Bicycle Touring Pro – check out: “Ride to Read – cycling tales from Europe”

Part of the three-part series of articles I’m writing about the Ride to Read written for Bicycle Touring Pro.

full article here

 

via Bicycle Touring Pro – check out: “Ride to Read – cycling tales from Europe”.

Bicycle Touring Pro – check out “Ride to Read – the realities of a cycling fundraiser”

Recent article about the fundraising aspect of the Ride to Read !

via Bicycle Touring Pro – check out “Ride to Read – the realities of a cycling fundraiser”.

a Fundraising update (part I)

Where are we at with our fundraising? What are we doing to continue the process beyond the actual ride?

…and why wasn’t that darn fundraising wheel updated after I made my donation??

Firstly -

As you know, the Ride to Read has been as much about cycling as it is about literacy.  Reading and writing is a gift that many of us indulge in everyday, in this very moment for instance, and it is something that I wanted to raise funds and awareness for, representing a great Canadian charity – World Literacy Canada – and their humanitarian and educational efforts in India and Nepal.  I chose to do so by cycling alone across the European continent, enduring moments of joy and moments of difficulty, and choosing to dedicate those difficult moments to a cause that I believe in with all my heart – literacy and education.

The fundraising goal set for this trip was chosen somewhat arbitrarily – 10,000$.  Many months ago, when deciding upon the desired sum, I thought that 10,000$ was both a lofty and an achievable goal, and therefore perfect.  By our western standards it is neither too little or too much money – and I liked that.

Now, it seems that I have raised a dollar amount closer to the amount of kilometers cycled – at the end of the trip my chronometer reads 4,295km.

We have raised, thus far and to my knowledge, an approximate 4,400$ !!!

Have we reached the hoped for goal? No. But is 4,400$ still a whopping cool sum of money for World Literacy Canada – yes!!

 

Secondly - 

What am I doing to continue the Ride (aka. the fundraising) beyond the actual riding?

This is an issue that has nagged me for some weeks now.  I didn’t like the idea of arriving in Istanbul and having this fundraiser simply blow away in the wind – just because I’m not cycling across Europe anymore (I ran out of Europe, I’d have to go to Asia, lol) doesn’t mean that we can’t start something fun and interesting to generate just a bit more funds for WLC.

Soo… the current idea is for me to play at “freelance journalism” and write a few articles for some Canadian magazines, newspapers – really anyone who would post a story about bicycle travel, Europe or fundraising projects – and have funds generated from these articles dedicated 100% to the Ride to Read.  I’ve learned and experienced a lot on this trip and I am taking plenty of notes – both voice, video and written recordings – that have not fully been published on this blog.  I wish to use this material to write a few articles about specific countries, cultures or experiences I had during this bicycle trip, and channel the payment for these pieces, however symbolic they may be, towards this fundraiser.

Please do note – although the Ride to Read team has already put this plan into action, your help in furthering this fundraising initiative is appreciated.  If you are reading this and know of a magazine, newspaper or other type of media that would be interested in collaborating with us – do let me know! Any contacts, personal and professional, can especially be helpful in this case.

Thirdly -

It’s currently a bit of a waiting game.

Why? Because our guy at World Literacy Canada went on holiday (bless him, I hope he is having a great break!).  But, since all funds donated go through WLC first, and then later get reported to me and my assistant, it’s impossible for us to know if we raised 20$ or 2,000$ in the last 2 days.  And we won’t know any more about it until he gets back from holiday at the start of August!

My sincere apologies for this – if you made a donation and checked our donation tracker wheel to see if it would be automatically updated – sorry, it’s just not how our system works.  From the start I didn’t want any sponsor, known to me or unknown, thinking that they were contributing to “some gal’s crazy bicycle adventure half a world away” instead of to the charity the money is destined to – this is why all the donations have gone, and continue to go through, World Literacy Canada.  This way there is no room for confusion – even if the downside is that information about fundraising progress trickles down slower to me, the cyclist.  Ah well.. patience is one of the many virtues I have trained these past few weeks

If you’ve donated, if you are waiting to give or know anyone who still wishes to donate – don’t hesitate to do so!!

….of course, not I, nor anyone else will know that you have done so until (approx.) 2 weeks from now – but trust me – when we find out we will sing your praises! we will thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!

you can count on it!

– and that —

 - I think -

.. wraps up this post about fundraising and the Ride to Read.

THANK YOU to each and every single person, whether I know you, whether we have become Internet-friends during this ride, or whether I have yet to meet you and give you a very enthusiastic bear-hug, thank you so much for taking the time, energy and money, to donate to this fundraiser!

Know that you have done a noble and beautiful deed .. and that there is a young woman with cyclist thighs typing this blog post in the city of Istanbul (Asian side) very and I mean very thankful for your contribution!!

 

the Ride to Read !!

 

 

The end of a journey – in Istanbul, Turkey

Yes!!!! Have made it - miraculously, incredibly, certainly – to the mega-metropolis that is Istanbul.

The last few days have been pure chaos. Just as the stories and adventures get really interesting, I have fallen behind with blogging and writing. Please know that the poste are in the works! The stories will get to you! … But right now… I must – rest!

Exhaustion is kicking in – just one last thing before I let my eyes shut – THANK YOU!!! Merci, gracias, dziękuję, grazie… And thank you again in every language on earth!

For all your help, your support, your encouragement, your wonderful presence – to those who wonder how I could have cycled and been on the road “alone” for so long, I can only smile when I realize that I was never alone. Not ever.

Words cannot express my gratitude!

Thank you SO MUCH!!!

IBikeUbike

I would like to give a big shout out to fellow biking revolutionaries – this family of 5 who have given up driving and embraced cycling as a means of transportation and a way of life, write an incredible blog
about their cycling (and life) adventures.

Check it out at: www.ibikeubike.com

They have also been great Ride to Read supporters and have been generous enough to dedicate a blog post and article about this ride and the “10 days, 10 dollars” campaign. Check out the article titled “It means so much”:

Now that’s some amazing support! Thanks so much!

…Long live cycling, the cycling community and our abilities to read and write about it all!

Kasia – your supported cyclist

Thank you to Totalitea Tea Boutique in Calgary!

We would like to send a warm Thank You to Totalitea Tea Boutique in Calgary for supporting the Ride to Read. If you are in Calgary make sure to stop in to their storefront at 336-315 8th Ave. (3rd floor Banker’s Hall) or at the Calgary Farmer’s Market and pick up something from superb tea and tea products. Well worth it! If you aren’t a local of the area but would like to check them out you can do so online at http://www.totalitea.com

Thanks Again!

Day 39 – Video Blog

After my feeble attempts at riding Peter’s recumbent bicycle, he had to show us that it is, in fact, possible to ride !

Thank you to Simply Salt for their generous donation!

We would like to thank BC Business Simply Salt for their donation to ride to read. You can check out their website at http://www.simplysalt.com and purchase some of their Bolivian Pink Salt straight from the website. For all you foodies and healthy eaters out there – this is a great product we know you will love.

Day 13 – Lawn bowling

Lawn bowling, a national French pastime.

90.3 AMP Radio Calgary

We’d like to give a big thank you to 90.3 AMP radio Calgary for supporting Ride to Read by promoting the event on their website!
You can check it out at

http://www.ampradiocalgary.com/index.asp?MN=13&id=51&CC=6