I Care I Cure, we set an attainable goal. This year it was
$5000. When we got close to that total we dared to
imagine that we could reach $7500. This year that goal
was met and surpassed because of each and every
one of our generous donors! With thanks, also, to a
friend who, last week, made an incredible $3000
donation from her family's foundation!
We are so very happy to report that
we have raised more than $10,000 this year for I Care I Cure Childhood Cancer Foundation!!
Today I went back through all 7 years of the ride via the blog to try to calculate how much we have raised since we began I Care I Cure I Cycle in 2009. The estimated total is $41,488.00! That includes $725 that our grandsons raised with two lemonade stands! When we began doing this, we didn't have a clue that this would become a yearly journey! When we "arrive at one goal, it is the starting point of another"! We'll take a short break before we start planning the next leg of this Westward ride!
Several times during this last ride Glenn mentioned, on the more difficult days, that perhaps he is getting too old to do this any longer. The last two days, one of them a century ride, proved to him that he still has the stuff to continue. "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream"! It's also never too late to donate! Just Click Here :) Our next big event for I Care I Cure is the 5K and Family Fun Day I Care I Cure I Run 2016
I Care I Cure's 9th Annual I Care I Cure…I Run February 7, 2016, 8:00AM BB&T Center, Sunrise, FL. Join us this year for the 5K Run/Walk, followed by the Mile Run of Color Fun. This year, take your team to the next level! Are you ready for the challenge? If you'll be in South Florida, join our team, We Are Family 2016! More details and registration info when it is available.
I spent the morning yesterday at Thanksgiving Day Programs at Fletcher's and Miles' schools. As I sat there, I thought about how I could bring the end
of this ride and this season of giving together in a few paragraphs. I'm not as
eloquent as Jim or as focused as Glenn in my writing so I am usually
happy to just put captions to the photos and call that my contribution to the
blog. This time, I have the need to go further and deeper.
We all have our own ways of giving. We are so grateful that so many
of you have chosen to donate to I Care I Cure - those checks and credit
card contributions are so very crucial to the mission of our family's
foundation. Every single dollar is appreciated! Some of you have
supported us in other ways. We thank you for joining Glenn on the
road, for treating us to meals on the our journeys, for writing us
inspiring emails while we pedal and drive, for surprising us every day
with new friends and followers who have joined our big I Care I Cure
I Cycle family. There is something to be said for the phase, "It takes
a village"! We are all in this together - raising funds to assure that
kids in need are provided gentler and less toxic treatments for
childhood cancer. Not one child should have to suffer as Ian did.
Now to go a little further with thoughts of giving. We can all do
more! Glenn and I felt frustrated and helpless right after Ian's death. We helped in whatever way we could but we knew we needed to do more than just make yearly donations. That is how I Care I Cure I Cycle came to be. It was a way to join Glenn's love of cycling and our need to make a bigger impact and raise awareness for I Care I Cure and the race for targeted therapies for childhood cancer. You all came on this journey with us. Perhaps you feel that you can do more but don't know how to accomplish that. I thought I would share some ideas!
I recently was contacted by a student from Dunwoody High School
right here in Atlanta. They have just started an I Care I Cure Student Service Club at the school. Students can select community service projects that relate to helping children living or dealing with cancer as well as other projects that are a priority for their communities such as street clean-ups or working in a homeless shelter. If you have children or a grandchildren in High School, why not encourage them to start a Club in their school and help them :) The I Care I Cure Administrator has kits and information. Just click here to email Babette for more info!
If you are a retail business or restaurant owner, perhaps you could
pick a day and label it "I Care I Cure Day" and donate a small
percentage of your proceeds from that day to I Care I Cure? If we are nearby, Glenn and I will come and lend support!
If you have small children or grandchildren, a lemonade stand is always a great idea. They love it and are instilled with the idea of service and giving to a worthy cause.
Our grandsons, Benji and Evan, ask to do this yearly!
The I Care I Cure Mitzvah Matters Program is being introduced in synagogues around the country. The Mitzvah Matters Program assumes that many teens around the country, who are approaching their bar and bat mitzvahs, develop Mitzvah Projects in conjunction with their celebrations to do mitzvot or “good deeds”. Any teens that are interested in conducting I Care I Cure fundraisers or participating in the Mitzvah Matters Program should contact info@icareicure.org
Of course, the most obvious way to raise funds is by doing a bike ride or a run (that is not a fundraiser for another charity) and ask friends and family to support you and I Care I Cure. All of you who do the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta could do something like this. Better yet, plan to ride with Glenn on our next I Care I Cure I Cycle adventure. It's not too early to let us know you might be interested! The more the merrier! Speaking of runs, I Care I Cure has a 5K and Family Fun Day every year in Sunrise, FL. Join our team, We Are Family, or start your own!! This year the event is on Sunday, February 7th at 8 AM. Save the Date and come join this "FUN"raiser!
There are countless ways to give and feel good while doing it. If you decide to do anything like this, let us know and we'll send out a blog update, announce it on Social Media and make you the star - just as you all have made us feel loved and important on this journey! No blog post about I Care I Cure is complete without mention of Ian and his parents and brothers. The day Ian was diagnosed is forever etched in my mind. That day was shocking and unbelievable. Little did we know that it would be the treatment for cancer and not the Leukemia itself that would be responsible for his death so quickly. This kind of tragedy strikes families every day. Beth and Brad, along with Noah and Grant have worked tirelessly for years to raise funds so that other families can be spared this outcome. We love them and are so very proud of them all. What we do is for them and in memory of Ian. http://www.icareicure.org/ For more info about I Care I Cure
Beth and Brad with Ian, Noah and Grant in the carefree days before I Care I Cure.
A Glimpse From Glenn I was asked to give some thought about what I wanted to say for the last blog posting for this ride. I knew that it was not to just recount the morning's ride. The challenge made me think about the tours that I have done since 2000. The completion of a journey has meant much more than just doing a segment as we did up the East Coast. The first ride was the Big Ride across America, starting in Seattle and ending at the Lincoln Memorial in DC. On that day, I vividly recall how I was riding slower for I did not want the experience to end. There was little question how much I missed my family but during those seven weeks of being away, time just slowed down and it was so stress free. I could relate to the image that Lynn posted the other day of how the routine was to get up, eat enough to get through the day's ride and set up at the next camp and repeat. Being greeted by so many people and having the good fortune to have my family and other relatives meet me there was utter joy. I did not have the same feeling when I went from San Francisco to LA, probably because I wiped out about 10 miles before the end and I was just glad to be done. I can still show off the scraped areas on my wallet that I was carrying that day. Finishing the segments as we went up the East Coast Greenway just made me feel that I was getting closer to the goal of getting to Canada. It was not until I had the distinct pleasure of having my family, Laurie, Sean and my friends Don and Denise cross over into Canada with me that once again I had the sense of accomplishment and pride in a job well done. I must say that crossing over the Golden Gate last year was fantastic. The Pacific Northwest scenery was everything that I hoped it would be and I consider that to have been the ride that finished the West Coast having done the other segment earlier. This year I began the arduous process of going across the South. Mostly, I feel that way because I am concerned that the scenery will not be as varied and beautiful as the ride last year or the one across the US. But having started at the Mississippi and heading east, I felt that Tuesday was almost like concluding a ride. I was proud of myself for completing it and was quite emotional as I carried my bike and stepped into the Atlantic. It renewed my interest in completing the rest of the trip westward. After all, it is only about 1800 miles from New Orleans to San Diego!
I also thought about the varied intersections that one might have in life. Most often this is with the people who are meaningful to us as we interact over time. But in my quest to cycle around the country, I have now managed to achieve three such intersecting points in the perimeter I am trying to do. Seattle was the take off point for the cross country ride and also the starting point for the ride down the Pacific Coast. Washington DC was the end point for the cross country ride and a spot on the East Coast Greenway. St Augustine was along the East Coast Greenway in the south and also the terminus for my trip across the Southern US. Only one more and I will have my own version of four corners.
Lynn and I often have talked about how easy it was to get on a bike and go places in Lakewood, NJ, where we grew up. I suppose from my childhood the two most important interests I developed,and remain to this day, were biking and going to the library and reading. I listed those as hobbies when I did my residency application and they seemed so simplistic. I never would have imagined that the passion for biking would take off during that time and during our residence in Pennsylvania. I have no clue as to how many miles I have ridden in my life but I am sure it would be sufficient to have me go several times around the earth. Sometimes I think about how much gas I have saved by riding to work. Other times I have considered how much I have been able to raise for charities including: Tour De Cure(Diabetes Association), MS Rides, Big Ride(Lung Association) and the California Coast Classic(Arthritis Foundation). When I first read about the East Coast Greenway in 2003, I thought it would be a neat thing to do. I thought I would once again do it as a charity ride but ask people to donate to the charity of their choice. After all, at that time Ian was a healthy 8 year old who shared an interest with me in baseball and appeared to have infinite options in his future as he was bright and spirited. Unfortunately, that was not to be and Lynn and I decided that I would put the miles in and we would do our part to raise funds for I Care I Cure in his memory and honor. I think of him often during the rides as there is plenty of time to think and hope that the contributions that are made will be helpful for many families who will encounter similar problems to his. So thanks to all of you for making these efforts so meaningful and memorable.
Till the next segment ~ Westward Ho to El Paso!
Glenn
Considering that the SAG vehicle gets between 17-24 mpg, the bike"gas" mileage is pretty amazing!
On our way home from St. Augustine in the car, Glenn suggested that I mention on Social Media and in the blog that we would match any donations that we received between 2 pm on Tuesday, November 17 and 8 am on Wednesday, November 18. Your response was overwhelming and so very much appreciated. Thanks To You, we raised $1336.00 in that time period which added an additional $2672 to the total with our matching donation. We are proud to announce that the 2015 I Care I Cure I Cycle New Orleans to St. Augustine Ride raised $6444.00 for I Care I Cure! Click Here to Donate
We'd like to thank our children and grandchildren for their constant support during these bike rides. They checked in each day and were happy to hear that PA has reached his next destination safely!
A note Glenn received from Evan, our 6 year old grandson, while we were on the road.
A collage done by grandson Miles, 5, after our return!
Many thanks to our sister and brother-in-law, Laurie and Jim Beaty for joining us on these last two rides! Couldn't have done it without you!
Now Glenn will get some much needed rest. To assure this, I delivered his bike to the repair shop yesterday for a tune-up. 680 miles takes it toll on man and bicycle!
After the ride from Seattle to San Francisco, we did not have a plan for the next ride. It was unlike Glenn not to have a goal! This time, thoughts about the next adventure have surfaced already! The southern part of the country West of the Mississippi has to be conquered! Below is a possible route suggested by Google Maps. We'll see! That's a lot of miles!
For now, Glenn will be back to riding his bike to work each day
and enjoying weekend jaunts just for fun!
We have enjoyed this ride and sharing it with you through this blog. We'll keep in touch when there is news to share!
It was a more leisurely morning since the last ride
was only about 32 miles. Glenn left our hotel in
Palatka, FL at about 8:45 AM.
One last ride!
One last bridge?
Over the St. John River in Palatka
(Turns out there was another bridge to reach St. Augustine
but there isn't a photo of it)
I happened to catch up with Glenn on the road and
made sure that he didn't need anything.
He was off again with a plan to meet me
at the beach to complete the ride.
Still 20 miles more from this point!
Off on his way!
Crossed under Route 95, knowing that we'd be
back to drive home later in the day!
Some drizzle and clouds kept the morning
more comfortable for Glenn
Almost there!!
I made it to St. Augustine Beach first and had a few
minutes to enjoy the view before Glenn arrived for
the real exciting moment!
The Seagulls were plentiful and loud for me!
Glenn arrived just before 11:30 AM making this the
shortest and fastest (in time) ride of the journey!
This was the moment that Glenn had been waiting for
since departing from the Mississippi River in New
Orleans on Monday, November 9th. Reaching the Atlantic
Ocean seemed like it might be a pipe dream on those difficult
days! He was quick to get his feet in the water(but no bike
was hurt in the process)! What a sense of accomplishment!
After 9 days of eating peanut butter all day on the road,
Glenn was hoping for a real lunch today. He even remarked
that he would love Ahi Tuna. Happily, that was a choice
on the menu at the restaurant chosen by our friends!
We were so happy that a longtime friend of mine, Cherie Wilson and her husband, Ron, were able to join us for our celebratory meal at the end of the ride. Now I realize we should have had champagne to toast the completion!
Day 9's statistics from Palatka, FL to St. Augustine Beach, FL 32.75 miles in 2:14:20 minutes! The Last Day was a Fast Day! He traveled at 14.6 mph and only ascended 86 feet (probably the bridges again :) I'm sure his lunch took care of the 1457 calories that he expended! We made it home at 7:20 PM tonight after traveling 676.66 days by bike and 1699 miles by car!
Thanks so much for your words of encouragement and support!
Watch for another blog post on Thursday when I'll
announce the total donations and have some
final words from Glenn.
The ride is done but our work to raise funds for I Care I Cure continues. Today, I put a post on Facebook and Instagram that I will repeat for those of you who may not have seen it.
We haven't made our donation to I Care I Cure for the bike ride yet so we
would like to match any donations made from now until midnight tonight.
(we'll extend it until 8 AM tomorrow for you)
Just click on this link to go straight to our donation page. Help us fund
research for targeted therapies for childhood cancer!
We took a break from our usual hotel/motel stops to stay
at the Grady House in High Springs, FL which was built in 1917.
Breakfast at the Grady House B and B.
Our host, Lucie, made Glenn a special early breakfast so
he could get on the road. Jim would have loved the
egg sandwich oozing with smoked gouda cheese!
Glenn's two fingers up is for 2 days left,
not bunny ears as I suspected!
Heading to the house from the car for a photo op
Day 8 Begins!
He took off from High Springs, FL at 8:15 AM
Notice Glenn's newest style....taped nose to prevent sunburn.
His nose, lips and fingers have been ravaged by the
strong Florida sun this trip.
Cute Grady House accessories everywhere!
My 9 AM breakfast with the other guests included
eggs florentine! Thanks to the Grady House and
Lucie for a quick but relaxing visit.
To pass the time while I waited for Glenn to reach
Gainesville, FL today, I stopped at the Butterfly Rainforest
at the Florida Museum of Natural History.
It was an amazing habitat for such a large variety of butterflies.....Every color imaginable!
The rule is that if the butterflies land on you, you don't
touch them. You just wait until they fly away!
This one stuck around long enough for me to snap a photo
with my other hand. To tie this in to the bike ride,
I read that Skipper Butterflies and Sphinx moths can fly
35 miles an hour.....they have Glenn beat!
Monarchs fly over 2000 miles in their
lifetimes.....2000 miles less than Glenn bikes in a year!
I had to follow the "do not touch rule" again when a
butterfly perched itself on my phone while I was doing a
video. I forgot to stop the camera so below is a minute of that
experience :) Someone standing next to me
snapped the shot above as it was happening
I visited the bike friendly U of F campus in Gainesville today
On the University of Florida Campus, it seems that scooters
outnumber bikes! I sure wish the students would wear helmets!
"According to state law, those riding a scooter who are younger than 21 must wear
helmets, and their two-wheeled vehicle must display a registered tag that says,
“Under 21.” Anyone who is 21 and over and carrying an insurance policy may
drive a scooter without a helmet."
What we all refer to as Spanish Moss is not moss at all!
Hanging off trees and landscape plants, Spanish moss is a familiar part of
Florida’s environment. Despite its name, Spanish moss is not a moss
but a bromeliad—a perennial herb in the pineapple family. Spanish moss is
commonly found on oak and cypress trees, but can grow on other plants as well.
You'll notice that we have a Share The Road
plate on the SAG vehicle!
In GA, individual plates cost $25, and all of the money from theGeorgia Bikes!
plates go to the Governor's Office of Highway Safety for use in educational programs and
awareness projects that improve motorist and cyclist safety.
Trivia Answer from Yesterday Several people emailed guesses and they will all get Logo Pins since I found two answers online!
Faye Koenig and Barbara Green Pins are headed your way! Kate Young has a pin but we love you for answering!
The post office lists 15 zip codes for towns named Clarksville, although three of those are in Tennessee so we'll say that answer is 13.
But here is the information that Wikitravel.com posted: 22
Georgia also has a Clarkesville but spelled differently :)
That's a lot of Clarksvilles!
Ponce de Leon found the Fountain of Youth somewhere around here. I'm still searching for it! Maybe tomorrow!
There are so few hills in Florida that signs must be needed to warn drivers! "Hill Blocks View"
From the beach to farm scenes like this
in just a matter of miles!
We know someone who once mistook these for sheep!
I can see how that can happen :)
We haven't seen an Interstate in days and here is one that runs right past our home. Route 75!
A Glimpse From Glenn What a difference a Day Makes!
Turns out that Jim was with me for what I consider to have been the three most difficult days. The penultimate day (next to the last) was just great. I decided that instead of starting where I left off, considering that the scenery was the same, I rode out 18 miles and turned back. I was being considerate of Lynn so she did not have to spend over an hour in the car. This enabled her to enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the B & B. When I completed yesterday's 36 miles deficit, I snacked and then headed off to Palatka. I used the computer which had me on some back country roads. I enjoyed going through Gainesville and it had me on a rail to trail path to Hawthorne. I finally had some scenery today and even some rolling hills so it was not as boring. Once off the path, I was directed to a dirt route which I declined to take. The major problem today was that my phone battery and booster were out of juice. I guess I forgot the Boy Scout motto of being prepared. I called Lynn and told her I thought I could make it in to the hotel. I was determined to make tomorrow a short day. As much as I love peanut butter, the thought of having one more sandwich was not bearable. So I will have a final lunch tomorrow with Lynn and our friends, Cherie and Ron, in St Augustine.
I tried to convey to Jim last year how much psychology goes into touring. There were points last year and this at which I seriously questioned my ability to finish. Then there are days like today when the endorphins kicked in enabling me to complete such a lengthy ride. So the end is in sight and once I recover can begin to contemplate planning the next segment West of the Mississippi.
Glenn finally reached our hotel in Palatka, FL at 5:40 PM. Sunset is at 5:30 here, hence the use of the light! He was determined to ride long and hard today to make his last day light tomorrow!
We have been in Gator territory and this is the only one that either of us has seen!
A century ride is a bicycle ride of 100 miles (160.9 km) or more within 12 hours.
*****Wikipedia*****
Today was a century day! 113.72 miles in 8:12 hours of riding time at an average of 13.9 mph. Steep hills account for the 1097 foot ascent and the 5124 calories will need to be replaced soon!
Jim's total mileage for the three days was 211 miles! Way to go, Jim!
The total mileage for Glenn's 8 days of riding is 643.91! It looks like we are going to be pretty close to the 680 mile estimated. Hoping for a quick and easy ride in the morning followed by a celebratory lunch in St. Augustine.
We'll be heading home tomorrow afternoon/evening so
the next blog update may not arrive until Wednesday.
( Unless I figure out how to do it in the car :)
Thank you for your continued support! It's never to late to donate!
Perfect to complete our ride around the entire perimeter of the USA!
Our Inspiration
Our nephew, Ian, lost his battle with Leukemia in 2006. I Care I Cure was founded by his family to support research for gentler more humane treatment for childhood cancers. He is always in our hearts and thoughts! Click on Ian's photo to DONATE NOW! Thanks so much!
Founded by the Besner Family
Thanks to Ride!Venice
They are providing bikes for the entire family to pedal the last 3 miles of the journey! Thanks to Ride!Venice for their generous support!
