Tour de Cure 2 and Breaking the Cycle

[adefonzo]

I'm at it again!!! Last year, I used this site as another means to help drum up some donations for a bike ride fundraiser I was participating in, and now I'm back to try it again!!

This year, once again, I will be taking part in the Tour de Cure bike ride, which is a fund raising event for the American Diabetes Association. In addition, I will also be taking part in a larger ride called Breaking the Cycle later in the year to help raise money for AIDS research and education.

Let's start with the Tour de Cure. So why the Tour de Cure? Well, there is a story about why I did it at first (I'll save that for later), but I'm doing it again because of the fact that there are so many people I know who have a friend or family member who is a diabetic - and I never fully realized it until last year. When we did the ride last year, I heard so many stories from people about their friends, cousins, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers who have suffered with diabetes, lost feet or legs because of the disease, had kidney problems, eye problems, even heart problems all traced back to diabetes. Because this disease touches so many people, I decided to try and make this a regular event for those of us who are interested in trying to help out.

This year, we are participating in the June 14th ride that centers around the Princeton area. Once again, I'll be doing the full 62.3 miles (a "metric century" - 100 km).

If you are able to make a donation to this very worthy cause, please click on this link...
main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/TDC080608030?px=3597376&pg=personal&fr_id=5005
which will bring you to my personal page.


As I mentioned, I am also participating in another ride later this year called Breaking the Cycle. This ride is a bit more involved. It is a 3 day, 275 mile ride that starts in Gettysburg, PA and ends (when I fall off my bike from shear exhaustion) in New York City. I have to raise a considerable amount of more money for this ride, and the funds go to help with AIDS research, education, and prevention. I have a couple of friends who are very involved in this ride and have been for several years. They have helped me in the past with different things in my life, so when they asked me if I wanted to give them a hand this year, of course I eagerly accepted.

If you can help me with a donation on this ride, click on this link... www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=266826&lis=1&kntae266826=341524CF408E402CAF72D51B4F255EC0&supId=212409617
as it will take you to my personal page for this event.


Thank you all in advance for any help you are able to give. Both of these are very worthwhile causes and I am hoping to really raise money and awareness for both associations. Thanks again.

[novillero]

Wow, that is some ride! What preparation are you taking (besides Preparation H?)

ANd remember to bump this thread every once in a while to remind people of the donations...

[admin]

Andrew, Good luck with both rides. You are ambitious taking on both. As a reminder, how did you do last year in reaching your fund raising goals?

If there is anything I can do to use this site for your advantage, let me know.

[adefonzo]

In order to prepare for the big ride in September, basically I am doing a number of rides before then...starting May 18th with a 100 mile ride out to Montauk at the end of Long Island. The Tour de Cure and Breaking the Cycle rides are the two fund raising rides I am participating in, but there are plenty of other rides to do with various bike clubs (Harlem Valley River Ride, Montauk Century, 5 Boro Bike Ride, Ramapo Rally, Twin Lights ride, etc), plus I have a couple of friends and co-workers who are always going out for rides on their own, so I can join up with them as well.

Bicycling, for me at least, is easy enough so long as I continue to ride on a regular basis. The last few weeks have been tough because I did nothing all winter, so it's a matter or getting my body (and yes, in particular my backside) back into shape and used to the...discomfort...that can occur from hours on the seat.

As for last year...our team did rather well, especially for our first year in the Tour de Cure. We had 5 team members (4 of us actually did the ride) and we were able to raise over $3500. Personally, I was able to raise over $1500, for which I am still grateful for all those who made donations last year.

Of course, though, such good numbers last year made me set my goals a bit higher this year. Already, our team has 7 members with several more getting ready to sign up. Currently we've only raised about $1275, but that's going to start climbing rapidly in the next few weeks...hopefully with the help of some folks reading on this site!!

And Novillero...don't worry about me bumping this thread from time to time...I am shameless when it comes to raising money for these worthy causes...so I'll be back on here every few days to keep this thread fresh!!

[adefonzo]

Brian...I really appreciate the spot on the website's home page. Thank you very much!!

[admin]

Apr 30, 2008 6:02:11 GMT -5 adefonzo said:

Brian...I really appreciate the spot on the website's home page. Thank you very much!!

It is my pleasure. I know you have done this before and I hope the site can be of help. I want to encourage others to take the time and post similar things on the site. This is a community site for people to use to their advantage.

[admin]

Just a bump and reminder to readers to consider helping Andrew reach his fund raising goals.

At this time he has raised 950 dollars out of 1500 for the diabetes ride.

He has raised 327.50 out of 3500 for the AIDS ride

[adefonzo]

Well...I figured I would bump this up once again...

I've been doing my due dilligence to get ready for these rides, in fact just over a week ago, I took part in the Montauk Century Ride, a 100 mile bike ride from Babylon to Montauk out on Long Island. I was my first "century ride" as they call it, and I was sore the next day to be sure...but it was a great ride, and a big source of pride to have finished it.

The Tour de Cure is coming up next on June 14th, and then a couple of other rides to get me more prepared for the Braking the Cycle ride in September (that's the biggie...275 miles over three days).

Just to let everyone know...for the Tour de Cure for Diabetes, my team and I have raised over $2500 to date...but we're far from our goal.

In the Braking the Cycle ride, I am still a long way from what I have to raise, but I have managed to raise $377.50

If anyone is able to make a donation, I would greatly appreciate it. The links to my sites are above in the first post in this thread, or they are also available on the Freehold Voice home page thanks to Brian generously providing them along with a little blurb about the events.

If anyone has any questions about either of these rides, or if you have any interest in bicycling at all, drop me a line.

[lisas84]

Wow, Andrew, I am truly impressed by your dedication and hard work. I wish you all the best and to surpass your goals.

[fiberisgoodforyou]

May 28, 2008 12:36:55 GMT -5 lisas84 said:

Wow, Andrew, I am truly impressed by your dedication and hard work. I wish you all the best and to surpass your goals.

Maybe you both should go on a nice bike ride together...Henry Hudson Trail is a nice ride, I used to ride up and down the D&R from Princeton to Griggstown. Nice tiome of year for that kind a stuff.

[lisas84]

Great idea, Fiber!

Except I am so out of shape, poor Andrew would be frustrated to the max. And, I don't have a bicycle. I can walk, though. Walking that is an excellent idea, now that summer is just about here.

[adefonzo]

despite the fact that I get involved with various bike rides...I would hardly classify myself as being "in shape"...at least not yet...slowly but surely, I am working on that...

The Henry Hudson Trail would be interesting...but for this weekend, I think we'll stick to a ride that I love to take during the warmer months...

Starting (obviously) at the house over on Birch Drive, we head out past the Learning Center, through Colts Neck...out past the Due Process Stable...through Tinton Falls, Shrewsbury and Little Silver...a nice ride along Rumson Rd (gawking at some of the homes) then across the bridge, up Rt 36, and out onto Sandy Hook.

Round trip, it's about 60 miles (depending on how far out on Sandy Hook we go)...should be a great weekend for it!!!

If anyone is interested in joining us...let me know

[adefonzo]

One last bump for this thread before my Tour de Cure ride this Saturday (the 14th).

I truly do appreciate all those who have made donations, or who will be making a donation.

I will be praying for the thunderstorms to hold off on Saturday so we can get the ride done without getting caught in a downpour.

Once again...the links are in the first message on this thread, or on the Freehold Voice homepage (thanks one more time, Brian).

Thank you all once again for your support for either of these very worthy causes.

[lisas84]

Andrew,

Best of luck on Saturday; this is a great thing you are doing.

I clicked on your link above and my internet security wouldn't let me print out the donation form. I do not like to use online transactions. Can you tell me how to send a check to you and to whom I should make it out?

If you don't want to publicize your addresson this board, please email me through the board.

Thank you!

Oh, it would be wonderful to read how it all went for you.

[admin]

Andrew,

I hope the Tour de cure bike event went well today, no flat tires and tons of money raised. I see on your pledge pages that you did well with todays event. I hope you do as well with the next.

Brian

[adefonzo]

Well...we did it!! This past Saturday, Team Turner participated in the Tour de Cure cycling fund raiser for the American Diabetes Association in Princeton, New Jersey. The weather was beautiful (if not a bit hot) and the thunderstorms held off until after everyone had finished the ride.

We had a fantastic team consisting of 16 individuals, some of whom rode the 62.3 mile course, and some of whom rode the 30 mile course, and I am happy to say that everyone who started the ride, finished the ride...even if they were exhausted at the end!! One of the best parts of the ride was that it brought together folks from bother the New York and New Jersey Business units (an advantage of my having worked at Xanadu for 2 years). Of course, we were "Team Turner", but not everyone on our team worked for Turner...several of our team members were friends or family of other team members who joined us for the ride...and we were delighted to have them!!! Though the names will not likely be familiar, I want to list out all of my teammates...

Koosha Aslani
Pooyan Aslani
Charlie Avolio
Nicole Friedman
Oslyn Grant
Emily Harris
Larry Mohns
Jose Morel
Maria Pena
Jennifer Perotta
Rodney Pope
Bronwyn Proffit-Higgins
James Ratty
Erik Weikl
Uby Woods
and me

There were, of course, some interesting stories "from the road"...

*Charlie Avolio apparently got stung by a bee...in a rather odd spot, and that was before he wound up getting a flat tire!!
*Pooyan Aslani, despite training for an ironman event in Dallas just days before, had a scare with de-hydration and apparently had to pull over and use a random homeowners hose to re-hydrate himself!! Who would have guessed that Princeton, New Jersey had tougher conditions than the heat of Dallas, Texas??!!! Pooyan was able to get himself back on the right track and he finished strong.
*Jennifer Perotta wasn't able to join us because she got into an accident on her way down to New Jersey the night before. Everyone is alright (except for the cars), but it certainly did create some pre-ride drama!!
*Larry "The Rocket" Mohns apparently believes that rest stops are for wimps, as he cruised right by me as I pulled into the first rest stop!! Maybe Larry remembered that he left the iron on and had to get home as quickly as possible!!!
*Uby Woods (our international connection - Uby is Australian) was apparently having some trouble with her bike, but was able to use at least 3 of the 18 or so gears that her bike offered!! Considering some of the hills along the course, that must have been rough!!
*Maria Pena finished the ride, though I believe this was her first venture at such a distance, and while she was proud to have completed the ride, she didn't seem to be ready to go out dancing afterwards
*Jose Morel, who took part in last years ride by doing the 30 mile route, went out, bought a new bike, and tried the 62.3 mile route this year. After waiting, in vain, for the team captain (me) to ride with, Jose got a late start, but still finished strong...and he did all this on his wedding anniversary!!! I don't think he was up for dancing with his wife Saturday night either!!
*And of course, I have to mention Rodney Pope. Mr. Pope wasn't able to make the ride this year - again (he missed last year too) - due to some company business (working on the weekends, there is no end to this man's dedication!!!). As a result, I have decided that the slogan for Team Turner going forward will be "We ride until Rodney rides with us...and then we keep on riding"


Now for the news you've all been waiting for. As a team, Team Turner was able to raise over $6600 for the American Diabetes Association - shattering last years amount!!!!! We blew right by our goal of $5000 and wound up finishing 3rd in overall team fund raising. Not too bad considering one of the teams that beat us had 31 team members!!!

I want to thank all of you who were able to make a donation to either myself or our team...without you, none of this would have been possible!!!

In closing, I just want to say that this is just the 2nd year of us participating in the Tour de Cure, but after seeing how many more people got involved this year, and talking with my teammates I can tell you that this will not be the last time we do this ride. I'm already looking forward to next years ride, getting more folks involved, hitting the company up for even more support, and getting Team Turner some jerseys so that we look sharp when we're out there riding.

Thanks again to one and all...friends, family, co-workers, teammates...all together we made this years ride a fantastic event, and a building block to an even better time next year!!! Thank you all!!!

[lisas84]

Andrew! Congratulations! Thank you so much for the wondrous recap of events, a delightful read. I am thrilled for the amount of money you helped raise and the third-place finish.

I respect your commitment and devotion to this cause.