Northern California - SF to La LifeCycleAids ride

Well, I just took the plunge and registered for the big ride. Now to find some corperate sponsers. Anyone doing the ride?
Maybe NorCal representation?
Pete

I've been interested in doing this, but always intimidated by the fundraising. My brother in law did this in the East Coast and enjoyed it tremendously.

Pete, thanks for raising the topic. I'm going to consider it seriously.

I know lots of folks who have done this and really enjoyed it. The fund raising is intimidating, but you'll be able to do it (I raised almost $10k for the Leukemia Society last year, just through e-mails and letter writing, as well as the comedy night in November). Ask early and ask often!

This ride is on my list to do *sometime*, but this year I'm going to actually finish the Death Ride, instead of just starting it. The Lifecycle ride is 6 weeks before - I'll be in major hill climb mode. I'll skip it this year, but at some point....

JB

God on ya, taxi777 !!!
Two people on my mail route are signed up again. I think the husband will ride and the wife will do support, like last year. You have to raise the money for both.

My co-worker, Bob Katz, has done it every year except one. He fell and broke his leg or something a couple years ago while training. He's doing it again this year.

Good luck to you all! It's an amazing accomplishment that maybe one day I'll be able to do.

Gee3 - is that THE Bob Katz?

I'm very very seriously considering doing this, but like others in here, the fundraising is daunting. I'm terrible at asking for money. But I really would like to do this.

Gee3 - is that THE Bob Katz?

I'm very very seriously considering doing this, but like others in here, the fundraising is daunting. I'm terrible at asking for money. But I really would like to do this.

I feel the same, I hate asking but there's a chance of me although slight to get corperate sponsers, I need to aproach it right and close the deal. I've wanted to do this for the lastr 3 years. I just went ahead and registered and after clicking the submit button it was like Oh oh?!

I feel the same, I hate asking but there's a chance of me although slight to get corperate sponsers, I need to aproach it right and close the deal. I've wanted to do this for the lastr 3 years. I just went ahead and registered and after clicking the submit button it was like Oh oh?!

OK, my inner beancounter is coming out (did I mention that I'm a CPA?). The avg. donation I got was $100. I contacted 175 people to raise the money I raised (a bit more than $9k). That means that about half of the people I contacted donated.

It was for a different cause, but I think most people would get similar results. One key -make it personal. Let people know why you feel so strongly about the cause. Another key - let the people say no. If you don't contact someone, you're saying no for them - and they might want to donate. I was very surprised by how many people donated - several of them I wasn't even going to ask, but sent them an e-mail anyway.

One final thing - follow up! Don't just send a letter and forget about it. Send updates on training, on how a patient you might know is doing - anything relevant to keep your ride and cause top of mind. I started using my blog to do this so that I could post pics without clogging up people's inboxes with giant e-mails. I found that a lot of my donors donated on the 4th or 5th time I asked - not the first (heck, my memory is lousy - I guess I'm not alone). Mentioning a fund-raising deadline, and how far you have to go to hit your minimum can work too.

Oh,yeah - lots of people work for companies that will match donations - find out how to do that for your ride, and make sure you give everyone that info.

It's not easy asking for money like this, but it's for a great cause and you really won't piss off any reasonable person by doing this. Most will respect you for it (even if they don't reach in their wallet).

JB

[QUOTE=

It's not easy asking for money like this, but it's for a great cause and you really won't piss off any reasonable person by doing this. Most will respect you for it (even if they don't reach in their wallet).

JB[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the info and inspiration
Pete

If you're even contemplating ALC, I would encourage you to register NOW! Rumor is that registration will close this week.

Lorri

ps -- I've done 4 AIDS rides over the years and raised way more than the minimum for each of them. Ask, ask, ask!

I have physical capacity to do this, but it's just the fundraising that puts me off. I've heard all the great things about their support, but I'm generally not good at asking for money. Don't want to sound like a beggar.

Gee3 - is that THE Bob Katz?

I'm very very seriously considering doing this, but like others in here, the fundraising is daunting. I'm terrible at asking for money. But I really would like to do this.

I guess so. Is he that famous? Or is that infamous! hehe! He's a really cool guy! Just beware of him when he's driving! He's a mad man behind the wheel. (He's had a lot of practice from his days as a NYC cabbie!)

Gary

I have physical capacity to do this, but it's just the fundraising that puts me off. I've heard all the great things about their support, but I'm generally not good at asking for money. Don't want to sound like a beggar. So what I do - donate to your friends who are doing the ride. :)

I have an "ALC donation budget" that I go over every year. :D