Setbacks

After my last post, I was gearing up to train full-force. I had just finished my second session with the trainer at the gym and was both sore and excited. Then, I got the flu. My mother and doctors have been trying to convince me to get the flu shot since I was seven (as an asthmatic, I'm considered high risk), but I have stubbornly resisted. In fact, I was proud of stubbornly resisting! What do they know, anyway? HA! The flu hit me upside the head on Saturday. Fever, chills, achey, the whole nine yards. I slept all day Sunday and then spent a few more days slowly getting better (with the help of Tamiflu). I'm on the upswing now, and I'm still not sure I will get the flu shot next year... (Sorry, Mom!)

Normally, I try to stay pretty positive, but this week I feel like I lost time. When I finally emerged from my bed yesterday afternoon, I realized how much there still is to do. With 24% of my fundraising completed and only a little over three months left, I have a long way to go. Not to mention training! With all this snow, even when I get my bike I can't bike outside just yet. But it's ok! I've almost recovered from illness and I'll be able to get back to the gym, and then it will be spring and I can bike outside. It's all going to be fine. Woosah.

I've finally started making calls to businesses, and I've gotten a lot of no's. A few larger businesses have policies in place and have asked me to send emails or fill out forms (these are my favorite calls). I even had a lovely conversation with someone from Berkshire Bank about bike routes! At the very least I'm learning things.

I realize I need to adapt my fundraising. There are a lot of businesses than can't make monetary donations but would be willing to donate things. Market Basket would be more than happy to donate water and snacks for events, for example (provided I put it in writing 30 days prior to the event). Basically, this boils down to the need for an event.

I've already informally spoken to a restaurant about hosting a fundraiser in which 10% of the days profits would be donated to the cause. I have a cake decorating class in the works. Now, I'm thinking about hosting a raffle. Perhaps a "Weekend in the Berkshires" raffle. I could get donations of movie tickets, hotel stays, restaurant gift certificates, bowling... Maybe I could make it an auction or have the raffle during some sort of event. What I really need is some event planning help. Or a team.

Money

Happy new year! I hope you and yours had happy and healthy holidays (alliteration for the win!). It's 2015 and I'm hitting the ground biking. See what I did there? As of January 4, 2014 I'm $200 away from my January goal of $500. I've been busy writing letters and asking around (expect letters, emails, phone calls, Facebook messages, and carrier pigeons soon!)

First, let me say that I, like most people, abhor asking for money. Here's the thing: this isn't for me. This money isn't for me. If I remind myself of that often I usually manage to muster the courage to ask someone to donate. Because, hey, this money is going to a really great cause! This cause is bigger than me and my fear of someone saying no or throwing me a dirty look.

For now, I'm looking for ways to make fundraising fun. I'm working on incentives ($20 for postcard from the road; $100 for a days worth of photos) and planning some events (Twister Tournament anyone?). If you want to help out and are low on funds, give me some time. I'd love help fundraising, whether that be helping with a bake sale or yard sale or asking people you know to donate.

Basically, this is me asking you to donate. Any amount means the world to me and every person that dollar helps.