Behind-the-scenes update: Preparing for Alaska

There's a lot going on behind the scenes as I prepare for this summer's three-week bicycle tour of Alaska. 

I’m actually doing well gathering sponsors. CG Schmidt from Milwaukee just signed on. I have a big shout out of thanks to Husar's House of Fine Diamonds in West Bend as store owners Mike Husar and Mary Husar Martin donated the printing and covered the cost of the tour jersey.

Above is a mock-up of the jersey; it's a work in progress and we'll unveil the finished product in a few weeks.

I also completed my first USCCA self-defense training course and over the weekend received my concealed carry license.

The website has been updated with a simple donor tab at the top, and all corporate sponsors are recognized for supporting Alzheimer's and the tour.

My ticket to Anchorage has been secured and I’ll be departing Friday, June 28 from Milwaukee to Denver, Colorado and then onto Alaska.

A woman who reads my Saturday column in the West Bend Daily News hooked me up with her brother who was in town from Alaska. We met at the Idle Hour or Two and chatted for over an hour.

John stood 6 foot 4 and had a deep baritone voice; he gave me loads of advice on road conditions, attractions, safety, bears, and places to stay.   

NEW! MEMORIAL OPPORTUNITIES! 
Coming up, I'd like to bicycle each day in honor of someone affected by Alzheimer's. We'll post a spot at the top of the website for a name and photo. If you have someone you would like to sponsor for that day, a simple $150 donation and a .jpeg photo is all that's needed. See donation button on this page and specify "memorial."  Send your .jpeg to:  thebikewriter@gmail.com.  Thanks!

I'll be on the tour 19 days and hope to bicycle each day in memory of someone. Spread the word and thanks for the help!

GREAT news for upcoming Ride-2-Remember tour

 

Quick update on the Ride 2 Remember tour: During a recent Alzheimer's gala at the Milwaukee Art Museum I was able to chat with the guest speaker and former Olympic-champion speedskater Bonnie Blair. The five-time gold medalist talked about her career in the winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta in 1988 and in 1992 in Albertville, France. There was no great training regime back then when Blair was just 19 years old, she said, "I just went and skated my heart out." She referred to today's approach to Olympic training as "a science" with a lot more attention to nutrition, weightlifting, and aerodynamic equipment.

The silent auction featured an autographed Corn Flakes® cereal box with Blair's picture on the front and back; circa 1988.

The other big announcement is I managed to secure a primary sponsor for this summer's tour.

Tim Schmidt with United States Concealed Carry Association has generously agreed to be the primary sponsor for this year's bicycle tour. All proceeds from his gift will go towards Alzheimer-related activities at Cedar Community in West Bend.

Since I am headed for three weeks in the wilderness and beauty of Alaska, Tim also volunteered a course in self defense and concealed carry. In the past I never carried more than pepper spray on my tours; that was until this last outing from Florida to Wisconsin when a retired Army Colonel handed me a gun after we met at a small diner for breakfast.

I'll keep you all posted on my progress.

We are wrapping up the opportunity for corporate sponsorship for the tour since I've got to craft the tour jersey. So far I've received support from other companies including Time Investment Company of West Bend, Wiedmeyer Express of Kewaskum, American Metal and Paper Recycling Inc. of West Bend, and Kilian Management of West Bend.   

If you'd like to support the Ride 2 Remember, details are posted below on the various sponsorship levels. Feel free to contact me at judyharley@yahoo.com. This summer's tour leaves at the end of June.

Soliciting support for the Ride 2 Remember

LET'S SEE YOUR COMPANY LOGO ON THE FRONT OF THIS JERSEY!

Coming up this summer I will be bicycling for three weeks in Alaska, raising money and awareness for Alzheimer's.  I'm currently soliciting sponsors for the tour - company logos will be printed on the jersey. There's a lot of payback for a tax-deductible donation including a complimentary Ride 2 Remember jersey, weekly postcards from the road, and the benefit of knowing you're helping support a good cause.

If you would like details on how to get involved or if you want me to speak to your group or organization contact me at thebikewriter@gmail.com

A copy of the sponsor letter and various levels of donations are posted below.

Simplest way to make a donation by check: 

Cedar Community Foundation

ATTN: Cedar Community Memory Loss Program – Ride 2 Remember

113 Cedar Ridge Drive, West Bend, WI 53095

....or click below

Please note: 100 percent of your donation will go directly to Alzheimer's programs which could positively impact the life of your family or friends. 

Thanks for the help. Tour leaves end of June 2013.   Judy Steffes

Dear Tour Supporter:

Did you know by the year 2030, when the first wave of Baby Boomers reach 85, there will be an estimated 3.5 million people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in the United States compared with 2.7 million today?  In fact almost 50 percent of those 85 or older will have some form of memory loss.

This coming summer I am bicycling three weeks in Alaska, raising money and awareness for Alzheimer’s.   The mission of the ride is to draw attention to the disease while also promoting an active lifestyle. My father suffers from Alzheimer’s and I’ve been encouraged by the impact music and exercise have made in his life.

The tour will be featured on an online travel blog (http://imthebikewriter.blogspot.com) and publicized on radio, newspaper and other media outlets including social media like Facebook and Twitter.

Through humor, adventure and fulfilling a need for escapism, the tour is meant to provide hope via stories and photos to those individuals and families living with Alzheimer’s. 

I am working in cooperation with Cedar Community, a continuum of care retirement community and a qualified 501(c) 3 non-profit organization based in West Bend, Wisconsin.  Cedar Community, which works directly with Alzheimer’s, will be the primary benefactor.  For more information about Cedar Community please visit their website at www.cedarcommunity.org.

I invite you to participate as the primary corporate sponsor through one $10,000 tax-deductible contribution. Your business will be promoted to thousands showing your company’s community involvement and dedication to a worthy cause.

The upcoming tour’s success will be made possible by supportive sponsors like you. Please note: 100 percent of your donation will go directly to Alzheimer’s programs which could positively impact the life of your family or friends.   

Sponsorship levels for the Ride 2 Remember:

$10,000 +     Yellow jersey – gold level   ((top prize at Tour de France))

Ride sponsorship includes logo and/or company name placed on promotional materials:

•           Front and back of bicycling jersey (largest logo as sole major sponsor)

•           Official website with “Photo of the Day” and linking to sponsor's website

•           Event posters, press releases and email blasts

•           Provide company promotional banner for display during public appearances

•           Promotional mention during media interviews and announcements

•           Recognition in newspaper/radio/social media thanking all sponsors

•           Weekly personal postcard from the road

•           Motivational speaking engagement at “Personalize” before and after the ride

•           Complimentary Ride 2 Remember bicycling jersey

 $7,500 - $9,999     Wheelie -  lifting the front wheel of the bicycle in the air

•        Corporate logo on bicycling jersey

•        Weekly personal postcard from the road

•        Motivational speaking engagement at “Personalize” before and after the ride

•        Complimentary Ride 2 Remember bicycling jersey

 $5,000 - $7,499     Cadence –  pace at which you ride – general steadiness

•       Corporate logo on bicycling jersey

•       Weekly personal postcard from the road

•       Motivational speaking engagement at “Personalize” before and after the ride

 $2,500 - $4,999     Wheel and Sprocket  - primary gears and parts of a bike 

•       Corporate logo on bicycling jersey

•       Weekly personal postcard from the road

 $1,000 - $2,499     Chain gang  - repair crew

•        Corporate logo on bicycling jersey

•        Personal postcard from the road

$500 - $999     Pelaton -  the large main group in a bicycle road race

•         Personal postcard from the road

$100 - $499            Fans

 •         Note of thanks for donation

PREPARING FOR SUMMER TOUR TO ALASKA

Ride to Remember 2013 - Supporting Alzheimer's

For the past few months I've taken out the 2012 edition of The MILEPOST from the Kewaskum Public Library.  The MILEPOST provides an overview of all major highways and roads in Alaska, like the one from Dalton to Deadhorse.

There's also much more including campgrounds, like Tolsona Wilderness Campground that has the volcano that 'looks like the one in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but bigger and not built by Richard Dreyfuss.'

The MILEPOST also details gas stations, WI-FI availability and RV Parks including the one just outside beautiful downtown Chicken, across from Chicken Gold Camp Outpost and down the highway next to the Goldpanner RV Park.

The longest I've been able to check out this book back to back to back is five weeks. It's as big as a phone book and I carry it around like I own it. I will NOT, however, be taking this on tour - just the weight is a big deterrent; it's like hauling around a phone book from the 1980s - the kind your grandma would use to boost the 4 year olds up to eye level at the kitchen table.

Today I tried to get some studying in - - before the Badger game.

It didn't take too long and The MILEPOST was the only thing to do on a cold New Year's Day.