Saturday, September 14, 2013

Please consider donating this year!  The deadline is on the 18th!!!

Thanks!

First off - *big* thanks to all of you who have supported me both financially and non over the last couple of years - it is very much appreciated!


As most of you know, I have ridden in this event for 2 years, this being my 3rd.  I am shooting for the 103 miler again this year, and hoping to improve on my time of 7 and half hours :)

The beneficiaries have changed a bit this year, you can see the details below - the main difference being that they dropped support for Livestrong, and added Patrick Dempsey's (McDreamy!) Center for Cancer Hope and Healing.

I hope you all consider donating this year, and if you do, please do it quickly. I know how these fundraising things go (which is why in the past there have been so many reminders) - so please do me a favor and just click the link as you get this email, so you don't forget :)   If you can't donate this year, that is fine too - please be thinking of me on October 5th as I'm riding  :)

Thanks again for your support! (to paraphrase Bartles and James)



Dempsey Center For Cancer Hope and Healing

Levi’s GranFondo has a long and friendly relationship with actor Patrick Dempsey and his event, The Dempsey Challenge, and we’re pleased to add their main beneficiary to our roster of charities we support. The Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing in Lewiston, Maine provides free support, education, and integrative medicine services to cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers with the goal of improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities impacted by cancer. While The Dempsey Center is part of The Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center, the free services and programs of the Dempsey Center services are available to everyone, regardless of where cancer treatment is received. Find out more at http://www.dempseycenter.org.

The Pablove Foundation

Another dear friend of Levi’s GranFondo is The Pablove Foundation, whose mission is to fund pediatric cancer research and advances in treatment, educate and empower cancer families, and improve the quality of life for children living with cancer through hospital play, music, and arts programs. Their Pablove Across America long-distance cycling event will celebrate its fifth anniversary by kicking off “Day Zero” at the 2013 Levi’s GranFondo. Look for the Pablove peloton on event day and give ‘em a cheer. They’re riding for a pretty big cause and the GranFondo is just the start for them. To learn more and join the full ride from the Bay Area to Los Angeles this October visit http://pablove.org/paa



VeloStreet’s Cycling Initiatives Program

Levi’s GranFondo sees cycling in Sonoma County as an ongoing resource that drives wellness, environmental health, community, our economy, and quality of life. We see an obligation to help sustain that resource as best we can. As such, we’ve got an ever-growing list of projects we work on to make our home a cycling destination for everyone, whether you’re from down the street or across the oceans.
  • Support and fundraising for services and access at local mountain bike-friendly State Parks threatened by budget cuts
  • Pavement improvements along the GranFondo route as well as area routes popular with cyclists
  • A competitive grant program to fund cycling infrastructure and education
  • A cycling-specific signage program for favored cycling routes in Sonoma County to facilitate lawful cycling and to increase awareness among local residents.

Forget Me Not Farm

Since its inception in 1992, Forget Me Not Farm has helped thousands of at-risk children and youth break the cycle of abuse. Located on the grounds of the Humane Society & SPCA of Sonoma County, the Farm offers animal-assisted and horticultural therapeutic activities that provide a haven for children, plants and animals to bond, learn, and heal with one another.

Community Giving (Rural Schools and Fire Departments)

Much of the GranFondo course traverses beautiful rural scenery with little to no development. Looks can be deceiving however, for there are folks living in these fine stretches of country with kids that need as good a dose of learning as their city dwelling brethren. Problem is, much of these school districts have to spend more money to educate fewer students across these widely spread areas. On top of that, since there are less kids in the classroom, less money comes down from local, state, and federal coffers. The GranFondo is working with schools along the route to identify needs and support this community as we enjoy the views and terrain in their backyards. Additionally, this gets these kids excited about cycling at a young age and in a time where childhood obesity and nutrition are major problems for developing children.
This same geographic and financial situation extends to emergency services and other community services, not just schools. The GranFondo supports these vital local resources so that folks who make their life in further flung areas of the county can continue to have the same opportunities as their urban comrades.