medic0020's Group - CLOSED--BUSTIN AT THE SEAMS (Page 43)

will do...thanks Dee....any chance you can make it for this race?? if so, you would definitely rate as one of my guests to get one of the few beds we have at the cabin! hoping so!

Do not WERK too hard, and if it is any consolation...I am werking right along side you today...although, my job is sooooooooooo not stressful...at least today! hehe...good to see that you finally posted for that much needed employee...best o luck and hope they find someone good!

Great energy Julie, one thought though...  Give Gregg some time to get the stuff figured out for the "phantom" teams before we "go national".  Then there can be a focal point for energy, signing up, etc.  I am sure we can get something set up with Kintera or Active.com.   I do a lot of fund-raising and we want the infrastructure in place before we start getting all our BT and tri friends too excited...

Food for thought, Emerson

Now, off for a 15 mile bike ride in the AZ sun.

When ET Knowles speaks, people listen!

The staff loved the idea as well. The more I thought about it, it just makes sense. I don't think that USAT points can be awarded since the times aren't official, but I don't think people will have an issue with that. So, it's online and ready to go. When someone registers for the race, they now have the options to be a Phantom Racer - Adult or Phantom Racer - 17 and Under. We will mail phantom racers a race t-shirt. I've also added the "Tot Trot" to the registration. This will be a fun time killer between the adult and kids race as the timing crew resets for the 2nd race.

You guys are awesome!

Greg 

Greg,

It sounds like your race really will have it all now....a great cause, a distance short enough to attract even those "no way will I ever do a triathlon" folks, and now a way for the true never wills and can't make its to be a part of an incredible event.  Hopefully our little bit of help will give you a push towards that awesome fundraising goal of yours.  I know how much cancer affected and still affects my own finances.  I'm still working to repay a home equity line that was used to pay my mortgage when I was sick and taking home half of my normal salary.  I think putting cash into families hands is probably one of the greatest gifts they could receive.  We all know that doesn't change their situation but it does help take away a small amount of stress and let the family focus on supporting their loved one.

I hope the rest of you had a wonderful weekend!

Greg, I am so happy!!!  I was trying everything in my power to get down there that weekend, but the chances didn't look so good.  Now I can be a phantom racer and still help out the great cause.  Thanks for making that an option!  Plus that weekend is IM WI and I think I am volunteering so now I can do both! 

Before we go too public with this, we need to think through how to frame it and what type of thread to start...  Signing up is good, signing up and making a donation at the same time is better...

Getting a donor to pay for the shirts so 100% of the fee goes to the charity helps.  It adds to the energy and willingness of folks to add on if they think 100% is going to the cause.  I don't know what kind of deal you get on the shirts but we got most of our Stroke Stomper shirts in the $5 - $7 range, single color fully printed both sides. 

The math is easy...

250 sign ups with a $50 margin is $12,500

250 sign ups with a $100 margin is $25,000

$25,000 is better... 

Food for thought, Emerson

right on! I can wait....but Greg you can still send me a sponsor packet. I would like electronic and hard copies if possible...no hurry, no you have a lot on your plate....at your leisure...just a friendly reminder!

love that you do not try and take someone elses glory! what a guy!!

and Eric...great idea!

BUMP!!!

ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! stress is something they do not need to deal with!!!  what a great way to help these families in a time of need!

I second what Julie noted and Eric said.... I am still paying off Peg's medical expenses.  It will be a long time before all the debt I racked up will be gone.  Much of her therapy and none of the custodial care was covered...

Agreed! We are looking to our sponsors to do just this, though don't have one lined up yet. Our shirts last year were about $6, but will be able to cut that cost a little this year by changing our print strategy (we had printing on the sleeves last year) and by having more volume (the phantom racers help with that too).

We are also trying to offer HeadSweats hats & visors  for sale and looking for a sponsor to cover those. The hats will have a somewhat generic tri logo on  them so that any triathlete would want one, but will have our website on the back. Performance Bike was a sponsor last year (local store). I'm going to approach them corporately and ask them to supply the headwear and to sell in in their stores. They cover the cost. We split the profit. Now we have national exposure and get "Stef" hats everywhere. Don't know if it will work, but that's one thought. ACE Hardware is another of our sponsors, so will approach them with the same kind of deal, except they probably won't be selling then nationally. Who knows. Maybe BT will help in some way too by putting them in their store online, or something.

Anther thing to think about. Last year we featured families in the fight. We'll do something similar this year. Stephanie's pet project has been to create a special goodie bag for these families. She's been able to get a book donated (30 days to live by a local author - all autographed by the author), and a beautiful angel thing to hang on the wall. Her goal is to give away 25 bags. Help us think of things or ask people you know what we could give to these patients/families that would be meaningful to them. Blankets? Figurines? Artwork? CDs w/ peaceful music? So far, everything for this has been donated. We want this to be something special.

Off to MD Anderson,

Greg 

Greg,

I think that's a great idea to include something special for those families.  I'll be thinking about stuff that you might be able to include.

Eric

The race is Sept 7. You are probably right on shipping on shirts. Signs/banners may be a different story. Last year we ordered about 600 shirts, including volunteers. This year we will have nearly 2x more racers (including the tots) and we ran out of volunteer shirts last year. I may not increase that though - as long as key peeps have a shirt, then we're ok. We had over 120 volunteers last year and only 100 shirts. I'd rather have that than being short on volunteers.

 I do have a question for you. My graphic artist has a design in mind that starts on the front of the shirt, the wraps around one side. She invisions a runner in a starting position (low and crouched) where the head and torso are on the front and the legs wrap around. Is that possible to do? Is there a big surcharge for something like that. Last year she did a really cool design. Looks like she's at it again.

 Thanks!

Likewise! you are doing a great thing! good luck at M. D. Anderson....if you are on the 4th floor....look for a Dr. Ames...he was my doctor. Know he is still there...saw him last time I was in Houston! he is an amazing Doctor!  good luck...tell Stephanie hi!

How was her long a$$ treatment yesterday? hope she faired it well! I will go to church in the morning ESPECIALLY for her! take care now!!!!

Greg, you should be more selective on handing out the volunteers shirts...we offer free lunches...and most of the time we get those donated to us from Subway...you may check into something like that....they love getting free food...and the shirts were given to those who were only on the course! just a thought!

as for special items....cds with past race pictures or the amazing footage that I cry every time I see it...would be nice! If I were to receive one that is what I would want...I also just did a race for relay and since I was on the VIP survivor list...I was given a bag with lots of free certificates that were donated ...such as a free haircut, free manicure, free lunch at a local deli...a $10 movie card, a medal...my mom and I were soooo touched by their generosity! these items were all donated by local merchants, so you are not out a penny! will think of other items..too. I can do a lot of this for you, too!

one way we used to get sponsors for our bike race, was to show them the shirts we had made and say...would you like to be a part of an amazing race and have your name on the front if you are a $???? sponsor and if you do not want to donate the bigger amounts you would be put on the back. You can also have the kids race named after a sponsor...this way they get their name out there more! For our race we have three different races...(uphill, downhill, crosscountry) for each of them we offer sponsors to choose a name for the year...for instance COOL TOOL UPHILL, KOOKA CRANKS DOWNHILL, SPECIALIZED CROSS COUNTRY...this gives you an opportunity to offer more big sponsors a chance to get involved.

Have many more ideas.....

Do you do a raffle? cuz I am good at getting raffle prizes?!

Ok gotta go get ready for dinner....DH's birthday...and know he will be home soon!

Let me know what I can do to take some of the weight off of your shoulders...you have a lot going on and...would love to help as this is my slow time....

Have a great evening all! CAN I JUST SAY - YOU ARE THE BESTEST MENTOR TEAM! Way to all hop in and help with this cause! Eric and I have a reason...we are cancer survivors...the rest of you are angels!

Julie, you make wonderful points.  But, for the record,  I think Dee is a survivor and I am a survivor too... By some odd coincidence, I think when we started this group we had four survivors...  That is pretty many out of a group of maybe eight and it is now over half of who is left over.... I hope the Amys and Pam never have to face the issue, the money we all raise will make a difference so that the future will spare so many.

I have met Amy of CA and what a great family.  I get to meet Julie next weekend and maybe again in Carmel on the 27th.  I hope to meet Amy of IN this summer.  She can't be that far from Cincinnati.

Thanks for all the support this spring.  My next marathon is in less than three weeks and I am really psyched.  I hope to run a 4:15 and still enjoy the whole day. 

Have a full and wonderful week.  Now, off to a shower, dinner and a church meeting. 

Amy of IN, I am running the Big Sur International in Carmel California on the 27th.  I have not decided what I am going to do this summer yet, but we can find one "in-between" your fine town and Cincinnati. 

Peggy and I will be there from late May until mid September...  EK