TO ALL GCC MEMBERS:  JOIN US!

Team Gainesville (GCC)

for the MS 150 Cycle to the Shore event October 1-2, 2011

As some of you may know, I participated in the MS 150 for the first time last year, and got off to an inauspicious start when my bike flew off the back of the car on the way to the start.  Well, Iâm determined to make that NOT happen this year, and am more determined for our team to raise even more money than last year!  While without a doubt, the ride is an experience to remember, we must also remember that the main purpose of the ride is to raise money to fight MS!  With that in mind, I am offering an incentive for all team members to really outdo our last yearâs fundraising.

Iâm offering a reward to the highest fundraiser (excluding myself) on Team Gainesville, a four night stay at my cabin in the Smoky Mountains, near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN, and about 30 minutes from Knoxville.  It is a one bedroom, two bath cabin that can sleep 4 (has a queen sleeper sofa), on two levels, with over 1300 sq. ft.  It has a spectacular view and is very comfortable.  There is also a clubhouse on site with an exercise room that has a fireplace & big screen TV, a sauna, and a large outdoor pool.  You can check out the website and additional amenities at:

 http://www.legacymountainresort.com/cabins/1-bedrooms/Avalon-Mist--P2012/. 

The area has TONS of things to do.  You will not be bored.  The most exceptional, is a trip to Cadeâs Cove, which is about 30 miles away, but well worth the drive.  There is an eleven mile loop around the cove which is closed to vehicle traffic (except bikes) from sunrise until 10 a.m. during the summer on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.  The road was just repaved last year.  The early morning ride will afford you a chance to see lots of wildlife and the historical sites around the cove where early settlers lived.

I donât recommend riding a bike anywhere else.  As far as I know, there are no bike lanes anywhere, and roads can be narrow.  The terrain is not flat, and with many tourists in the area, you run the chance of a driver looking at the views and not noticing you on your bike.  So, biker beware.

You must visit Gatlinburg.  It sits on the edge of the Park and is a quaint town founded by Germans, and has a German village feeling to it.  On the outskirts of town is an arts and crafts community with a loop connecting the shops.  There is a chairlift and a large tram that climb up the side of a mountain from town that go to Ober Gatlinburg where there is a ski area. 

Pigeon Forge has a very different feel to it, the main road through town is like the Las Vegas strip, very commercial.  But, itâs a good place to find somewhere to eat, and if you are taking kids, thereâs a lot of activities to occupy their time.  There are dinner theaters of all sorts, but I have not been to any of them.

Thatâs just a small snapshot of the area.  I hope it entices you to join the team, and make an outstanding effort to raise funds for the fight against MS.

Here are my guidelines for choosing a winner:

1.    You must be registered for the MS 150 Cycle to the Shore 2011, and you must be a member of Team Gainesville (GCC).

2.    You must do the 150 mile ride.  

3.    You must raise at least $2,000.00

4.    The winner will be determined at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2011 and will be notified.  The personal page of each team member will be checked at that time, and the winner will be determined by the amounts listed.

5.    The winner will be responsible for transportation costs and any personal expenses.

6.    You can choose your own dates, excluding the major holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas eve and day, and New Yearâs eve and day.  Check the reservation calendar on the website for available dates.

7.    There is a $60.00 cleaning fee that needs to be paid to me (I am billed by the rental management company).  I am negotiating that the fee be waived by the rental management company, but so far, itâs still intact.

8.    I am not an attorney, so I hope Iâve covered all the bases here.  This is meant to be a good will offering, so I may be winging it if something complicated comes up.  Please bear with me.

9.    (For anyone not up to doing the 150 mile ride but still wants to get in on the action, I am also offering the same reward to MY biggest donor.  The exception here is that Iâll pick up the cleaning fee.  You can go to my personal page to donate and see the rolling donor list).

Please register for the ride at:  http://bikefln.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BIKE_FLN_homepage .

GOOD LUCK!

Linda DuCharme

email:  gatorfan144@xxxxxxxxx