Dear Friends,

 

I think we at the GCC have a unique opportunity to assist in raising funds for Katrina Relief. Please join me in a fund raising effort during the GCC Cycling Festival weekend October 1 and 2^nd.

 

We’ve seen the great success cyclists all over the country have had raising funds for worthy causes – cancer (LAF), multiple sclerosis (MS150) and more.

 

How about channeling your energy during the Gainesville Cycling Festival to raise funds for Katrina Relief?  By asking friends, colleagues, family and neighbors to sponsor each of us on a per mile basis we combine to make a serious contribution. No amount is too small – 25 cents per mile, $1 per mile, hey what the heck, challenge someone to sponsor you for $10/mile and ride both Centuries! If you are more comfortable asking for a set amount, do that. However you can motivate yourself or your sponsors, it all goes to the victims of Katrina. Here’s a good one for the Hammer Heads: challenge someone to sponsor you for double the $’s if you do a new PR or an under 4h30  Century!

 

I have discussed this with the GCC Board in advance and they have approved the effort. “Riding for Hurricane Relief” is strictly independent of the Cycling Festival. There is no requirement that any rider raise funds. It simply occurred to me that this was a way that I could increase my own ability to donate to the catastrophe and immediately realized the possibilities to amplify the giving by an unknown factor if I shared the idea with my cycling friends.

 

To streamline organization, please take only checks and have them made out directly to the Red Cross – NO CASH. I will be collecting checks at the registration table on Friday evening, 9/30, Saturday morning 10/1 and Sunday morning 10/2. Please put the checks in a sealed envelope and write the total amount on the outside.

 

Right now, I’m working on this on my own. If anyone is available to help I’d be grateful for the assistance. I could use 2 or 3 people to cover all the bases. It won’t be a big time commitment and won’t interfere with any riding plans you have for the weekend.  I especially need someone to be able to take checks at the Flemington location on Sunday morning 10/2.  Anyone out there available? I can be contacted at my email = santello@xxxxxxxxxxxx or 352-316-0084.

 

I plan on sending this email to TF list serve as well as friends I have at other clubs. Please feel free to spread the word to cyclists you may know who are coming into town to ride. It would be wonderful if they would participate as fund raisers as well as passing the word to through their club emails.

 

Have a great day,

Vicki