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Vol. 3, No. 4
Topics:
Final Ride Details
Silent Auction Announcement
Stats - 2007 vs. 2006: How Are We Doing?
Ovarian Cycle Quilt
Q & A with Kelly Boatright
Spotlight on a rider: Ann Stacy
Thanks to our Sponsors
Call for 2007/2008 committee members and volunteers
The 2007 event is days away! Congratulations to all of the riders for your involvement so far – all of your training and fundraising efforts have been tremendous. We are so proud of how far this event has come since its inception four years ago. With more participants than ever, the 2007 event proves to be the best one yet. Also, thank you to our generous sponsors and all of the individual donors who are supporting our dedicated riders in their quest to find an early detection test for ovarian cancer. [top]
The 2007 Ovarian Cycle: Ride to Change the Future will take place on Saturday, April 28th from 9:00am - 3:00pm at Midtown Athletic Club (MAC) at Windy Hill. MAC is located at 135 Interstate North Parkway, Atlanta, 30339. Come by to cheer on the 2007 Ovarian Cycle participants, bid on our great silent auction items or hop on an empty bike! We'll be "selling" bike time for any available bikes for $75 per hour if you find yourself wanting to join in the action!
There will be lots going on this year. We have great prizes to give away, fun contests, fantastic music and tons of energy! Make sure you don't miss out on the excitement!
For more information about Midtown Athletic Club, go to: http://www.midtownclubs.com/georgia/windyhill/ [top]
For the first time, we will conduct a silent auction during the Ride to Change the Future. Auction items include: artwork by local artists, beautiful area rugs, a Reynolds Plantation golf package, a 3-night stay at Santa Rosa Beach, FL, biking apparel from Pearl Izumi, gift certificates from Van Michael Salon, a Schwinn spin bike, some beautiful jewelry items, Atlanta Thrashers autographed items and much more. [top]
Participants
2006 = 72
2007 = 110
53% Increase
Rider Funds Raised
2006 TOTAL = $93,332
2007 To Date = $97,669 and climbing!
We are so grateful to our amazing participants and their wonderful supporters. Keep up the great work everyone! Your efforts are making a difference! [top]
We are excited to announce that all riders are welcome to add a square to our newly constructed "Quilt for Hope and Strength". We will be adding to our quilt for years to come and it will be proudly displayed at every Final Ride. Your square can be in memory of, in support of, in great strength of, etc.
All you need is a solid piece of fabric sized 6" x 8", and decorate, monogram, or iron on photos. Be as creative and fun as you like. The design on your fabric should not extend beyond 5" x 7" to prevent the edges from being sewn. If you have any questions, please email us at info@ovariancycle.org.
All squares can be brought to the 2007 Final Ride. Any future squares can be mailed to the Ovarian Cycle office and clearly marked on the envelope: OC Quilt
We look forward to an outstanding quilt! [top]
What does OC mean to you?
When I found out my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1998, I didn't know much about the disease and I was 1,000 miles away. As I watched her battle through treatment after treatment for 5 1/2 years, I felt completely helpless. As she neared the end, I heard of Ovarian Cycle and knew it was something I HAD to do - because I could. When I told my mom what I was doing, she was truly taken aback. She wanted so badly to come to Atlanta to root us on during the first Ovarian Cycle in 2004 but she was just too sick. Our solution was to call her on my husband's cell phone and pass it around to all of the riders. She spent time talking to all 30 participants at Sporting Club, thanking each and every person for doing what they were doing. When she and I talked after the ride, she was humbled by the experience and talked about it until the day she passed.......Ovarian Cycle has been part of my healing process and just as importantly, it is a way to change the future for all women so less people have to experience the loss of those they love.
Why are you participating in the Ride to Change the Future?
We need a test. There's a way to diagnose ovarian cancer at an early stage. We have to continue to fund this important research and Ovarian Cycle is dedicated to making this happen.
What fundraising tips can you share with fellow participants?
Be tenacious. Keep people up-to-date on your progress. Let them know why you're doing this. If there's a personal connection, make sure they know it. Use statistics.....Most people don't realize that ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynecological diseases: one in 57 women in the U.S. will develop ovarian cancer. Approximately 27,000 are diagnosed every year. Of those diagnosed, only 1/3 of them will survive more than 5 years. Staggering statistics........make sure people know them.
If you have participated in years past, how were you affected by the training? The final ride?
The training prepares you physically for the six hour ride. If you train, you'll be fine. The final ride will change your life. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll meet new friends and you'll be totally amazed that you rode for six hours and went absolutely nowhere! :-)
What were your favorite parts of past years events?
Music, friends, passion
How has participating in this event affected you so far?
Watching the money and participation climb through the roof has made me extremely proud and extra motivated. The board is dedicated to maximizing money we give to our beneficiaries. The work that we're doing will make a difference for so many women. What an honor to be a part of that......
What do you hope to take away from the final ride?
A renewed energy and passion for changing the future. [top]
I have been spinning for over a year and a half and added outdoor cycling, mountain biking and road biking, in the past 9 months. It has become my new love, a place where I can go and clear the cobwebs in my head and feel great afterwards. When I saw advertisements for Ovarian Cycle, I knew I had to do something. I wanted to do it as a tribute to my friend Karen, who passed away in 1988 of ovarian cancer when she was 28. I wanted to contribute. Her loss was senseless, and the fundamentals of finding a better way to detect this disease must be found to prevent untimely deaths like hers. For me, I'm lucky and happy to do something I love to make a contribution for a great cause and dream-- better testing and a cure!
A fundraising tip from Ann: I have found that sometimes the first time you email someone for a contribution, they think, I'll get to that later. YOU NEED TO SEND IT AGAIN, with a kind reminder. [top]
Thank you as always to our fabulous sponsors. Without them, Ovarian Cycle would not be possible!
Silver: Nautilus/Schwinn, Elekta, Newell-Rubbermaid, America's Mart and DaveFM
Bronze: Georgia Multisport, Georgia Natural Gas, Piedmont Hospital and RHR International
Friends of Ovarian Cycle: Alexandra Burris, Cindy Almond, The Argo Family Fund and Piedmont National
Get more involved with Ovarian Cycle! We are seeking volunteers to help with a wide variety of marketing and planning activities. Email info@ovariancycle.org if you're interested in getting more involved. A little bit of time can go a long way! [top]
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