Fundraising is actually becoming fun!!

This weekend was jam-packed with fundraising and race training. And, I ended up having a great time in the midst of all of the hard work.

On Saturday Tere, Kelly (another teammate), Doug (our coach), Jerry (our fundraising mentor) and I headed down to Busch Stadium for our first canister drive. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice the general public is. Many people donated and it was so appreciated. I walked over to T.G.I. Friday's by Kiener Plaza and they happily filled up my soda free of charge while I used the bathroom -- I didn't even have to ask. I will be heading down there a lot this season and I'm looking forward to it. I had a great time.

On Sunday the team did an organized ride, which I wasn't sure I was quite ready for with all of the bike traffic. Instead I went to Grant's Trail again and did 16 miles. It was gorgeous outside and a great ride. It feels good to push myself.

Please don't forget the Good Tymes Karaoke Night, coming up Thursday, June 17. More items are coming in to be raffled off ...

Updated raffle list:

• A FREE Zoom Whitening from my friends at Parkview Dental
• $20 gift certificate to Texas Roadhouse
• A one-day pass at The Watering Bowl for your dog to run and play! (Maddux goes here and he loves it!)
• A gift certificate to Tequila's Mexican Restaurant (value pending)
  

We are giving away 6 free appetizers or desserts from T.G.I. Friday's and a free small sub sandwich from Quizno's as door prizes.

AND JUST ANNOUNCED! The St. Louis Blues have given me 4 certificates for tickets to a game next year! I will be raffling them off throughout the summer for a drawing to happen in August. Please contact me for details!

There also will be some fine items/tickets from Saint Louis University available later this summer. Stay tuned for details!!

Karaoke Night Raffle List Update!

If there's one thing I learned about fundraising, it's really really difficult, especially in this economy! Tere and I are no where near our goals, but we have some exciting events coming up and hopefully we'll be a lot closer so we can concentrate on our mileage.

We rode Grant's Trail yesterday -- the entire 16 miles. Remember me talking about wanting to find the feeling of my youth, feeling free again and having no fear of the bike? I finally felt that yesterday. After putting my wheel on with a little help from Tere, we were off. And it was so nice to have a trail with minimal traffic and hills, just to coast down. Along the way I could smell the freshly cut grass and the wildflowers, and we saw a ton of bunnies and Clydesdales. What a combination! It was nice to feel the breeze in my face and the wind in my hair. (I don't wear a helmet unless I have to folks, I mean, seriously, if I can survive a fall off a platform in Florence I think I'll be OK.)

We are headed down to Busch Stadium on Sunday to hand out beads for our first canister drive. If I have to shake a can every day this summer to make my goal, I will. I really want to succeed at this -- to see it through to the end. You can help with that by coming to Good Tymes Karaoke Night Thursday, June 17. It's always a blast there on Thursdays and this night will be even more special. Thank you all in advance for your support!

Updated raffle list:

• A FREE Zoom Whitening from my friends at Parkview Dental
• $20 gift certificate to Texas Roadhouse
• A one-day pass at The Watering Bowl for your dog to run and play! (Maddux goes here and he loves it!)
• A gift certificate to Tequila's Mexican Restaurant (value pending)

And we are giving away 6 free appetizers or desserts from T.G.I. Friday's as door prizes.

I am working on securing more, so stay tuned!