signed up without owning a bike & picked a crazy fundraising goal ($62,000). I’m training on rollers indoors until I find a solution to the many obstacles of training on the road. I’m reaching out, telling my story, asking for funds, asking for help. Slowly, I’m getting there. For me, the most challenging part is the fundraising. I’m great at sucking it up through physical discomfort, but not so great at asking for or gracefully accepting help. But I’m proud to say I’m getting better at it.
My goals for this ride? The competitor in me wants to ride each and every mile, wants to raise every single dollar of my insane goal. However, part of me realizes the journey to the first day of the ride is as wonderful as the ride itself. I’
ve learned and continue to learn more about myself, and about the generosity of people, friends, family and strangers. I’m facing down my fears and pushing through uncomfortable moments. And so my ultimate goal is to embrace and enjoy every step of this adventure, no matter what it contains.
When I’m in a tough spot, I fall back on my collection of quotes. Right now I’
ve got a card that reads “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” When I ask myself that, the answer is ‘exactly what I’m doing right now’… setting up seemingly impossible challenges, stepping out of my comfort zone, and embracing life in the best way I know how. Maybe I’ll reach $62,000 , maybe not. Maybe I’ll be able to bike all 620 miles, maybe not. Uncertainty is a part of life, a part of the fun. Why wait until success is 100% assured?
All the Best, Rachel
So as you can see -- a great cause-- but one that is too good to pass over :)
Richard