We all know that leading an active lifestyle has many
benefits. You don’t have to be training for an IronMan® to find that fitness
will improve your quality of life, lighten your mood and strengthen both your mind
and body.
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| My Pals MrsMac & Be Twa' |
I’m always inspired by people working to “reclaim” their
health and fitness. It’s such a gift
they are giving themselves. What inspires me further, to the point of tears, is
when I meet people training for a cause.
Some start out with the notion “As long as I’m training, why not help
someone else along the way”, others want to aid the cause and dig deep
to channel their inner athlete. As a former Tour Director for the
largest cycling event benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation, I’ve had the
privilege of meeting people who fall into both categories.
I am in awe of all of them.
This particular event is The Wish-A-Mile (WAM) Bicycle Tour.
A 3-day 300-mile or a 1-day 50-mile bike tour through the great state of
Michigan. This July will celebrate the
25th riding of WAM, an event that began with a challenge among
friends. I’ve been part of this ride in some way or
another since 1999; as a staff member, volunteer, donor or just plain ‘ole
cheerleader at the finish line. Early on, my husband and brother-in-law rode
while I served as a staff member on the tour. Last year, I Co-Directed the
event once more and watched with envy as my husband and over 20 of my Tri-Team
training buds saddled up to ride. I watched with pride (and did I mention envy?)
as my pals came across mile 300, complete with a finish-line escort and medal
ceremony from their 6 year-old Wish Hero. The Rider and the Wish Recipient form a unique
relationship, each a hero to the other. You
can understand why participating in this event as an athlete has been on my
list of dream events for 13 years. It is
top of my bucket list.
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| My Family & Wish Hero 2011 |
Finally, THIS is my year. I am saddling up to ride 300
miles, by far the most I will have ever traversed on my own effort. My physical goal is to finish. My heart’s goal
is raise enough money to grant 2 wishes, a total of $10,000. To date, my longest ride in 64 uncomfortable miles and I’ve
raised $7,825, so there’s a lot of work ahead of me. But I am up to the task.
It’s a good thing that I love to ride!
Cycling is the 2nd of 3 disciplines in Triathlon
and I’ve come to love it. In fact, it is my favorite of the 3 disciplines as it
offers a) no fear of drowning and b) doesn’t immediately induce a throbbing
pain in my feet. For me, hitting the
road for a long ride is one of life’s great joys. Knowing that I’ll be training
and participating in an event that will make an impactful difference in the
lives of children and their families is beyond joyful.
It brings purpose to my hobby. It brings meaning to my effort.
But most importantly, it brings a wish to a child and
bringing hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical
conditions is pretty amazing.
I get to be a Wish Granter. What’s better than that?
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| Team Tour deWishes 2011 |
1) Identify
your favorite charitable organization and reach out to them. -Chances
are their website will list their upcoming fundraising events. If your charity
of choice has a national affiliate, be sure to check their website as well as
with your local chapter. If you cannot find a “good fit” between your activity
and your charity, ask them to consider approving your own personal fundraising
effort.
2) Raise
awareness – Educate yourself on your charity’s mission, the population
they serve and the services they deliver. Think of yourself as an ambassador to
the organization. Ask for a free
T-shirt or a window cling/bumper sticker. Being able to speak
confidently about their mission spreads awareness and expands their reach.
3) Set a
goal – Once you’ve established your event, set a fundraising goal.
Don’t be intimidated by the minimum amount the event is requesting, stretch
yourself beyond that. Then, tell
everyone you know about your goal, ask for their help and provide them with
instructions on how they can donate.
Then, be sure to THANK every single donation that comes to you.
4) Form
a team - Invite your training friends, members of your local gym,
family, neighbors, who ever, to join you in an effort to raise funds and
awareness for your cause. Make it fun, with a team name and even team swag to
show your team unity!
5) Share
your journey – Leverage the power of social media and make frequent
posts on your favorite on-line platforms. Post pictures of your training efforts
and keep your readers updated on your progress, both physically and
financially. The biggest gift you can give a non-organization is more
participants raising awareness and fund on their behalf. If your journey
inspires just one more person to join the effort, you’ve done a GREAT job!
For more information on the Wish-A-Mile Bicycle Tour, to
join my awesome team “Tour de Wishes” or donate to the effort, please visit www.wam.kintera.org/stephanie or view the video
(Originally posted at
http://www.timeoutmom.com/blog/index.php/category/momsrunning-running-time/)
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