Photography by Mark Beckersponsors
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Tria Design & Marketing is a design, marketing and web development firm based in Lansing, MI. Specializing in a unique, marketing-based approach that delivers results, Tria Design & Marketing built this web site for Peloton Ride.org
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the tourdeRoadAmerica P1 blog
7-7-2010 NEWS – Summer Edition #1 – July 7, 2010
IN THIS ISSUE
Making a difference – fundraise for the tourdeRoadAmerica
Seven years ago, we were inspired by our friend’s and loved one’s battles with cancer to organize the first tourdeRoadAmerica. We knew that we weren’t doctors or researchers, but that we could use our own talents and skills to raise money to help others Live Strong.
You have that talent too. All it takes are a few words to your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, or parishioners. “I’m riding 20 miles on the Road America race track to help fight cancer. Can I count on your for a contribution?”
With just a few words, you help us grow the peloton. Just like in the Tour de France, when we get everyone working together, the work gets much easier individually. Last year, several of our participants each raised over $500 – just a few bucks at a time. This small group of dedicated individuals raised nearly 20% of all the funds we contributed to our beneficiaries.
Can we count on you too? We’ve made it easy. Just visit our Registration – Fundraising page and download a pledge form – make as many copies as you need. Your donors can use cash, checks, or a credit card to make their tax-deductible contribution. If you’d like to be eligible for fundraising incentives, such as hats, free Friday admission to Road America, and other incentives, just follow the easy rules and instructions on that page.
Together, we can hit our goal of $30,000 for our beneficiaries…the Austin Hatcher Foundation, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic. If 200 of our participants each raised $250, we’d hit $50,000 and blow right through our goal! Check out the fundraising info on our web site and get started today.
And the winner of the tourdeRoadAmerica Jersey Design is… Karen Welsh!
Congratulations to Karen Welsh, the winner in our first tourdeRoadAmerica Jersey Design Contest. Her concept was turned into final artwork by jersey supplier Giordana Cycling Apparel. She wins a free tourdeRoadAmerica jersey, VIP position at the ride starting line, invitation to the post-ride volunteer party, plus an entry in our drawing for other great prizes.
Our runner up will receive a tourdeRoadAmerica baseball cap, plus a deluxe goody bag with special prizes from our sponsors.
The workers at the Giordana factory in Italy are busy at work printing and sewing the jerseys, and our tourdeRoadAmerica store
is quickly selling out. Several sizes are
available for $69, with proceeds going to support the ride and our beneficiaries.
Here’s a few words from Karen on her design…
I am currently a therapist at Youth & Family Counseling in Libertyville, Il and have a private practice as well. Youth & Family Counseling is a non-profit agency that provides affordable counseling via a sliding fee scale. I help others deal with the psychological impact of traumas and life struggles, including life-threatening cancer. In 2006, I finally agreed to run the Chicago Marathon with my 28 year old daughter, who has run since she was in the fifth grade and always had wanted me to run with her. I had never run before and did finish the marathon but never developed the desire to continue running. As a celebratory gift, a friend of mine gave me a book on training for a century bike ride and the rest is history. We have biked over 10,000 miles together since January 1, 2007 and I love every minute of it.
About the same time I had to take a week off biking for minor surgery, a friend (the same one mentioned above), told me about Tour de Road America's jersey design contest. We had ridden in the bike ride to fight cancer several times and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to spend my week off designing a cool jersey. I had designed quilts years ago and loved it so why not jerseys? It was something I had been wanting to do anyway. The design just seemed to fall into place and the colors made it pop. It was so exciting to win the contest.
I support the ride for many reasons: one of which is that my Aunt Glenna died of breast cancer after a difficult, brave fight for three years. I think of her so often. She was such a special part of my life. Also, as a therapist, I am well aware of how difficult life struggle can be and see these rides as well as other benefits as reminders of our need to be aware of what we can do to improve and support efforts to find effective treatments and a cure. I also come to Road America for four race weekends a year and love riding the track on which I see so much action.
Bikes and bike trailers Needed for the tourdeRoadAmerica
We’re looking for bicycles of all kinds to lend to our celebrity drivers, officials, as well as our long-distance out of town guests. We’re also looking for a road or hybrid tandem and Burley-type kid trailers for a special event with the Austin Hatcher Foundation. If you have a bike or trailer to lend, please contact Brett Edgerle.
Silent Auction Continues to Grow
We’re starting to gather some great items for the silent auction, taking place Friday, Saturday, and culminating on Sunday just before the start of the American Le Mans Series race. Unique items include a framed, autographed poster of Lance Armstrong, as well as a framed, autographed CD by Willie Nelson.
What can you contribute? Have some really cool cycling or motorsports memorabilia in your personal collection? Or how about your company? Please consider donating your item to the tourdeRoadAmerica Foundation for the silent auction. Contact Cristin Robb for details.
Sponsor Spotlight – Bella’s Custom Design
Bella’s Custom Design, Inc. has been a proud sponsor and supporter of the tourdeRoadAmerica since the first event in 2004, and has generously contributed the bright yellow t-shirts coveted by participants. Bella’s also produces our new tourdeRoadAmerica baseball caps and, new for 2010, coffee mugs to go along with your Gear Grinder coffee.
Bella’s specializes in screen printing, embroidery, custom awards and promotional products. Bella’s Custom Design, Inc. has been helping businesses for more than 25 years with marketing strategies to help them get NOTICED!
Please support our sponsors. Visit Bella’s Custom Design’s web site, and be sure to stop by their store right next to the tourdeRoadAmerica booth on the paddock road. Thank you Bella’s!
Join us on facebook and twitter
It’s getting near time for the tour, and the latest updates and ride information gets posted first on our facebook and twitter accounts. Don’t miss any news “Like” us at http://www.facebook.com/tdraride and follow us at http://twitter.com/tourdeRA .
Registered for the 2010 tourdeRoadAmerica – Bike Ride to Fight Cancer?
Registration continues for all participants for the ride, August 20, 2010, after racing and qualifying is complete.
Visit the Ride Center for details on
the ride, learn about registration options, and Register NOW.
Get details of special promotions from Road America to get in free,
buy one/get one, or discounted admission for Friday.
7-8-2009 Super job by Lance and the team today. Congrats. Watch pelotonride.org tomorrow for details on how you can get a free Friday ticket to RA.
7-4-2009 Happy July 4th!
Road America has posted the schedule, and we're now scheduled to go off at 15 minutes earlier, at about 6:15 pm. More ride time for you!
6-10-2009 The jersey order is in and the store is open. Thanks to Chris Ladouceur at Pratt&Miller Engineering / Corvette Racing for the excellent design. And thanks to Giordana Cycling Apparel for the sponsorship!
6-9-2009 Registration is finally OPEN! thanks for your patience!
6-4-2009 Well, the web site is almost finished. Thanks to Ann Siegle and Tria Design for the web hosting space and the fresh new look. Hope you like it!
6-3-2009 Watch for exciting news about a new beneficiary of the tourdeRoadAmerica
