Where's Doug ?

I've been playing with the new Google Latitude service via my Blackberry for the last few months, and have found it works pretty well -- well enough that I'm willing to plug it here. "Latitude" is a google offering that allows you to share your physical location with people via the web via your cell phone.

In fact, it works well enough that I intend to take my Blackberry along for this years PMC so anyone who is so inclined will be able to see my progress along the route via the web.

For example, if you wanted to know where I am (or more precisely: where my phone is) right now, you can go to http://www.ixen.com/where-is-doug , and you'll see my icon (StrongBad) overlayed on a (static) google map image.

It's a little silly, and not exactly as thrilling as a "live helmet-cam video feed" would be... but it's free and I thought I'd throw it out there for your entertainment -- and mine. ;-)

/doug

PMC Goal for 2009: $30M

A little less than 2 weeks ago, the PMC announced that the fundraising goal for this year's efforts is $30 million. That sounds like -- and is -- a lot of money. But it's actually 14% less than last year's results and even less than the last 2 preceding years as well.

"It's not going to be easy," said Billy Starr, PMC Executive Director, "but the PMC has never been about the easy path. People recognize that cancer does not know recession and it is critical to sustain cutting edge research and treatment at Dana-Farber. Regardless of the economy, we are all in this war on cancer together."

Clearly, this last year has been an rough one, economically and fundraisers like the PMC are by no means immune from economic realities. One indicator of this for the PMC is this: for the first time in five years, here in mid-June there are still slots available for the two-day routes -- those with the highest fund-raising commitment level. Those routes have typically filled up within the first 2 weeks in past years.

Regardless, this year's overall goal is set. My personal goal is to raise $5,000, exceeding my $4,200 minium and achieving a 6-year personal best. For those of you who have donated, I can't thank you enough. If you've been thinking about donating but haven't yet, now would be a fine time to do so, by simply clicking here. Your financial support is what makes the cancer treatment and research at Dana-Farber possible.

Thanks for taking the time to follow along with me.

/doug

Littleton Kids PMC last weekend (5/31/09)

Last weekend (Sunday, 5/31) was the Littleton Kids PMC Ride. The Kids PMC helps get kids excited and includes them in the PMC mission of raising awareness and money for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber. There are more than 30 different Kids PMC rides across MA, NH and RI, each organized per-community by local volunteers. I think it's great because the kids get to help others, have some fun and learn a little bike safety, too.

Sunday morning was gorgeous and the weather could not have been any more cooperative. The event took place in the IBM parking lot in town, with several different loops set up to accomodate everything from "tykes on trikes" to kids with more experience riding. I was a "floating volunteer" for the day which meant that I basically walked around and did whatever needed doing then and there. At the start of the day, I helped set up shade tents, and as the kids started arriving I herded them from registration to their bike/helmet safety check. Once the kids were 'sorted out' to their appropriate loops, the event was on! I ended up monitoring the far end of the 'advanced loop' for the older kids, trying to keep them from cutting each other off in the turns, etc. It was a little hairy at first, with the kids "bunched up", but eventually they spread out, calmed down and my heartrate started to go back to normall. I only witnessed one boo-boo the entire day. It was a little boy and he just "went over". He was a little surprised, but just shook it off and walked off with his parents -- no blood or tears. (*whew*)

My Pedal Partner, Kristen Hoenshell, and her entire family were there. Kristen's a little young for trike yet, so she just hung around with her mom, dad or grandparents. Her sisters Cathryn and Hannah both rode, however. I lost them in the crowd after the rides started, but I'm pretty sure they had a good time.

There was lots going on besides kids riding around on bikes. There was a DJ with music and several raffles for prizes -- everything from helmets for the kids to Red Sox tickets. There was also the annual "touch a truck" event. The Littleton touch-a-truck event is a chance for the kids to get "up close and personal" with fire trucks, ambulances, police cars and wide selection of enormouse construction vehicles. The kids can actually get in the vehicles, talk to the men and women who operate them and even blow the horns. (That got old pretty quick, believe me.)

The entire thing was over and done by 1PM. At the end of the day the Littleton Kids PMC had raised more than $6,000. I rode my bike home, and still had time to finish my weekend chores !

ttyl

/doug