Greetings everyone!
Over the last few months, I've told you about the people and the reasons that have inspired me to undertake both this fundraising effort, and the ride itself. Now, I want to know, who would you like me to ride for. Email me at jeffrey.meyer14@verizon.net and tell me their story and if you have one, send me their picture as well. I will take those stories and pictures and put them on business card sized pieces of paper. Then, on the day of my ride, I will carry those cards with me for each of the 200 miles that I plan on riding. Each card will be a small yet significant reminder of the importance of organizations like the Lance Armstrong Foundation, The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults and hospitals like Johns Hopkins. After my ride, I will send those cards to you as my way of saying thank you. Thank you not only for your support, but for sharing their stories with me.
If you've already sent me a donation, just send me an email with the story and picture that you wish to share. If you haven't donated yet, just send me a separate email when you send in your donation. Speaking of donations, if you plan to donate but haven't yet, the deadline for your donation to count towards my fundraising goal is now less than 48 hours away. This means that you will need to donate on the 24 Hours of Booty website at www.24hoursofbooty.org. And, I'm pleased to announce that thanks to the generosity of those of you who have already donated, I am very close to making goal.
Finally, if you're going to be in the Maryland area on September 26th and/or 27th, I invite you to join my pit crew for however much time you can spare. Better yet, go to the 24 Hours of Booty website at, once again, www.24hoursofbooty.org and sign up to volunteer so everyone can enjoy your presence.
As always, I thank you for your support.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
A Blast From The Past
I spent part of my day restoring the insoles of a pair of circa 1970's Vittoria World Champion cycling shoes. Black leather, yellow details and made in Italy. I acquired them back in the late 90's, at the Gainesville Cycling Club's Christmas party. We did one of those crazy gift exchanges where you drew numbers, stole gifts from each other, the works. Well, at the end of the night, I came home with these. I might even wear them for a few laps of the Booty Ride, and only a few, since they're a size or two, too small.
Heck, looking at these makes me want to do the whole nostalgia thing. Wool kit, steel frame bike with Campy 10 speed downtube shifters, and one of those cool leather helmets from American Flyers. Oh yeah, I can see it now!
Heck, looking at these makes me want to do the whole nostalgia thing. Wool kit, steel frame bike with Campy 10 speed downtube shifters, and one of those cool leather helmets from American Flyers. Oh yeah, I can see it now!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Remembering One of 20,000
Yesterday, we lost one of the most influential Senators in this country's history when we lost Ted Kennedy to brain cancer. He fought a valiant fight, but as it is often the case, that fight wasn't enough. Yet, on that day, as it was the day before and the day that followed, Kennedy was just one of the 20,000 people around the world who lost their battle with cancer.
Each day, 20,000 families say good-bye to a spouse, a parent, a grand-parent, or even a child who lost their battle with cancer. That number is simply unacceptable. That number means that for every mile of the 200 that I plan on riding next month, 100 people will die of cancer. That number means that for each lap of the two-mile course that I will ride, 200 people will die of cancer.
This is a battle that we must win, for each day that we do not, we simply lose too many.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
August Update: Less than two months away from the ride of my life!
Greetings!
After a long hiatus, I am back. First off, I'm pleased to announce that my pain is now mostly under control. I'm able to sleep at night, and I have some level of productivity during the day for the first time in more than a year. Because of this lengthy time between "Booty Updates", this letter is a little lengthy. I promise that it is an easy read though and packed with important information. For those of you who are too busy to read the entire letter right now, please read the first few sections at least.
Progress: I am proud to announce that I am more than halfway to my goal of $3000 and that I'm currently in 6th place for total donations received. Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart to those who have already donated. To those who are waiting to donate, the deadline for donations that will count towards my total goal is September 11th. Should I be in the top 3 when the deadline has passed, I will be awarded a Trek bike with an MSRP of at least $900. If I do win one, I will auction it off on eBay with 100% of the winning bid going to the Lance Armstrong Foundation!
Corporate Matching: If you have donated or are intending to do so, don't forget to inquire about your company's corporate matching program. The 24 Hours of Booty is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity. If needed, the 24 Hours of Booty’s tax ID or EIN number is 20-3768277
Happy Birthday to Me! Yes friends, I turned 35 on Aug 2nd. As one friend put it, I'm now closer to 40 than I am 30. Uh, thanks, I think. I like how my Mom put it instead. She reminded me that I have now had 2 birthdays since my initial diagnosis. Now for those of you who I've made feel guilty for missing my birthday, I humbly request that in lieu of cards and gifts, you make a donation to my ride.
What do your donations support? The 24 Hours of Booty supports the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, nationally and The Johns Hopkins Hospital, locally.
First off, I can personally attest to the great things that the Lance Armstrong Foundation (http://www.livestrong.org/) does. Back in 2008, shortly after I was first diagnosed with cancer, I contacted the Lance Armstrong Foundation seeking out information on possible research studies and more information in general about my cancer. They immediately provided me with numerous possible studies and they also put me in touch with the Sarcoma Alliance. When I joined Twitter earlier this year, they noticed I was tweeting about cancer and they started following me. Then, last month when I tweeted about how my chemotherapy would be $10,000/month (remember that number) if my insurance didn't cover it, they sent me a message asking me to call them. I did, but they were busy and I left a message. They called me back only an hour or so later and talked to me for a full 20 minutes telling me about all of the resources that were available to me. They included travel vouchers from airlines and hotels if I have to go to Indianapolis for treatment, pharmaceutical companies that provide hardship assistance and even legal help should I need it. They talked to me like an old friend and showed genuine concern for me.
In addition to the critical help that the Lance Armstrong Foundation provides to cancer patients and their famlies, they also promote cancer research. In 2004, they helped to found the Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials or ENACCT (http://www.enacct.org/). ENACCT is the only national organization devoted solely to identifying, implementing and evaluating innovative community-centered approaches to cancer clinical trials education. The Lance Armstrong Foundation even provided my talented doctor with her first research grant.
Second is the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults (http://www.ulmanfund.org/). Started by Doug Ulman, the CEO of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Ulman Cancer Fund provides young adults and their families with a unique and comprehensive system of support. Its mission is to provide support programs, education and resources, free of charge, to benefit young adults, their families and friends, who are affected by cancer, and to promote awareness and prevention of cancer. And, since The Ulman Cancer Fund is located just a short drive away from where I live, I intend to start volunteering for them in October, once I have completed my ride.
Finally, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, the 24 Hours of Booty's local benefactor, and where I receive all of my treatment. The money raised by the 24 Hours of Booty participants not only promotes cutting-edge research and state-of-the-art medical treatments, it also enables Johns Hopkins to provide critical financial assistance to patients including in some cases, completely waiving any medical bills not covered by insurance. As I am still unemployed, I am fortunate to benefit from this assistance while I'm trying to find a job.
$10,000/month Chemotherapy: A couple paragraphs back, I asked you to remember that number. Understanding that I have friends and supporters all across the political spectrum, I am not going to take a side or advocate one particular plan. However, I ask you to think about that number. Do those 300 pills that make up a month's prescription really cost more than $30 a piece? Or, do the people at my insurance company really know more than my doctor who has treated me for the last 3 years and is world-renowned in her field ? These are questions that must be answered. The answers to these questions are the cornerstone of the healthcare system that this country desperately needs. A system that makes it unacceptable for anyone; young or old, healthy or chronically ill, married or single; to be denied the care that they need.
Some YouTube videos for you: Below are links to a some videos, between 1 and 5 minutes that will give you more insight into the charities I'm asking you to support, and the people behind them.
The 24 Hours of Booty:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70_DCjlAdKs&NR=1
Lance Armstrong Foundation Manifesto:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNLs-zMvnlc
The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIgnst3BwU8
Lance Armstrong on why he's returning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G0C26o4O2U
Lance Armstrong on WHO he's riding for:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q8Y0uL-4oA
Twitter: As I stated before, I am now on Twitter and I keep a live feed on my desktop. For any fellow tweeters out there, I encourage you to follow me and chat with me at anytime. My username is jpmeyer74.
200 miles!?!? You read it right. I have rethought my ride and what I feel like I'm capable of, and I now believe I'll be able to do 200 miles. I realized this in July when I did the ride for Sarcoma research. Over a 1 hour ride with rolling hills, I averaged 13 MPH. The "Booty Course" is relatively flat and I'm feeling stronger every day. So take my intended time on the bike of 16 hours, multiply by 13 MPH and you get 208 miles. That's 96 miles longer than any other ride I've done.
Cancer and Firefighters: For those of you unaware, the incidence of cancer among firefighters is higher than the incidence for nearly every other field, and MUCH higher than those for the public as a whole. FirefighterCloseCalls.com, a.k.a. The Secret List has just posted an article detailing the incidence of cancer among not only the firefighters who responded to the World Trade Center disaster, but police officers and EMS workers as well. To see the article... http://firefighterclosecalls.com/fullstory.php?91080
Finally, I will close with a link to a video by the band Wideawake. They are from Austin and have dedicated their song, "Maybe Tonight, Maybe Tomorrow" to the Livestrong movement. The song is available on iTunes and the proceeds support the Lance Armstrong Foundation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoPb_KS39u8
So now, in the words of those wine cooler hawking porch dwellers from the late 80's, "Thank you for your support".
After a long hiatus, I am back. First off, I'm pleased to announce that my pain is now mostly under control. I'm able to sleep at night, and I have some level of productivity during the day for the first time in more than a year. Because of this lengthy time between "Booty Updates", this letter is a little lengthy. I promise that it is an easy read though and packed with important information. For those of you who are too busy to read the entire letter right now, please read the first few sections at least.
Progress: I am proud to announce that I am more than halfway to my goal of $3000 and that I'm currently in 6th place for total donations received. Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart to those who have already donated. To those who are waiting to donate, the deadline for donations that will count towards my total goal is September 11th. Should I be in the top 3 when the deadline has passed, I will be awarded a Trek bike with an MSRP of at least $900. If I do win one, I will auction it off on eBay with 100% of the winning bid going to the Lance Armstrong Foundation!
Corporate Matching: If you have donated or are intending to do so, don't forget to inquire about your company's corporate matching program. The 24 Hours of Booty is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity. If needed, the 24 Hours of Booty’s tax ID or EIN number is 20-3768277
Happy Birthday to Me! Yes friends, I turned 35 on Aug 2nd. As one friend put it, I'm now closer to 40 than I am 30. Uh, thanks, I think. I like how my Mom put it instead. She reminded me that I have now had 2 birthdays since my initial diagnosis. Now for those of you who I've made feel guilty for missing my birthday, I humbly request that in lieu of cards and gifts, you make a donation to my ride.
What do your donations support? The 24 Hours of Booty supports the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, nationally and The Johns Hopkins Hospital, locally.
First off, I can personally attest to the great things that the Lance Armstrong Foundation (http://www.livestrong.org/) does. Back in 2008, shortly after I was first diagnosed with cancer, I contacted the Lance Armstrong Foundation seeking out information on possible research studies and more information in general about my cancer. They immediately provided me with numerous possible studies and they also put me in touch with the Sarcoma Alliance. When I joined Twitter earlier this year, they noticed I was tweeting about cancer and they started following me. Then, last month when I tweeted about how my chemotherapy would be $10,000/month (remember that number) if my insurance didn't cover it, they sent me a message asking me to call them. I did, but they were busy and I left a message. They called me back only an hour or so later and talked to me for a full 20 minutes telling me about all of the resources that were available to me. They included travel vouchers from airlines and hotels if I have to go to Indianapolis for treatment, pharmaceutical companies that provide hardship assistance and even legal help should I need it. They talked to me like an old friend and showed genuine concern for me.
In addition to the critical help that the Lance Armstrong Foundation provides to cancer patients and their famlies, they also promote cancer research. In 2004, they helped to found the Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials or ENACCT (http://www.enacct.org/). ENACCT is the only national organization devoted solely to identifying, implementing and evaluating innovative community-centered approaches to cancer clinical trials education. The Lance Armstrong Foundation even provided my talented doctor with her first research grant.
Second is the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults (http://www.ulmanfund.org/). Started by Doug Ulman, the CEO of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Ulman Cancer Fund provides young adults and their families with a unique and comprehensive system of support. Its mission is to provide support programs, education and resources, free of charge, to benefit young adults, their families and friends, who are affected by cancer, and to promote awareness and prevention of cancer. And, since The Ulman Cancer Fund is located just a short drive away from where I live, I intend to start volunteering for them in October, once I have completed my ride.
Finally, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, the 24 Hours of Booty's local benefactor, and where I receive all of my treatment. The money raised by the 24 Hours of Booty participants not only promotes cutting-edge research and state-of-the-art medical treatments, it also enables Johns Hopkins to provide critical financial assistance to patients including in some cases, completely waiving any medical bills not covered by insurance. As I am still unemployed, I am fortunate to benefit from this assistance while I'm trying to find a job.
$10,000/month Chemotherapy: A couple paragraphs back, I asked you to remember that number. Understanding that I have friends and supporters all across the political spectrum, I am not going to take a side or advocate one particular plan. However, I ask you to think about that number. Do those 300 pills that make up a month's prescription really cost more than $30 a piece? Or, do the people at my insurance company really know more than my doctor who has treated me for the last 3 years and is world-renowned in her field ? These are questions that must be answered. The answers to these questions are the cornerstone of the healthcare system that this country desperately needs. A system that makes it unacceptable for anyone; young or old, healthy or chronically ill, married or single; to be denied the care that they need.
Some YouTube videos for you: Below are links to a some videos, between 1 and 5 minutes that will give you more insight into the charities I'm asking you to support, and the people behind them.
The 24 Hours of Booty:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70_DCjlAdKs&NR=1
Lance Armstrong Foundation Manifesto:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNLs-zMvnlc
The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIgnst3BwU8
Lance Armstrong on why he's returning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G0C26o4O2U
Lance Armstrong on WHO he's riding for:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q8Y0uL-4oA
Twitter: As I stated before, I am now on Twitter and I keep a live feed on my desktop. For any fellow tweeters out there, I encourage you to follow me and chat with me at anytime. My username is jpmeyer74.
200 miles!?!? You read it right. I have rethought my ride and what I feel like I'm capable of, and I now believe I'll be able to do 200 miles. I realized this in July when I did the ride for Sarcoma research. Over a 1 hour ride with rolling hills, I averaged 13 MPH. The "Booty Course" is relatively flat and I'm feeling stronger every day. So take my intended time on the bike of 16 hours, multiply by 13 MPH and you get 208 miles. That's 96 miles longer than any other ride I've done.
Cancer and Firefighters: For those of you unaware, the incidence of cancer among firefighters is higher than the incidence for nearly every other field, and MUCH higher than those for the public as a whole. FirefighterCloseCalls.com, a.k.a. The Secret List has just posted an article detailing the incidence of cancer among not only the firefighters who responded to the World Trade Center disaster, but police officers and EMS workers as well. To see the article... http://firefighterclosecalls.com/fullstory.php?91080
Finally, I will close with a link to a video by the band Wideawake. They are from Austin and have dedicated their song, "Maybe Tonight, Maybe Tomorrow" to the Livestrong movement. The song is available on iTunes and the proceeds support the Lance Armstrong Foundation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoPb_KS39u8
So now, in the words of those wine cooler hawking porch dwellers from the late 80's, "Thank you for your support".
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