The mission of the foundation is to…

eliminate pediatric cancer and to provide hope and support to those who are touched by it.

Bear Necessities supports its mission through three main programs. The Small Miracle Program provides immediate family and patient services, the Annual Research Fund provides funding for junior investigative researchers and the Information and Support Services program provides family support, community education and donor initiatives.

The Team Bear Challenge creates a way for athletes to add a charity focus to their personal exercise achievement and raise funds to benefit the work of the BNPCFI. Runners like Gracie Updyke will be taking part in the Chicago Marathon for Team Bear this year.

Gracie is the Founder and President of gracie’s gear, an exercise product and service company specializing in women’s athletic apparel. Through her company she operates the program Gracie Gives which focuses on supporting charity organizations each year. Due to Gracie’s passion for children and personal and family experiences with cancer she is devoting her efforts Team Bear and raising money for BNPCFI as she trains to take on the marathon next month.  Her hard work is in honor of Szymon, a two-year old boy fighting Fibrosarcoma cancer.

If you saw my previous post on gracie’s gear and have been interested in trying it out for yourself now is the time to act. In an effort to maximize donations for the BNPCFI, 10 percent of all gracie’s gear online sales from August 1, 2009 to October 1, 2009 will benefit the foundation.

There is nothing quite like the Bourbon Trail throughout the state of Kentucky in autumn. Rolling hills, vibrant bluegrass, horse farms and fall foliage make for a beautiful drive…or maybe a run? Of course! Who wouldn’t want to run on such a gorgeous course, and that’s one reason why The Bourbon Chase will take place October 9th and 10th involving an overnight relay along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Before I go on, I do have to share the bad news that team registration is sold out for this year at 150 teams, but they are accepting registration for next year beginning September 2009. So if the details spark your attention, get your team together early and get your slot secured!

The course covers 200 miles and teams of 6 and 12 can participate with each team member running legs of 3 to 7 miles. Each team has to provide two of their own support vans to get their racers to each checkpoint along the course and the event is open to anyone from joggers to elite runners.

The event starts at the Jim Beam American Outpost & Homestead near Bardstown, KY at 8:00 am on October 9^th. It wraps up on October 10^th in downtown Lexington, KY with a post-race party of music, food and a few drinks which I think we can safely assume will include some good ol’ Kentucky Bourbon!

There are two main charities involved in partnership and the sponsorship of the event. The American Lung Association is the official charity of the event with a goal to promote lung health and prevent lung disease through education, research and advocacy. Runners are encouraged to garner pledges and support for the organization. Participants raising $500 or more will be recognized as a Fundraising Runner.

 A second charity involved is The Race for Education. This group works with children from low-income equine industry families, and children with the desire to have an equine-focused career, to help them obtain a college degree. This is done through tuition support, financial literacy training, mentoring and internship assistance.

This year you can take advantage of the after-party, but if you know 5 or 11 people who would want to join you on a scenic run stay tuned for next year’s event details! You can visit The Bourbon Chase web-site or follow them on Twitter to stay up to date with the latest event info.

Photo by The County Clerk

What can one man with a bike and a desire to honor his wife do over the course of 100 days? Raise one million dollars for ovarian cancer awareness and research!

I recently came across an amazing story of the ultimate love, respect and support which can be shared between husband and wife. It is a true example of how one person can make a difference and raise funds to prevent and treat a dangerous disease.

Beginning on May 15^th Craig Broeder, Ph.D., FACSM, FNAASO will set off on a 100 day bike ride with plans to cover 9,000 miles around the United States traveling to 32 cities. Dr. Broeder is a cycling-lover and preventative medicine nutrition and physical activity researcher. Several years ago he decided he wanted to do something special to honor his wife’s 20^th anniversary of surviving ovarian cancer. The decision was made to take part in this bike ride and raise funds for ovarian cancer and he has been planning his course since July 2008. The ride will end on August 25^th which just happens to be their 25^th wedding anniversary.

The goal? To raise one million dollars by getting one million people to donate one dollar each. As a result the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Foundation plans to establish the “Craig and Kay Broeder Preventative Health Female Cancer Foundation”.  The dollars generated with go directly to support female related cancer awareness and preventative education as well as fund preventive health behavior research focused on exercise and nutritional interventions.

Dr. Broeder keeps an updated training diary blog with which you can track his training efforts and preparations. In addition, he plans to keep his GPS information downloaded on his web-site so readers and supporters can follow along on his journey tracking his mileage and other exercise information.

Those interested can easily make donations online through the ACSM Foundation.

 In 2005 the organization started the Outrun the Sun (OTS) Race Against Melanoma and it is still going strong raising over $300,000 to date. All race donations go directly to support melanoma research and educational programs. In addition to raising funds this event involves the community and provides educational information about skin cancer prevention.  

What makes this event so special? Well, first of all it takes place in the evening to protect runners from the sun’s harmful rays. Participants also have lots of options to choose from. This event includes a 5K competitive timed run, a 5K non-competitive run/walk and a 1-mile family fun walk. Participants can join in the Sunset Festival after the race for food, music and activities for the kids.

The next OTS Race Against Melanoma will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, June 6^th, 2009. There are plans to have a Chicago race, but no date has been set yet.

Interested in participating and raising funds to fight melanoma? Here is some information about the Indy event.

When:  Saturday, June 6^th, 2009; registration is available starting at 4:00 pm and the events start at 7:00 pm.

Where:  Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park, Indianapolis, IN

Course: 5K competitive includes some hills; 5K non-competitive run/walk course includes some hills, but strollers are welcome; 1-mile fun run course is flat and strollers are welcome

Cost:  5K competitive run – $25 (includes chip timing); 5K non-competitive run/walk or 1-mile family fun walk – $22; participants are encouraged to raise funds through their personal web-based donation page

Registration: Participants can register online and create their personal donation page. Individuals or teams are welcome to take part. The online deadline for teams is May 29^th and the online deadline for individuals is June 5^th at 5:00 pm local time. On-site registration will be available the day of the race beginning at 4:00 pm.

With the current state of the economy it is no surprise that the ability to donate to charity organizations is changing for many people. Regular participants and donators are being forced to either limit participation in events or the amount they give to the causes they believe in.

Last month a Boston Globe article reported about some negative changes in charity fundraising through athletic events. Highlighted was the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, a two-day bike trip across the state for charity which takes place this year on August 1st.

 According to organizers registration is down 10%. The planning committee has turned to promoting shorter routes that allow for lower fundraising totals to draw in those who can’t commit to the full $4200 for participation.

Organizations hosting charity fitness events are searching for ways to keep total donations up and promote growth. Many are taking action to raise their number of participants knowing that each person is probably going donate less. Less money from more people is one way to meet fundraising goals.

Despite challenges, positive news is still being reported and many are taking an optimistic view of the situation. The Run, Walk, Ride Fundraising Council conducts an annual survey among managers of well-known athletic fundraising events. This information is used to compile the Run, Walk, Ride 30 – the top 30 athletic event fundraising programs. The survey also gathers information on strategies and trends among event organizers.

Their annual report shows that in 2008 the top 30 “athon” programs had a 7.6% increase in dollars raised to total $1.76 billion in gross revenue for charity. The top five programs included the Relay for Life, Team in Training, March for Babies, Race for the Cure and Breast Cancer 3-day.

This diverse group of events which topped the list can only be seen as a positive from the perspective of fundraising and participant numbers. The group includes everything from a short walk to endurance events. A wide variety of events such as this will help to draw novice exercisers as well as trained athletes. More participants mean more fundraising dollars.

Although there are worries about the ability to repeat similar fundraising growth in 2009, the survey showed that managers are implementing strategies to succeed. The top two of these strategies includes increasing corporate team recruitment and providing participants with tools to raise more funds. By focusing on the challenge from this perspective hopes are high that successful fundraising and growth will continue this year and beyond.

Do you organize charity fitness events or participate in them? How has the economy affected your efforts and what is your outlook for this year?

Photo by ronnieb, morgueFile.com

Six years later, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition was founded to raise awareness of ovarian cancer through its chapter network and to provide education, support and hope for women with ovarian cancer, their families, and their caregivers in communities across the country.

According to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, among women age 35-74, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death, and approximately 1 out of every 58 women will develop ovarian cancer in her lifetime.

The Illinois Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition has worked hard to help women and families across Chicagoland and beyond through support groups and other resources. On Saturday, May 2, 2009, the chapter will hold its 12^th annual “Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer” 3-mile walk. Last year, the Illinois Chapter raised over $235,000 and had over 130 survivors of ovarian cancer participate. Here are the details for this year’s event:

What: 12^th Annual “Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer” 3-Mile Walk

When: Saturday, May 2, 2009, 9 AM

Where: Chicago Park District Grove 13, North Lakeshore Dr. & Wellington, Chicago

Cost: Adults – $30; Children 12 and under – $15; Children in strollers – Free

Other: All participants who pay the registration fee will receive a walk t-shirt and goody bag. Other activities include a survivor tent, a group photo of survivors, a health fair, food, and beverages.

For More Information: National Ovarian Cancer Coalition – Illinois Chapter, 630-769-1664, il.nocc@ovarian.org

If you have participated in a walk to raise awareness and funds for ovarian cancer, please tell us about it! And thank you for walking for such an important cause. Post a comment to this blog, or start a new discussion in the forum.

30th PMC Ride
The 30th Pan-Massachusetts Challenge ride takes place on August 1 & 2, 2009. Approximately 5,000 cyclists are expected to take part in the 2009 Pan-Massachusetts Challenge. Last year, the PMC Ride raised $35 million dollars, which was donated to the Jimmy Fund. The Jimmy Fund supports cancer research and care at Boston’s world-renowned Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Cyclists pledge to raise a minimum of $1,000 to $4,200 depending on the ride option they sign up for. The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge is a fully supported charity athletic event. Food and water stops are provided throughout the ride, along with mechanical and medical assistance being available to cyclists should they need help. The ride runs through 46 towns across Massachusetts. Bikers have the option to choose from seven different routes, of varying mileage and difficulty.

PMC Routes

There are four, 2 day, and three, 1 day ride options to choose from.

2 day ride options

• 192 miles: Sturbridge to Provincetown
• 180 miles: Sturbridge to Wellesley
• 163 miles: Wellesley to Provincetown
• 153 miles: Wellesley to Wellesley

1 day ride options

• 111 miles: Sturbridge to Bourne
• 84 miles: Wellesley to Bourne
• 47 miles: Wellesley to Wellesley

The PMC Philosophy
According to the PMC website: “While there are today many athletic fundraising events, the PMC is arguably the most successful in terms of the money raised and the percentage of funds it contributes directly to charity. In 2008, 100 percent of all funds raised by PMC riders went directly to the Jimmy Fund. Not one cent of each dollar raised through riders’ sweat and determination was used for administrative and organizational expenses.”

Read all about PMC founder, Billy Starr, on the PMC website: Walk in the Woods Leads to Nation’s Most Successful Bike-a-Thon.

Finding Pan Massachusetts Challenge Online

Website: www.pmc.org

Wordpress blog: Pan Mass Challenge

Twitter profile: Pan Mass Bike

Facebook page: Pan Mass Fan Page

I would love to hear from anyone that has participated in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

These events are full of fun and challenging activities that last the whole weekend. There are so many ways for supporters to get involved. You can participate by riding, running, walking, donating or volunteering.

Where?

There are four locations in the US where the challenge will be taking place. They begin this summer and continue on until the fall.

Seattle, WA – June 21
San Jose, CA – July 12
Philadelphia, PA – August 23
Austin, TX – October 24-25

What is involved?

While the schedule varies by location, most events include some type of fundraising or awards dinner, a bike ride, a 5K run/walk and an awards celebration.

How it Works

Once you choose your event location you can register for the event of your choice. There is a registration fee of $50 per person. Walkers and runners are encouraged to raise more money to help the cause, but there is no fundraising requirement. Bikers, however, have to commit to raising a minimum of $250. In Austin the bike and run/walk are offered on separate days so it may be possible for you to participate in both events.

Some Things to Consider

There is no age limit for participation, but each youth under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult who is also registered and meeting any fundraising commitments. Bike ride options include distances of anywhere from 10 to 100 miles. It is requested that only experienced cyclists over 16 years of age participate in events of 70 to 100 miles.

Other than the long distance rides, these events welcome beginners. Even if you have just begun training or simply enjoy walking, sign up and take part in a challenge near you.

Net proceeds from this challenge will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. This organization focuses on raising awareness and funds for the fight against cancer.

You can find out more about the challenge including registration and course information specific to your selected location by visiting LivestrongChallenge.org.

Have you participated in a challenge in previous years or plan to this year? Tell us about your experiences in the comments.

Conejo Valley Cyclists

What
25th Annual Cruising the Conejo bike ride. Presented by the Conejo Valley Cyclists.

When
Saturday May 9th, 2009

Where
Thousand Oaks, California

Ride Options
There are six different ride options that cyclists can choose from at this event.

1. 12 mile Whole Foods junior tour
2. 21 mile scenic cruise
3. 35 mile scenic cruise
4. 62 mile challenging metric century
5. 69 mile moderate metric century
6. 103 mile full century

The full century ride starts at 7 AM, the two metric century rides start at 8 AM, while the other rides start at 9 AM.

Charities Supported
The 2009 Cruising the Conejo ride supports the following local and national charity organizations:

• Boy Scout Troop 753
• Cub Scout Pack 3753
• Boys & Girls Club of Conejo Valley
• California Bicycle Coalition
• Sespe Group of the Sierra Club
• Concerned Off Road Bicyclists Association
• Western National Parks Association Mountain Bike Unit
• Lance Armstrong Foundation
• League of American Bicyclists
• Youth Program at Encino Velodrome
• Mission with Bikes

Online Registration
Visit the Bikereg.com website to register for the 2009 Cruising the Conejo ride. Online registration closes Sunday, May 3 at 3 PM.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA Bike Diva

Now, where should I put my keys?

This is the question I often ask myself as I walk out the door for a run or walk. I have a few pairs of workout pants that have a pocket, but I really don’t like having things in my pockets and resting on my legs when I run. I know. It is one of those personal preferences.

I’ve tried tying them to my laces and putting them in my shoe only to be gouged in the ankle about 10 minutes into my workout. I would much rather hold them in my hand which I know would drive some exercisers crazy.

I think I finally found my solution, though. A few weeks ago I was visiting one of my favorite fitness blogs, Fit Bottomed Girls, and they were giving away a tank from Gracie’s Gear. I had never heard of the company, but their product looked nice so I entered the contest via leaving a comment.

 Guess what?! I won!

I guess I should tell you why I’m so intrigued by these tanks and sports bras to begin with. Well, they conveniently have a zipper pocket, called the POWER POUCH ™, in the front for storing those things you can’t seem to find a place for…like keys. It has three separate compartments to keep things in their place. A simple design which just happens to be brilliant.

Here are a few other details about these Gracie’s Gear products:

• They are made of moisture-wicking, anti-odor fabrics.
• The pocket in the front provides a space to thread your MP3 earphones and a loop to keep them the cord on your shoulder so you can have it tucked away while running to your favorite tunes.
• The fabric and design is well constructed and supportive.
• The tanks and sports bras come in a variety of colors.
• Sports bras start at $33 and the tanks at $39.

These functional tanks are the perfect addition to your workout wear or a great gift for female fitness enthusiasts.  In addition, the company is a proud sponsor of many health related events and causes including breast cancer.