1. Bike MS: City
to Shore Ride 2009 (10/3-10/4/09)I recently signed up for the ride and it's something I've looked at with awe and admiration since moving to Philly. I mean, how incredible is it that thousands of people bike 150 miles round trip to Ocean City, NJ? Not to mention it's for an incredible cause. After a bit of encouragement from my friend Lauren, and hearing about how my crazy (awesome) little bro is doing the whole 150 miles on a mountain bike, I decided I should do it too. The great folks at the National MS Society have made the process easy, including creating a page entirely devoted to rookie riders and a twitter account (@MSCitytoShore). I'll be heading to the Rookie Rider Expo on August 26th to learn more about what I need to to do get ready, and how to ride in such a large "race!"
And thanks to the generosity of some of my coworkers, family, and twitter followers, I've already eclipsed the required fund raising amount of $300! My goal is $500, and I'll continue to aim high as I learn more about how many people are affected by the disease. Hearing stories about those afflicted with MS from those who donated to my ride fund are heartbreaking, and really put the whole event into perspective.
2. #BlameDre
wsCancer Blame-a-Thon (09/09/09)A couple of my twitter followers have asked what this #blamedrewscancer hash tag is all about. When I attended the kickoff party for the Blame-a-Thon event at National Mechanics in Philly last night, I had the wonderful fortune of meeting Drew himself along with a number of others. Drew is an incredible human being locked in a battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma. After being diagnosed in May 2009, Drew's been blaming everything from lost keys to the Phillies losing on his cancer, and inviting the rest of the world to do the same. His philosophy is that "you have to beat up on Cancer to win…" and all of us can help out. We can use the #blamedrewscancer twitter hash tag, attend one of the Blame-a-Thon events, donate, buy a t-shirt, anything! Check out the Blame-a-Thon and #blamedrewscancer websites for information on how you can get involved.
3. Chicks Rock
Women's climbing clinics in Devil's Lake, WI (9/7-9/10/09)Brought to you by Chicks with Picks, this three-day trip is only one of many offered I'd absolutely love to go on. Their motto is, "Women Climbing with Women, for Women," which is something I can completely get behind. I've never felt better climbing than I do when I know I have a strong woman on the ground watching out for me! The trip is well priced, comprehensive, and worth the trip for any climber. I'm particularly impressed by the fact that they offer five different levels of climbing from beginner up to an intro to leading for those who can climb 5.10a and above.