Hello Friends, Family and Colleagues,
I wasn't sure if I was going to do it this year after breaking my Tibia in 3 places in March while chasing my 20 year old energetic son down some extreme ski terrain in Montana. While recovery has been slower than I had hoped, riding a bike is one of the few things that is not painful. Recently, I have been able to complete a 30 then 40 mile ride without too much trouble. So, I am going for it.
For the 28th consecutive year (wow! I am getting old) I will ride my bicycle in a two-day 100+ mile bike tour called the Courage Classic. The Courage Classic is not a race, it is a bicycle tour to benefit The Children’s Hospital of Colorado. This tour is a casual ride through some of the most scenic parts of the Colorado Mountains, where nobody keeps track of who crosses the finish line first or last. Instead, they keep track of who collects the most donations for this very worthy cause. What all this means to you is: I am asking you for money so that I can have the privilege of riding in this great event for the 28th consecutive year.
You are probably wondering, why should I care about this? I thought the same thing 28 years ago when a co-worker convinced me to check it out. I quickly realized that fundraisers like the Courage Classic, set The Children’s hospital apart from other hospitals, which are driven mostly by insurance companies, where the staff is over worked, and the care is minimal at best. The money collected from the Courage Classic helps to provide special care for kids that need it. Especially when their families can’t afford it anymore and their health insurance has run out.
All of this became exceptionally important to me 23 years ago, when our son Ryan, at 6 months old, was treated at Children’s for burns on his face and hands. While the scars of that traumatic day are barely noticeable now, we still remember how different the Children’s Hospital was from other places, and why.
As well as pedaling for Children's Hospital, we must peddle for donations. Before anybody can get the privilege of riding in this great event, each rider has to come up with a minimum amount of donations. If I collect more than I did last year, I get way cool prizes. (O.K. just more bicycle parts) So, skip going out to lunch for a day and cough up a twenty or two. Your donations are Tax Deductible.
Thanks,
Sean
