WE DID IT!!!!

What a team!!! 2010 Team Transplant

Congratulations Team Transplant!!!

What an amazing day on Sunday... shout outs to everyone who made it down to Castle Rock (yes, all 171 of you!!!) for the Team Transplant ride. It was an even more amazing experience than last year!!!

With your help, we crushed our fundraising goal by raising over $62,500... 156% of our goal!!! Great job everyone!!!

Sorry for my reckless use of exclamation points in this post, but short of writing in all caps I just don't know how else to share the enthusiasm, joy, pride, excitement, and delight at what an amazing group of people y'all have been to work with and what a great thing we've accomplished together.

Let's celebrate, shall we? Please try to come to Wheatridge Cyclery for the 2010 Team Transplant After Party on Thursday, June 10th. We'll have beer, wine, food from Spicy Pickle, a team raffle... and of course, a  10% discount from our generous hosts at WRC.

I hope to see everyone there, looking forward to raising a glass with you to toast a job well done, share stories about the ride, and check out the slideshows of all of us in our Team Transplant kits. Did we look hot, or what? Once again, the biggest team at E-Rock! And people noticed!!!

Again, thanks to everyone for a hugely successful event-- hope to see many of you this Thursday.

Susan
Joyous Blogger

... only 360 days until next year!

Ready... Set... Go!

Hey there, Team Transplant!

A happy Friday shout-out to everybody reading the blog. I've just returned from a two-margarita lunch at the Rio (my last indulgence prior to the ride, I swear!) and it is a beautiful, beautiful afternoon out there.

Looking forward to seeing all of you lovely blog readers and riders on Sunday!!! Brian and I will be staffing the Team Transplant booth bright and early, starting at 6AM, for all you riders out there.

A few last minute reminders:
1. For those of you who failed to pick up your packets this week (you know who you are!!!) we'll have them day of the ride for you at the Team Transplant booth.
2. Remember to eat well, and drink often. Ummm... water, that is, at least until after the ride!!! Sunday is supposed to be a pleasant 89 degrees, so stay hydrated and eat well before heading out!
3. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. Check through your goodie bags for the nice gifts given by our sponsors, and remember to protect your skin!

It's been a really fabulous couple of months leading up to this year's race. I'm proud of the number of riders we have, I'm VERY proud of the amazing donations we've gotten from our supporters, and most importantly, I'm proud of our friends at the American Transplant Foundation. Cheers especially to Katie and Heidi-- thank YOU for making this all possible!

See you guys Sunday!

Susan

Wondering what I'll do with my Friday afternoons now that I don't have Team Transplant to blog about?

Live From Packet Pick Up... Still Time to Register for All Courses!

Hey Team Transplant!

Sitting here at the downtown YMCA staffing the Team Transplant table as people come in to pick up their packets for Elephant Rock. Check your email and be sure you have it on your calendar to pick it up! These goody bags are chock full of great stuff, plus it has all of the essentials for E-Rock... like your number, your wristband, your helmet sticker. Don't forget to get it! Plus, for all you folks who hit the fundraising levels to earn the 2010 Team Transplant gear will get your jerseys, shorts, arm warmers... and they are really fantastic. I'm wearing my jersey now and it's super comfortable!

We're here at the Y today, tomorrow we'll be at Wheatridge Cyclery from 4 - 7, and the Schlessman Y on Thursday. Last resort is at the ride on Saturday and Sunday, but don't wait until the last minute! Packet pick up details and times are available here.

We had sent out a recent email saying certain courses were closed... but we take it back!!! All courses are still open to register, so feel free to contact your friends, call your cycling buddies, there's still plenty of time to get in this great ride. For the 62- and 100-mile rides, you'll need to call the Transplant Foundation at 303-475-0127 to register; everything else is still available online.

We are 5 days out from what will surely be your best ride of the season. Team Transplant is over 160 people strong, all riding together for a shared cause and to get a message out. On a training ride yesterday at Chatfield, Heidi spotted one of last year's jerseys while cycling. Get out here, pick up your packets, and sport this awesome gear! Help share the message for an amazing foundation.

Really looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend. Stay tuned for photos, last minute updates and news and information related to the ride.

Susan
Packet Pick Up Maven
5 days... and counting... so excited!!!

Training Ride, May 22: Who’s In?

Happy Thursday to Team Transplant! Hope your week has been as enjoyable as mine.


We’re down to the wire, team! Let’s tighten up those helmet straps, fill the water bottles, and stretch out those quads. Time to put your pedal to the… well, you see where I’m going with this.

For the final stretch, we are having another great training ride this weekend departing from Wheat Ridge Cyclery at 9:15 AM! This will be a 28-mile roundtrip out to Golden and back, average pace at 14 miles/hour. The path will be along 32nd avenue, which is mostly bike paths, and will feature a quick refreshment break at a Starbucks. You should be done by 12:30.

There’s an additional opportunity to possibly extend the trip for those who are interested, so RSVP if you want to join us! As always, this is a no-drop ride and we look forward to seeing you all Saturday.

Keep up the great work, everybody. While I’m personally not proud of the fact that I’ve lost my position in the top 5 fundraisers on Team Transplant, I’m very pleased to see the amazing efforts of our fellow team mates! Let your friends and family know that we are weeks away from a really amazing event that will change lives and bring people together!

Keep fundraising! Keep sharing your story! A big, big shout out to my Aunt Lenny for her support—my Uncle George is here today because of his life-saving heart transplant!

Hope to see y’all before the ride!

16 days and counting…

Susan

Volunteer Opportunities Abound

Team Transplant, let me be the first one to welcome you to this beautiful Friday afternoon. It is a perfect Colorado day, and I can’t tell you what joy it is to start a blog post and have something other than rain—and snow—to talk about! I hope that each of you can get out there and enjoy it if you can; I’ve not seen the forecast for the rest of the weekend but let’s hope this is just the beginning!


To all of you Team Transplant volunteers out there, we have a lot of opportunities to use your skills in the coming weeks. The clock is ticking, and believe it or not we are mere weeks away to completing this year’s ride! There are many opportunities to get involved, from stuffing packets to staffing pick up locations. Check your calendars, check in with our hero, Katie, at the Foundation and let us know how you can help!

For everybody else, let’s just get out there and ride. Share the message. Tell folks about what you’re doing! We have a weekend ahead of us, a great opportunity to enjoy the beginnings of what will surely be another amazing Colorado summer.

Thanks again to all of you for your work and your dedication. Thanks for sharing your stories, and the stories of the other people on the team. I was recently profiled on the website, and was so happy to share that honor via another email out to my social circle to help them understand the importance of their support!

Have a great weekend, Team Transplant! I’m off to celebrate my birthday this weekend (yes, I’ll be another year older when I return to you next week… let’s hope some wisdom comes with age!). Definitely will be squeezing in a ride or two this weekend as well!


Susan

Counting the days to June 6th!!! (23, in case you were wondering)

Training Ride and Demo Day: Success!

Good morning Team Transplant! I’m happy to report that our May 8th training ride—this past Saturday—was a rocking success! The weather was beautiful, and with Wheat Ridge Cyclery hosting their LIVESTRONG day at the same time, we had a great opportunity to meet with other cyclists and chat about what we’re doing.

We had at least 14 members of Team Transplant out for the big day, including Michelle Hartman, living donor, and Justin Fulton, a kidney recipient. Here they are in a photo on the ride with Heidi:

Nice 2009 Team Transplant jersey, Justin! Looking good!

Our next training ride is May 22nd, and details will be coming soon. Stay tuned to the blog, the events page, your email, and all the other ways that we try to keep you informed. Join us on the 22nd for another great day!

Stay warm out there today—it’s a chilly day that’s a little discouraging for us outdoorsy types! Let’s start a Denver-mantra to help chase the rain (and snow!) away: Summer is coming, summer is coming—everybody now!—Summer is coming, summer is coming…

Check out Michelle Cleminson, Team Transplant rider, center!

Looking forward to seeing you on the 22nd!
Susan

Sunny days, chasing the clouds away!
Team Transplant Eternal Optimist

May is National Bike Month… and a training ride... and a demo day!

Good morning Team Transplant, long time no blog! I’ve missed you guys!

It’s been a busy couple of weeks in the world of Team Transplant, starting with a fun event for volunteers to connect and view videos in the Show us Your Heart Video contest! ATF volunteers joined up with volunteers from Donor Alliance to screen the five submissions and spend some time getting to know each other. It was a great event… and really brought home the importance of our efforts. As I’ve mentioned before, we get caught up in recruitment and fundraising and cycling training, and sometimes it’s easy to forget the real effort behind it all: increasing awareness for this amazing, life-saving gift that we all carry. The videos were really amazing, and I’m not embarrassed to say that after it was through, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house! Check out the videos for yourself… and bring Kleenex! It was great to see all you fellow volunteers there.

In other news… May is National Bike Month! Keep an eye out around town for special events, opportunities for riding, and ride your bike to work day. This is a great opportunity to get out last year’s jersey and tell fellow cyclists about the ride and what we do! The League of American Bicyclists has a lot of information on ways to get involved and community events.

MOST IMPORTANTLY… are you joining us for the trek to Red Rocks this weekend? Saturday is forecasting to be a mild 62 degrees, perfect weather for a nice training ride and demo day at Red Rocks. This training ride will depart from Wheat Ridge Cyclery at 9AM, completing a 38-mile loop to Red Rocks and back. While at Red Rocks, take a break and enjoy Wheat Ridge Cyclery’s Demo Day! All team riders can demo bikes from Specialized, Orbea, Trek and Yeti on the road and mountain trails at Red Rocks that will be open for our use! Refreshments will be provided—it’s going to be a great day! RSVP to Brian and let him know you’ll be there! (If you’re not up for the 38-mile trip, you can always meet us at the Lower North Lot at Red Rocks for Demo Day, we’d love to see you!)
As always, Team Transplant, thanks for your hard work, your dedication, and for taking the time to read the blog and stay updated. If we don’t see you this weekend, we’ll see you at another upcoming event soon.

4 weeks and counting….!

Susan
 
Your devoted blogger!

Rides and Recruiting!

Hello Team Transplant!!!


I sincerely hope you are all getting ready to enjoy this stunning spring day that lies ahead of us. Too bad most of us are stuck in offices around the Denver metro area until that magic hour of 5:00 when we are freed to pursue what we love most! Who’s hopping on their bikes this evening? It’s supposed to be 80 degrees today, so you know the evening is going to be a beautiful one.

As you know, our training ride was cancelled last weekend due to inclement weather. WHY, oh WHY, does the miserable weather always happen on a weekend? I’m not complaining about the rain… just the fact that it works weekends and not weekdays like the rest of us.

All is not lost! There’s another training ride coming up on May 8th, and this one will be even more fun because there’s cool stuff to check out at Red Rocks when you get there! If you aren’t up for the full ride, you can always meet the team out at Red Rocks to see Wheat Ridge Cyclery’s new and exciting products they’ll be showcasing. Check out the Team Transplant Events Page for more details.

RECRUITMENT UPDATE

How are your recruitment efforts going? I have to admit, I had two recruits back out on me this week. Darn that tequila party! But it’s okay, we’re still going strong and are now up to 90 members on Team Transplant. If everyone reading this blog recruits just one member this week, we can exceed our goal to reach 100. And I KNOW there are people who are reading this blog who aren’t signed up as followers… show yourselves! Help us shoot past 100 riders to our goal of 250 and really show those folks at Elephant Rock what Team Transplant is all about!

Speaking of which, Team Transplant got some really great publicity on Facebook through Elephant Rock's page. If you are a Facebook user, make sure you're linked in to E-Rock and Team Transplant! As an aside, Team Transplant on Facebook has 118 members... and yet, we only have 90 registered... I'm no math genius, but it seems to me like we've got some stragglers out there! Help get your recruits signed up by sending them the link to REGISTER.

As soon as I hit “publish” on this post, I’m about to put my fingers to work on an email writing a personal note to three friends to ask them to join us. Let’s do it! Have a great day everybody! Enjoy it-- play hookie if you can!

Susan

Relentless Recruiter of Riders and (unofficial) Team Transplant Cheerleader

Matching Contributions

A sunshiny welcome to Team Transplant on this rainy Friday morning. I’m happy to see the moisture and can’t wait to watch my gardens thrive off of it… but I hope it doesn’t impact tomorrow’s training ride! Stay tuned for any breaking news—the ride is still on, and if you haven’t already, please RSVP to Brian at brian@americantransplantfoundation.org.


A great idea was sent to me by Team Transplant rider Christine this week—seeking matching contributions from your employers. Many companies will support employee’s charitable efforts with a matching contribution up to a certain amount. Check into it through your human resources department—you might be sitting on a quick and easy fundraising opportunity and not even be aware of it!

Also, speaking of work, I took the opportunity this week to hang up two Team Transplant posters in my office—one on my office door and one on the fridge in our kitchen. I’ve gotten a lot of questions about it and it’s a great way to pick up some side donations… or, dare I say, some fresh blood in the form of new recruits? Please see previous blog post about ways to bring Team Transplant into a conversation… and if you need posters, please let us know!

I know I focus a great deal on fundraising and recruiting here on the blog, but I want to acknowledge that what it’s really all about is the power of transplant, changing lives, and education. I am passionate about supporting the efforts of Heidi, Katie, and everyone at the American Transplant Foundation, and I hope that some of that passion is passed on every time I talk to people about what we’re doing. Everyone on this ride is a part of that effort: saving lives, increasing community education, and supporting efforts to push the limits of our medical and scientific capabilities. It’s something to be proud of… so Team Transplant, go ahead and pat yourselves on the back. I’m proud of you!

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow at Wheat Ridge Cyclery for the training ride; and if not then, let’s catch a spin class or another ride before the big day.

Cheers everyone, and TGIF! Have a great weekend!



Susan

Team Transplant

Team Transplant Training Ride: Saturday 9AM

Hi Everyone, and welcome to Wednesday! We’re officially half way through the week… and half way to the weekend! Is that like having the glass half full/half empty?


I don’t know if any of you have plans for this Saturday morning, but Team Transplant is hosting a Training Ride from Wheatridge Cyclery to Golden, starting at 10AM. It will be a 20-mile round trip ride, with a mere 2% grade on the way out and almost all down hill on the way back. We’ll be heading out 32nd towards the Coors Brewery in Golden; the pace will be about 15 MPH but this is a no-drop ride—mechanical support will be provided! We’ll take a break at Starbucks before returning, but remember your essentials... things like water, helmet, layered clothing, snacks... a few little protein or power bars will help get you through the morning!
This is a great way to meet some of your fellow team transplant members, as well as start to do some endurance training for the ride… only 7 weeks to go! Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Also… how are you doing on your follow up emails to your supporters? Today I posted this update on my Facebook status:  SUSAN is ALMOST there… help me reach my goal of raising $1,000 for Team Transplant, benefitting the American Transplant Foundation! Only $285 to go… https://team.americantransplantfoundation.org/hm/index

And... $70 in new donations came in while I was sitting in an afternoon meeting! A grateful shout out to Keith and Barry for your incredible support. Blog readers: send me a comment, send a shout out to your friends, invite them to follow the blog so we can thank them for their support (both moral and financial)!

As always, Team Transplant, thanks for following and participating, and I hope to see you on Saturday.

Susan
Team Transplant

“Do not wait to strike while the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking.”

Stay in Touch with Your Supporters: Send an Update!

Good morning, Team Transplant!


I sincerely hope that all of you had as wonderful of a weekend as we did. We kicked off the weekend with a walk with our dogs and headed down to the Schlessman Y for the Team Transplant Spin Class… I have to say, we missed some of you! It was really cool to have a row of us in our TT jerseys from 2009—we attracted a lot of attention from people as they came through the door! After class a woman walked up to my husband and asked about his jersey—turns out her daughter was a donor. It’s really amazing how many people have been touched by transplant in their lives—and how wonderful it is to hear their stories.

I also did a wonderful ride yesterday afternoon with one o f Team Transplant’s newest recruits, Christine! We met up with some friends at the REI downtown and pedaled south along the Platte River trail—perfect afternoon, perfect company, a perfect ride!

Which, incidentally, is a nice segue into what I wanted to share with you all today. Heidi and I were talking at spin class, and a great way to stay on top of fundraising is by sending an update out to your friends and supporters. Many of us send a big blast email as soon as we sign up, and as well-intentioned as all of the recipients of our emails are, many of them simply forget or don’t have the time at the moment to sign in and donate to support your ride.

This morning, I’m sending an email out to my entire support base with a photo from this weekend, sharing with them my updates about recruitment, training, and fundraising. And, of course, conveniently providing them with a link to help support if they haven’t done so already!!!

SAMPLE EMAIL:

Hi Everyone:
A quick note to send an update to everybody about the progress of Team Transplant. I can’t thank you enough for your tremendous support already! We’re about 7 weeks out from the big day, and Team Transplant is on the verge of being over 100 riders strong!

This weekend, Brian and I participated in a spin class at the Schlessman YMC A in order to get our legs ready for the big day… and, taking advantage of this beautiful Colorado spring weekend, hit the trails around Denver for another ride yesterday afternoon!

To date, you’ve helped me raise nearly $700 for the American Transplant Foundation. Thank you again to all of you for your incredible support, and I’ve provided a few links for you should you like more information about what we’re doing:

Want to join me? REGISTER for the ride on June 6th.

Want to support the ride? SPONSOR me as a rider.

Want to stay in touch? Check out the Team Transplant blog—you can also find us on Facebook!

Reach out, let them know how hard you’re working to earn their support, and send out a huge thanks to those who have. It’s a great time to get another boost in fundraising, just 7 weeks before we all invade Castle Rock with our starry Team Transplant kits!

Have a great week, everybody!

Susan

A little sore in the saddle… but boy was it worth it!

Free Motivation: Just Show Up!

Hey There, Team Transplant, and TGIF! We are one week closer to the big day!

SO... who's joining me at the Schlessman YMCA tomorrow to partake in the Team Transplant spin class? Raise your hands high, so I can see you!

In a previous post, I admitted that I've never attended a spin class before. So, in case there are others of you out there who have never attended one, I thought I would give you a basic overview of what to expect.

1. A group class that, through instruction and stationary bikes, takes you through a virtual training ride, hills and all.
2. Music and an instructor that are energizing and motivating.
3. A ton of fun and a great way to kick off your Saturday morning.

I know that very few of us need motivation right now to get outside and get pedalling, but this is a good way to push yourself a little bit and make sure you're ready for the hills and excitement that Elephant Rock promises. Plus, how cool to meet some of your fellow Team Transplant members?

Get your legs pumping, get down to the Y tomorrow morning at 10:30 and be ready to ride. Looking forward to meeting you all!

And... one more shout out before I leave you for the afternoon... a big hearty welcome to my gal Christine, the latest Team Transplant recruit! I was at it again last night, mercilessly pimping out Team Transplant to a few innocent dinner guests, when she volunteered to ride with us! This time, no tequila was required. Even better!

Have a great weekend guys! Don't forget: tomorrow, Schlessman Y, 10:30... be there!

Susan
Official Team Transplant "SPIN Doctor"

(Great name for a sub-team, by the by...)

Happy Tax Day Eve: A Reason to Celebrate!

Happy Tax Day Eve, Team Transplant!
I know it’s not really something we usually celebrate. Unless, of course, you’ve managed to finagle yourself a refund from Uncle Sam… in which case, my hats off to you. Congrats!

The best part about celebrating tax day this year is… and if you’ve been reading the blog, you’ll know what’s coming next… 20% off at Wheat Ridge Cyclery, tomorrow only!!! So if you’re writing a check to Uncle Sam, use a little retail therapy to soften the blow and justify it with this great discount. If you’re getting a refund, use the discount as justification to spend a little bit of it (or a lot, it’s up to you!) tomorrow night and support Team Transplant and our generous sponsors.

Bring your friends! They can sign up tomorrow in person while calculating what 20% off adds up to on all these great purchases.

SOME THINGS YOU MIGHT NEED FOR THE RIDE:

1. Tubes. Trust me, you’ll need them. Last year my husband Brian was shelling out for a new tube onsite before we even got started. For all of you doing the 25-mile off road course, buy two!!!

2. Water bottles. You can never have enough, they get funky quickly so you always need a new one. Fill them and put them in the fridge or freezer, so you’re ready to go at a moment's notice!

3. Cycling gloves. This is a widely overlooked item, but the padding makes a big difference no matter what distance you're riding.

4. Helmet. Helmets are required for Elephant Rock… do you have yours?

5. Sunglasses. Power bars. Sunscreen. Do I really need to list things to buy when you’ve got such a great discount? For those of you who haven't raised the $500 for the full cycling kit, this is a great way to augment what you have earned (padded shorts are a MUST... again, I speak from experience...).

Please come down tomorrow, and bring a friend. The Team Transplant staff are standing by to register anyone who wants that sweet discount. The Wheat Ridge Cyclery folks have been really supportive of our efforts, and let’s show them how much we appreciate it.

And… don’t forget… spin class on Saturday! Looking forward to seeing you there—RSVP to Brian at Brian@americantransplantfoundation.org.

Susan

Team Transplant Shopaholic (it's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it!)

Springtime in the Rockies: Two Events Next Week!

Good morning Team Transplant!


Now THIS is what I’m talking about! It’s a Friday morning, we’re looking at 67 degrees later today, it’s the Colorado Rockies’ home opener… does it get any better than this? Hot dogs and beers anyone? Now that I think of it, I am going to a roof-top party this afternoon to celebrate the Rockies’ opener… how many recruits do you think I can wrangle? Bets?

Today is my official welcome to springtime in the Rockies. Where you can be at a baseball game and in a blizzard all at the same time. Where you can have four inches of snow on your lawn in the morning and be kicking back on a patio with the sunscreen by 2:00 in the afternoon. Where you can dust off your bike and hit a trail for an invigorating ride in the city or in the hills! Come on, people! The weekend is stretched out before us like a lazy cat in the sun, let’s do it!!

Whoa… before you go running out the door to enjoy this wonderful weekend ahead of us, please read about two VERY COOL things I want to get on your calendar for the week ahead:

APRIL 15
No, I’m really not that concerned about your taxes getting filed. Unless, of course, you’re getting a refund, in which case, good for you! The REAL news about April 15th is 20% off at Wheatridge Cyclery for Team Transplant members! What a deal! March on down with that refund check and get all the gear you need. Better yet, bring some friends, as Team Transplant will be standing by to register any stragglers that haven’t seemed to find that pesky REGISTER NOW link.

APRIL 17
Spin class on a Saturday! I have to come clean… I’ve never done a spin class. Ever. I sure have heard a lot about them, though, and this seems like a promising opportunity for me to stop talking about it and start doing it! So… join me at the Schlessman YMCA on April 17th for the official Team Transplant Spin Class… get your buns in gear and be ready to look good in those cycling shorts come June 6th. For more details on any Team Transplant events, check out our Team Events Calendar.

Stop by, say hi, tell me that you read my blog, even if you don’t! It will make me feel good and motivate me to continue… I'll have on my 2009 Team Transplant tshirt...
Have a great weekend guys… Go Rockies!

Susan
Devoted Blogger and Springtime Enthusiast Extroadinaire

SPIN CLASS TONIGHT IS CANCELLED

Hey there Team Transplant!

Unfortunately I have to let you know that our spin class tonight in Boulder has been cancelled. Our apologies to all of you riders who were looking forward to getting down with your cycling selves! Stay tuned for details on our next spin class, Saturday, April 17th and other team events.

I will also keep you updated on upcoming classes and events; please spread the word to anyone that you know was planning on attending tonight.

GOOD NEWS: Only 9 days until the Team Transplant discount night at Wheatridge Cyclery! Do you have all the gear you need for Elephant Rock? If not, take advantage of the 20% discount they are offering pm April 15th to registered Team Transplant participants! Not registered? That’s cool—you can register online or onsite at the shop that night.

See you soon!

Susan

Dinner Party + Tequila = 5 New Riders!

Hey everyone, I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend and got the opportunity to enjoy some of this beautiful spring weather. It’s Monday, and in my typical work-avoidance mode, I’ve decided to update the blog!


Saturday night my husband and I went to a dinner party at a friend’s house. The theme was Mexican, we all brought dishes to complement the host’s amazing chicken and pork posole—GREAT dinner (thanks, Rob and Rick!) I quickly realized that a moment of opportunity was upon me when our gracious hosts and fellow guests were polishing off their second margaritas… I looked at my husband and said, “I’m really going to have to blog about this on Monday.”

“Blog? You have a blog?”

“Oh yes, haven’t I told you about it?” I coyly reply. So, in between bites of crabcakes and enchiladas, I launch into a full pitch about Team Transplant, Elephant Rock, fundraising, blogging, all the while topping off their cocktails. A little liquid courage to help the conversation along, right?

It worked! I’m proud to welcome five new recruits! Please welcome Cheryl, Red, Venus, Rob, and Rick to Team Transplant!

So be it a dinner party, an email, a lunch, whatever situation arises, mention it to your friends. You might not even need to slip them tequila to agree to register, but if you do, hey, that’s okay! Whatever works, right?!?

Ways to Fit Team Transplant into Any Conversation:

1. Speaking of margaritas, when I was reading the Team Transplant blog the other day... have I told you about Team Transplant?
2. Want to go for a bike ride this weekend? How about next weekend? How does June 6th look for you?
3. I can see your cycling socks are a little worn. Did you know that by raising money for Team Transplant you can earn fresh, cool, cycling socks, plus a whole lot more?

A sincere thanks to my dinner club friends for your support; I'm really looking forward to having you join Team Transplant and riding with us in June.

Recruit away, my faithful blog readers! Post a comment and let us know how it’s going!

Susan

Team Transplant

Faithful Blogger and Relentless Recruiter

Who’s Your Posse?

Hey there Team Transplant…


It’s a beautiful week here in Denver Colorado, and as I look at the sunshine outside my office window my mind drifts away from my day job and to cycling and enjoying the fresh air. If I can’t be outside enjoying this fine weather on my bike, I might as well blog about it, right?

So… who’s riding with you for Team Transplant this year? Another great avenue for fundraising—and even better than going at it alone—is to recruit new people to join the ride! Last year, my husband and I rode together on the 25-mile off road. It was such an amazing experience that this year I started recruiting my friends and family before the registration was even online!

It’s such a fun experience to be a part of Team Transplant, especially when you’re out there riding and fellow E-Rock riders ask you about your jersey and the foundation (it’s true, it happened to us twice!). And I have to say, it’s even more fun if you can get your friends and family involved. This year, I’m riding with my husband, a few friends, and my 64-year old mother. There are no age limits! There is a course for everyone!
Today’s Challenge:

1. Recruit a rider. Email your best friend, invite somebody from work, or invite a family member and invite them to register now.
2. Comment and let us know who you invited, and why! Challenge them publicly via the “Comments” section of the blog! How can they say no???

Heck, I'll put some skin in the game. I, Susan, Team Transplant Blogger, challenge the following people to join me on Team Transplant:

1. Julie
2. Christine
3. Cheryl
4. Red
5. Jessica
6. Joel (I know you've got a goal of 5,000 miles this year, this will help!)
7. Joan
8. Liam
9. Scott

Get involved, and involve others! I’ll be looking for your comments!

Susan
Devoted Rider and Shameless Promoter
Team Transplant

WE HAVE A WINNER… and another prize announcement, too!

Hey there, Team Transplant. I hope that this weekend’s beautiful weather inspired some of you to get out there and start training. Today, I have two VERY exciting updates for you.

First off, a HUGE congratulations to Steve Klein for being the first rider to reach $1,000!!! Amazing job! As you may recall, he not only has the bragging rights of being the #1 Team Transplant fundraiser to date, he is the lucky winner of THREE MONTHS of personal training courtesy of Tyler Hamilton Training.

Steve, does that mean you’ll be signing up for the century in June? Great job!!!

SECONDLY, I’m proud to share with you that 1st place prize for fundraising has been announced—it’s this hot little Trek 2.3 Road Series (see below for image), courtesy of our sponsors Wheat Ridge Cyclery! The folks at Wheat Ridge Cyclery will provide you with the appropriate size and style, and even provide you with a basic fit. This is big news—this bike is worth $2,000!

So, let’s get out there and start raising some money! Send your emails and your solicitations to anyone you know—anyone want one of those posters for your office yet? Please see my previous blog post for details on fundraising kits, sample emails, and other helpful hints to get started.

Spring is here… let’s get moving!



Susan

Team Transplant

SPECIAL PRIZE ANNOUNCED FOR FIRST RIDER TO RAISE $1,000!

Hellooooo Team Transplant!

Let’s talk fundraising, shall we?

As I sit and look out of my office right now, I’m not feeling particularly motivated. SNOW? Really? It seems inconceivable that spring will get here but… Trust me. The snow will melt, we’ll be pulling our bikes off the racks in the garage, pumping tires, filling water bottles, and hitting the trails. Some of you might have even done it last weekend.

And as important (and fun) as it is to train for the ride, now’s the time for us to also turn our attention to the reason why we’re all a part of Team Transplant—fundraising. It’s time to think about why you feel motivated to be on the team, and why it’s important to you.

It’s easier than it sounds. Last year my husband and I wrote an email, talking about why Team Transplant is important to us and we blind copied pretty much everyone in our address books. Colleagues. Friends. Friends of friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, you name it. And by the time we were picking up our registration packets on that sunny (yes, SUNNY) day in May, we had raised over $1200.

Which brings me to the AWESOME news I have to share with you: The first Team Transplant rider who raises $1,000 will receive a FREE 3-month personal training program with Tyler Hamilton Training (a $900 value). How cool is that?

Some ideas on how to get to $1000:

1. Update your facebook status telling your friends about Team Transplant

2. Send out an email to friends and family (There's a sample letter in the fundraising toolkit!)

3. Hang up a poster in your office, on the fridge, wherever! (Let us know if you want posters!)

4. Put the pressure on all those co-workers pawning off Girl Scout Cookies. Three months of personal training will work off a lot of Thin Mints!

5. Ask for 2 bucks from 500 friends. Ask for 5 bucks from 200 friends. Ask for 10 bucks from 100 friends. See where I’m going with this?

AND… all of this is on top of the amazing stuff that you get from the American Transplant Foundation for raising all that money! Check it out on the website at AmericanTransplantFoundation.org. You'll be looking sizzling hot in the cycling gear you'll earn... not to mention what 3 months of personal training will do for you!

REMEMBER: This is for the FIRST rider to hit $1,000. It’s a Friday morning. If I can sit here and blog, you can blow off work for a few minutes to send an email, update your Facebook, and put a post on your Twitter page. It will take just a few seconds, and who wants to work on a snowy Friday anyway?

Let's raise some money!

Cheers!
Susan
Team Transplant

Team Transplant Kick-Off Party

February 18, 2010 will be a day many of us remember here in the Mile High City.  President Obama was in town for a fund raising event, causing traffic nightmares in and around the downtown area with rolling road blocks, during what would prove to be an already difficult rush hour.  The snow was flying, and the roads were quickly turning into ice rinks.  The average drive times from one end of downtown to the other was pushing 45 minutes, and forget about going anywhere if you were on the highways.

But a little traffic, snow and ice wouldn't stop Team Transplant volunteers and riders from meeting up at Wheat Ridge Cyclery for the team kickoff party!  Maybe it was the lure of great food and drinks, provided by our friends at Spicy Pickle and Apple Jack Liquors.  Maybe it was the debut of not just the 2010 Team Transplant jersey, but this year an entire kit!  Perhaps the exciting news that Olympic gold medal cyclist and Tour de France veteran Tyler Hamilton would be speaking to the group that night.  Or maybe it was the fact that both the volunteers and the 2010 team riders simply know how important raising money and awareness for the American Transplant Foundation is!

The evening started out much quieter than any of us would have preferred, but with the weather as it was, it came as no surprise.  Slowly but surely, one after another, people started to arrive.  The weather didn't deter people from coming; it just slowed them down a bit!  As the volunteers started signing the the new arrivals  in, and getting them officially registered as Team Transplant riders, the air and the attitudes started to lighten up.  One after another, people signed up to ride, not only themselves, but in several instances signing up to 5 additional riders who couldn't make it in that evening.

The great staff at Wheat Ridge Cyclery, along with several manufacturers' reps answered questions and showed off great new gear and equipment to the team, as we mingled through the store.  Sandwiches and salads, beer, wine and sodas all started to slowly disappear from the food tables.  Every rider who signed up that evening was treated to a 20% discount at the store for that night only, and by the sound of the cash registers ringing, everyone was going to take them up on that offer! 

The time came for Tyler Hamilton to speak, starting with his history in cycling, his time as Lance Armstrong's Lieutenant on the US Postal Service team during the Tour de France, and some very touching and poignant stories about his own personal battles which ultimately led to his retirement from professional cycling.  But as with any true champion, Tyler would emphasize that his retirement was not his demise!  After a stint back in Massachusetts to spend time with family, Tyler has returned to Boulder to help the casual rider and the future champion alike train like a professional.

All in all, the evening proved to be a complete success.  The goal of our kick off party wasn't just to sign up riders (we get most of our registrations through the easy online system anyway), it was to let the riders meet one another, check out some great new cycling gear, and get excited for the Elephant Rock ride which will be upon us faster than we realize.  Throw in the rare opportunity to not only listen to a gold medal Olympian, but talk to him one on one, and the thoughts of brushing the snow off your car and face the Colorado winter seems to disappear altogether. 

Brian Fakharzadeh

Welcome to the Team Transplant Blog!

A little bit about our blog… we are here to help you up with the latest biking tips, news about Elephant Rock, Team Transplant events and ideas for recruiting friends and family to join you.

Last year Team Transplant had 182 riders who raised over $35,000 dollars to support the American Transplant Foundation. Talk about putting your pedal to the metal… although in this case, riders covered over 9,000 miles collectively on the variety of courses at Elephant Rock—everything from the seven mile family course to the 25-mile off road all the way up to the 100-mile “century”.

Our team was large and diverse, and touched many aspects of the community. On the ride we had living donors, organ recipients, and people whose lives had been touched by transplant. Last year, my husband Brian and I dedicated our ride and fundraising efforts to my father, whose sudden passing in 2008 provided the gift of eyesight through organ and tissue donation. We also rode for my uncle, who in 1998 received a life-saving heart transplant, and to a friend of our family who received a transplant at birth and a second lifesaving procedure at the age of 10. No matter how tough some of those hills got—and some of them at the end were brutal, trust me!—I knew that every ounce of my strength was riding in honor of all of the amazing people who participate in organ and tissue donation every day. I knew it couldn’t compare to the strength and patience required for a family with a loved one waiting on the list… or the courage and generosity of somebody who became a living donor to save the life of another.

Whatever your reasons for riding, you’ll find an amazing team of supporters along the way. Brian and I were about 1 mile into the 25-mile off-road course last year when we got our first question from another rider: “Hey Team Transplant, I saw your jersey… what are you guys all about?” Between gasps on an early and particular steep hill, I sputtered the message and mission of the Foundation to her. Turns out, she was a kidney recipient. I hope to see her again this year… maybe this time with one of our jerseys on!

Team Transplant is a great group of people doing great things for an even greater cause. I’m proud to be a part of it and am looking forward to hearing from you to share your stories, to help support your fundraising efforts and to have fun. If you get a particular donor that wants a shout-out on the blog, let me know!

For those of you attending tonight’s Team Transplant Kick Off and Registration party, have fun! I won’t be there but stop and say hi to my husband Brian, who will be there for both of us. Tonight’s kick off is at Wheat Ridge Cyclery at 6PM, with interactive training seminars, discounts for registered Team Transplant members, prizes and more.

Thanks for your support of Team Transplant, and the American Transplant Foundation!

Rock—as in, Elephant Rock—on!
Susan Fakharzadeh