Game on! It’s time (well, behind time) to begin training seriously for the LIVESTRONG Challenge in Davis, CA. This is my 2nd year cycling to help fight cancer. The 2012 fundraising ride has been moved up 3 weeks to June 24. As of this writing, the event is only 56 days away, and I have not started putting in serious miles on the bike. I’m not worried about the 106 miles, but I should have started raising funds.
Click on the Fundraising image below to donate to help me raise money to kick cancer in the butt!
Fundraising for LIVESTRONG Challenge - 56 days out
I move into this training and fundraising phase with the utmost gratitude to EACH of you who helped me raise $1,745 in donations in my 106-mile LIVESTRONG 2011 ride. To top that off, we completed the 106 miles in 5 hours & 45 minutes!
I don’t have such grandiose goals this year, and I’m looking to raise at least $250.00 and complete the ride in 6 hours 15 minutes. (The time may be a little ambitious given I’m just getting over bronchitis and have been working more and traveling, which takes me away from training.)
All I have to do is look at last year’s photos to get motivated.
Dana Lookadoo riding as part of Team LIVESTRONG Cycle Folsom - 2011
The area around Davis, California is BEAUTIFUL! We pass by corn fields and up to Lake Berryessa. I’m motivated to start some serious training beginning May 1. May is Bike Month, so what better time than a little friendly competition on the bike to put in some miles to help Team Cycle Folsom have a good “showing” of miles for the month.
Like I said, game on!
About the LIVESTRONG Foundation
The Lance Armstrong Foundation is a charity that helps those who have cancer fight for life, help them with the healthcare system, and to live with dignity.
I especially like the cancer fundraiser’s manifesto. Here’s a snippet that motivates me!
We believe in life.
Your life.
We believe in living every minute of it with every ounce of your being.
And that you must not let cancer take control of it.
We believe in energy: channeled and fierce.
We believe in focus: getting smart and living strong.
Unity is strength. Knowledge is power. Attitude is everything.
This is LIVESTRONG.
I don’t suffer from cancer. I do have a kidney condition with no cure. It’s not my identity, but it does help me set my priorities and how I spend my time. I value every spare moment I can spend with friends and family and balance that with dedication to my clients.
I believe in living every minute of life with every ounce of my being.
I hope you do, too! Make sure that when you look at how you spend your time, make it count for something outside yourself.
If you feel the same and want to support a great cause, donate to fight cancer!
Thank you in advance!
*****
UPDATE 4/30/12:
I’m amazed and thankful that only 1 day into my fundraising efforts my baseline goal has been met!!
Fundraising efforts as of 4/30/12 - THANK YOU!
Thank you to the following people who immediately responded:
I want to hug each of you! Well, Team Raven, it would be hard to hug the whole agency, so I’m making you my de facto “Title Sponsor” and will wear your name on the ride!
Each of you who donate to fight cancer to help me reach additional milestones will receive a link of gratitude and appreciation more than words (or links) can express!
UPDATE 5/16/12:
Time for a little mid-month update on training and fundraising efforts. Let’s start with the fundraising.
Donations
A couple donors stepped up and GENEROUSLY gave to push me over the $500 milestone to reach a total of $605!!!
Here’s a heartfelt “thank you” to:
- Lyena Solomon, my comrade at Yo! Yo! SEO
- Rick DeJarnette, a close friend and founder of The SEO Ace.
I have not been actively pushing, pursuing, emailing, tweeting my LIVESTRONG Challenge quest. (Maybe that’s because when I’m not working, I’m on the bike. ) However, they heard of my quest to raise money to fight cancer and asked me how they could give. WOW!
Training – Time on the Bike
May is Bike Month. Huh? If you are in California and a cyclist, you are probably part of a competition to rack up the miles. As of 5/15/12, I have logged 309 miles on the bike in 15 days. My goal is 600, so that’s looking pretty doable.
Thanks for all the support & encouragement!
UPDATE 5/31/2012:
Only 24 days left before the LIVESTRONG Challenge, and I’ve been spending more time on the bike than pimping for contributions. I’m incredibly grateful for the contribution by:
- Jonathon Colman, SEO extraordinaire at REI & fellow cyclist
This pumped up the fundraising total, and Jonathon encouraged me by helping spread awareness of the LIVESTRONG anti-cancer cause!
Fundraising for LIVESTRONG Challenge - 24 days left
May is Bike Month – Training Total
You ready for this? Well, it wasn’t as high as last year, but given how many hours I’ve been working, including a couple weekends of travel, I managed to log some quality miles:
That’s 853 miles on the bike in May!
Next week is a forced rest week due to being in Seattle for 4 days for SMX Advanced search marketing conference). (I may go into bike withdrawals, however.)
I’ll bring some yellow LIVESTRONG bracelets for those who want to pitch in and help fight cancer!
UPDATE 6/17/2012:
One week is left before we join hundreds of other cyclists to ride the Davis LIVESTRONG Challenge. I wanted to thank a fellow search marketer and recipient of a yellow LIVESTRONG bracelet at SMX for his support:
- Dan Patterson, Director of Internet Marketing for CityPASS
The support from the search marketing community has been so appreciated!
Fundraising for LIVESTRONG Challenge - 7 days left
In Honor of Martina Durham
A close friend, Martina Durham, has been battling cancer for 7.5 years after finding out she had breast cancer while pregnant. She had surgery and chemo while pregnant, and her little boy is 7 years old and healthy. However, now she is in Mexico getting high-end alternative treatment to build up her immune system to fight a recurrence of cancer. A recent scan showed it has returned in her liver, bones, and in her back. I’m praying fervently for this mother of 2 young boys and wife of a close cycling friend.
Dana Lookadoo & Martina Durham - December 2012
Her husband was a house guest this weekend and joined others as we rode the Sierra Century – 103 miles with temperatures that were 100+ degrees. We all got to Skype with Martina Friday night before the big ride. I’m incredibly humbled and inspired by this family’s attitude and that of many cancer fighters!!
I’ll be cycling to fight cancer in honor of Martina Durham on June 24, 2012. Please pray for her healing!
UPDATE 6/23/2012:
Tomorrow, Sunday, we ride the Davis LIVESTRONG Challenge. I’m incredibly honored that so many people donated to help!!!
LIVESTRONG Challenge Fundraising - $770!!
My latest supporters deserve special thanks!
- Tom Bennett, a friend from high school is a “Full-Time Cancer Patient” fighting Melanoma
- James Stewart, another high school friend, has fought Multiple Sclerosis.
Both of these gentlemen are outstanding, having achieved success in business while also knowing what it’s like to fight, fight, fight. For them, I will also be riding!
Life can be a challenge! Let’s conquer and work together through these challenges and…
Win. Win. WIN!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Dana,
I just happened to be surfing and saw your article. We are big fans at our house with LIVESTRONG. My daughter is a 5 yr cancer survivor. She just completed her climb to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa, on July 2nd 2012. Lance even tweeted about her story. Here is the link for you to take a look at. Kudos to you for raising so much money and helping to kick cancer to the curb!
http://blog.livestrong.org/2012/07/11/inspiration-comes-in-two-forms/
Cher Bartlett
Cher, thank you for sharing! I’m incredibly inspired, even though I cannot imagine your daughter’s 13-hour hike! I especially liked this truth:
We need each other in many areas of life, especially overcoming something like cancer and especially in physical pursuits. No man (or woman) is an island.
Thanks again for stopping by and sharing inspiration!