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

My passengers for this year's ride -- so far...

FYI, here's the collage of my "passengers" for this years PMC. These are pictures of some of the people I'm riding for -- and now I'll be riding with them (sort of).

There's still more room on the bike, so please don't be shy: if you know someone who has fought/is fighting cancer, or if there's someone you've lost to cancer, then send me their picture. I'd love to take them along with me.

/doug

Training Update...70mi ride to Needham

Just a quick training update... While I was off last week I decided to bike out to Needham to the PMC headquarters and pick up my Thank You cards.

It was about a 70mi round trip ride, and I couldn't have asked for better weather. I'd forgotten how beautiful route 27 is down around Wayland/Sudbury. Once again, the curious among you can check out my GPS tracklog for the ride on Google Earth by downloading this file. If you use the "street view" features, it's almost like being there. ;-)

Remember: I'm still collecting "passenger" pictures for this year's ride. If you know someone who's fought/is fighting cancer, or if there's someone you've lost to cancer, please send me their picture and I'll take them on the ride with me.

/doug

For those with Google Earth: The PMC 2-Day Route

People often ask me about the route that everyone rides on the PMC. I can only speak about the "classic" 2-day ride from Sturbridge to Provincetown, since that's the only route I've ridden.

On last year's PMC, I took my GPS along so that I'd have a log of the ride with actual elevation, speed and waypoints for later review.

If you have a little curiosity, some free time and Google Earth on your PC (and you should -- it's free and incredibly cool), you can download and view my GPS waypoints and "virtually ride" the route via Google Earth.. I split the track log into 2 files: one for Day 1 (Sturbridge to Bourne -- about 111 miles) and one for Day 2 (Bourne to Provincetown -- about 82 miles).

Click here for Day 1

Click here for Day 2.

I don't know if the 2009 2-day route is substantially different. They change a little from year to year. Anyway... just thought I'd make those links available for the curious.

TTYL!

/doug

My Pedal Partner

As I mentioned in a previous post,  I have a "Pedal Partner" for this year's PMC:  little Kristen Hoenshell from my very own Littleton.   You can read about the Pedal Partner program on the PMC website, so I won't re-type it all here.

On Saturday May 2, the PMC hosted a "meet-n-greet" at Fenway Park for the Jimmy Fund clinic pediatric oncology patients and their riders.  Kristen and her mom, Elizabeth, came out that morning to Fenway for the event.    It was the first time I'd seen Kristen in person.  She is a full-on cutie.  

I didn't know what to expect and was completely unprepared.  I didn't even think to bring a camera.  Oh well.   Elizabeth and I chatted while Kristen scoped out the area.  She (Kristen) went climbing through the bleachers, and unnerved her mom a little. (We were up high behind home plate near the State Street Pavillion, so it's a ways up.)    Stacey Lucchino, PMC rider and organizer (and wife of Red Sox President &CEO Larry Lucchino)  spoke for bit, as well as Billy Starr.   But the most memorable speaker was Matt Bodenrader: a former Jimmy Fund patient and Pedal Partner who's now a PMC rider in his fourth PMC.

There's a good summary of the Pedal Partner Party on the PMC blog, with additional pictures.   I felt a little awkward, since most of the kids were paired up with actual bike teams -- but I'm a "team of one".   Kristen was very gracious and didn't seem to mind..  :-)

Anyway, check out the PMC web site and blog (above links in this post)  for more (and better-written) info.  

/doug