Kerry in the Pan-Mass Challenge

[fedupinBushcountry]

<> PAN-MASS. CHALLENGE
Support John Kerry?s 111 mile bike ride on August 5th to benefit cancer research.https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp
Win an official autographed jersey by guessing his time: http://www.johnkerry.com/features/panmass/



Time for some Kerry love and of course it is always for a good cause.

[TayTay]

1. The Jimmy Fund is a great charity

And a wonderful organization. They support cancer research, particularly for kids.

Okay, I'll cough something up for this. (It really is a good cause.) This charity is not just New England based. The research money goes to help kids from all over the world. (When my Dad passed away, the Jimmy Fund was one of the charities that we listed 'in lieu of flowers.' I really am fond of that group.)

[fedupinBushcountry]

2. I noticed

all the countries listed when I registered to donate. One problem when I got to the final part it never notified me. I hope it went through, hopefully they will notify me by e-mail.

[globalvillage]

5. Tay, did you get this e-mail? n/t

[TayTay]

12. No, nothing has come through yet.

But 3 million is a lot of e-mails to get out.

I will donate to this. We have friends who ride this every year for the :loveya: Jimmy Fund. :loveya: It's one of my favorite charities. I guess this year, my rider will be Senator Kerry.

[globalvillage]

13. I donated.

And included a note to Sen Kerry.
Will you go to this? It'd be great if one of our group could post something other than media reports.
And I'm going to win a jersey. I mean it.
:-)

[WildEyedLiberal]

14. I'm going to ask about going tomorrow

I'd really love to. I think I'd need a ride, though. But if anyone wants to go... I'd love to be there.

[WildEyedLiberal]

3. This is just too sweet

This email is so adorable - this is why I love him. Read this and try not to smile at how lovable, caring, and genuinely sweet he is:

Dear WildEyedLiberal,

Saturday, I'm going on a long bike ride -- with 4,500 other riders from 36 states. Following my 2003 bout with prostate cancer, I will be among the 200 or so riders who are cancer survivors.

Each of us will be sponsored by the donations of friends and family. And 99 cents out of every dollar we riders raise during the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge will go directly to the Jimmy Fund, which supports the life-saving cancer research of the Dana-Farber Institute.

At the fundraising training sessions for the event, they tell you to email your friends and ask for their help. But, I don't suppose they realized I had three million friends in my email address book. Will you consider joining me in support of this very special charity?

All I can tell you is that this ride means a great deal to me. If you've ever participated in a walk, run or ride for a cause you believe in, you know what a powerful and rewarding personal experience it can be. The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge is especially so.

It started out in 1980 when 36 riders took part and the event raised $10,200. Last year, those figures were 4,000 riders and $23 million. And this year, with your help, we expect to crush the goal of $24 million raised. The funds generated by this race now represent 50% of all money raised annually for the Jimmy Fund. Pretty remarkable, isn't it?

I can hardly wait until early Saturday morning when I join thousands of fellow riders at the starting line in Sturbridge. There are several different routes, and the one I'll be riding travels 111 miles to Bourne.

Because I care so much about this event and about the unbelievably important work that Dana-Farber does, I'm hoping you'll sponsor me on my ride on Saturday by pledging either a total dollar amount or an amount per mile.

Those of us who grew up in New England know all about the Jimmy Fund -- a wonderful charity that has been long supported by people all across the region. My own memories go back to Ted Williams urging Red Sox fans to rally round children struggling with cancer.

I've helped the Jimmy Fund out by taking part in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge twice before. Now, in a few days I will ride again as a cancer survivor, one who knows that others -- including friends and family -- weren't so lucky. That makes this year's Challenge even more special and anything you can do to help will be especially meaningful. Thanks for considering this invitation to join me in support of the Jimmy Fund.

Sincerely,

John Kerry

P.S. The 5 people who come closest to guessing my time will win a free, autographed Pan-Massachusetts Challenge jersey. Click here to guess my time.

Click here to help John Kerry raise money for the Jimmy Fund: https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp


This is my favorite part:

At the fundraising training sessions for the event, they tell you to email your friends and ask for their help. But, I don't suppose they realized I had three million friends in my email address book. Will you consider joining me in support of this very special charity?

*WEL DIES OF CUTE* :loveya: :loveya:

[Democrafty]

4. That's so sweet!

I haven't gotten one yet :(

[Island Blue]

6. Hmmm. So is JK a hammerhead? That is the question.

My guess is yes, but not an obnoxious one. I wonder if "guess the time" means actual time on the bike or total time for the ride? Just guess IB, just guess.

I haven't received the e-mail yet (bummer), but I'll definitely donate. Looks like Cam will be riding too. Cool.

[europegirl4jfk]

7. Great challenge and great charity

And I was finally able to make a donation to a cause important to JK - as it isn't political and they accept international donors.

[globalvillage]

8. I want that jersey.

Here's his route.

http://www.pmc.org/mypmc/profiles.asp?Section=route&eGiftID=JK0124

Apparently, the Senator can ride this nonstop.

Kerry rides alone
I ride the Pan Mass Challenge charity ride each year and Kerry has done it twice. Each time, including last year, he has ridden without any type of Secret Service. He did not stop at any of the rest stops however. Possibly because of the lack of security? Anyway, he rode 112 miles without stopping and seemed like a pretty good cyclist.
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=5129

An average rider does this at 14-18 mph. I'm thinking Sen Kerry is better than average :-), so I'm going for the high end, considering the average age is probably not 62.

I couldn't find his times from previous rides, but I'm not done searching.

I'm gonna win that jersey.

[WildEyedLiberal]

10. LOL - I looked too

Is it sad that I actually used Lexis Nexis to look up stories about Kerry and the Pan-Mass Challenge in the hopes that it would tell me his previous times?

Color me addicted to all things JK.

Edit: I hope it's a jersey he actually wore on the ride. Mmm, Kerrysweat....

[Mass]

9. The good news is that it should be cooler on Saturday.

About 98 F right now and 100+ planned for tomorrow here.

[WildEyedLiberal]

11. Yes, it's horrible outside

I think Saturday is supposed to be sunny and 80s - a nice day for a bike ride.