Cyclists Can Make a Big Difference
Name a major disease: Alzheimer's, Type 1 Diabetes, Cancer, MS, Parkinsons, Cystic Fibrosis and the list goes on.
Likely someone you know, a family member, friend or neighbor, has or is battling one of these or some other type of major malady.
Cycling events, the cyclists and supporters make a huge contribution in the efforts to find a cure and effective treatments by riding and raising funds at cycling events that benefit organizations fighting disease.
Here’s the story of one cyclist who inspired us at Florida Cycling.us. and ways you might make a difference.
Joanna Southerland’s son Phil was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when he was just seven months old. The doctors’ prognosis was that Phil would be blind by age 25. The doctors discouraged Joanna from letting Phil do any physical exercise. But Phil needed to move. As a boy-turned-teenager, Phil discovered cycling, specifically mountain biking.
Phil is now in his early 40’s, and has had a career as a pro cyclist on the world stage. He is also founder and CEO of Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all diabetes professional cycling team. The team competes at the highest levels, racing in grand tours. Besides winning races, their aim as a team is to inspire, educate and empower everyone affected by diabetes, and to promote an active and healthy lifestyle as they compete against the best cyclists in the world. Think about that. From grim prognosis to active professional cyclist.
Phil is also Founder & President of the Team Type 1 Foundation in Atlanta which provides scholarships to collegiate athletes who have Type 1, letting them know – “you can do this”!
And here is Joanna, a mother, a U.S. cycling champion for her age group, and a university instructor who was and is motivated to make a difference. And her son is following in her footsteps.
Joanna’s journey continues. Her husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. So, she is also tackling Parkinson’s disease. She has organized a team to ride in Tallahassee for Tour de Fox, in support of the Michael J. Fox Foundation in the fight against Parkinson’s. Over the years she has raised tens of thousands of dollars for causes near to her heart.
One person can make a profound difference. Here’s how you can too. There are several options.
Option 1 – Register as an individual, raise funds and ride in an event.
This is a good option for a cyclist to raise or donate the required amount, travel to the location and ride in the event. I’ve done this multiple times. Most often it is a supported ride with well supplied rest stops along the route and a lunch waiting for you at the end.
Here are some events that benefit reputable organizations fighting against specific diseases.
Option 2 – Register as a team and invite friends to join you
This is a good option if you want to invite other cycling friends to ride with you. You might also design and order team jerseys to show your solidarity. Each team member raises their designated amount to help reach a united team financial goal. You and your friends meet up at the location of the event and ride together. It’s a great way to have camaraderie and also involve more cyclists to raise money for the cause.
But what if you don’t live near an event, but you want to ride or walk in solidarity with your friends for the cause. Consider doing Option 3.
Option 3 – Register as a team that “Rides Anywhere”
This option builds a stronger sense of “we are with you in this cause”, yet it provides flexibility on where your team members ride. They may not be able to travel to a specific city for the event, but they can ride anywhere in solidarity for the cause. This allows friends who can’t get to the location of the “big” event to still ride in their hometown and feel more a part of the team effort.
Here’s how Joanna is involving friends in a “Ride Anywhere”.
Joanna lives in the Tallahassee area. The big Tour de Fox event is being held in Napa Valley, California. She registered Team Al with Tour de Fox (Al is her husband with Parkinsons). She is inviting friends to financially sponsor Team Al, but she isn’t going to Napa Valley. Instead, her friends can join her for a group ride in Tallahassee. It is self-supported and ride at your own risk. Just a bunch of friends, joining a friend to support a cause. And other friends can hold their ride in other locations across the U.S. and other countries for the same cause.
Joanna is spreading the word to family and friends through social media. She created an event on her Facebook page (see above). She provided details about the cause, the local ride and time, where to meet, and links with how to be a donor and encourage others to raise funds toward the team’s fundraising goal.
Here is a summary of the steps to do Option 3
Check and see if the event’s online registration allows you to register a team. Not all do. If it does, go to the next step.
As the leader, register as a team. Pick a good name for the cause. You could use the name of a person living with the disease, such as “Team Ride for Sam and Lucia”.
On the team page there is usually an offer for your friends to either “Join Your Team” or “Support Your Team”. Tell them to choose “Support Your Team”. This provides the choice to “Ride Anywhere”. Usually there is a space on the form for people to leave a message, letting you know if they are joining your ride in your town, or riding in their city.
Set up an event on your Facebook page. On the Facebook events page, be sure to tell your story of why you are passionate about this cause. Provide links to the “Team Page” on the organization’s website, where friends and family can donate and write a message that they want to do the “Ride Anywhere”, and let you know where.
Invite friends to become involved. Promote the event that you have on your Facebook page to your family and friends through social media, email and word-of-mouth. Direct your family and friends to go there to learn more.
Be sure to tell them to join as a supporter or donor, not as a team member. A team member means they will show up for the big ride event. Being a supporter or donor gives them the flexibility to support and ride in the “Ride Anywhere” occasion. And friends can invite their friends to join them in their “Ride Anywhere” to support the cause.
Any of the three options provides you the opportunity to make a difference, to help find a cure and support research to provide a better quality of life for those living with the disease.
Thanks for checking the listing of health-related charity events at our companion website FloridaCycling.us. and consider how you as a cyclist might help.
Ride often. Be safe.
Bruce
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