My 2011 Charity Ride — Gang Rescue and Support Project
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Greetings folks. It is time for me to talk about my charity ride for the year.
The Cause:
Gang Rescue and Support Project (GRASP) is an organization that my mom co-founded when my adopted brother was killed in a drive-by shooting after he’d successfully got himself out of the gangs in downtown Denver. More than a few decades have gone by and the group has not only grown, but thrived and become an example for similar groups in other cities. This organization does amazing things. Not only does it have an active member ship that goes into the areas where gangs have power to help people get out, but it also assists with peer and professional counseling, education, training and job support, tattoo removal and family outreach. This is a grass roots group that is both in the trenches, in the community and reaching out into all parts of society to get and give support. The success stories that I’ve heard over the years are amazing. I hear new ones EVERY SINGLE WEEK when I talk to my mom.
The Rides:
I wanted to do something different this year. I’ve done the more mainstream rides in past years and they’re great. For me, this time of year is about doing long rides that really challenge me physically and mentally. When I noticed that 2 of the events on my ride schedule were on consecutive days, I knew that I needed to do something special for them.
October 15th is the Seagull Century. I’ll be riding the classic course this year on a fixie. Flat century rides are a lot of fun. I thought doing this ride without the benefit of changing gears or coasting would add a bit to the enjoyment. It pushes me in a new and different way. My goal is a sub-5 hour ride, though honestly I’ll be happy with 5:30 or less.
October 16th is the Montgomery County Epic mountain bike ride. This is a 62 mile ride through 11 different parks in MoCo. I add to this the ride to and from the start to make it an even 150 miles in the saddle. 85% of this ride is off-road. I rode it last year on a rigid single speed and finished in just under 14 hours. My goal this year is to cut an hour off of that.
Why should I donate?
GRASP is a local group that isn’t even working in this area? Why should you care? That question is easy to answer. GRASP and its work have been infectious. Dozens, if not hundreds of groups around the country and the globe have seen their example and started similar groups. Helping GRASP helps the world. It makes a big difference in the day to day, and long-term lives of people who need the help. It sets the best example for people to live positive and giving lives.
The other great reason is my mom. She’s well into her 70s now and is still active in the daily activities of the group at virtually every level. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better example of someone who gives her all and inspires others to do the same than my mother.
How to donate:
GRASP, and it’s parent organization Metro Denver Partners use a program called “Giving First” for their web-based fund raising. Giving First is, itself a non profit that helps other non-profits do fund raising. It is set up so that 100% of donations go to the charitable groups who participate.
Metro Denver Partners makes sure that 93% of every donation goes directly into their charitable programs. Very little is used for overhead. Basically the money goes where it does the most good.
Here is my fundraising page: http://www.givingfirst.org/HPV_for_Giving
Please mention GRASP in the free text part of your donation to help make sure that it goes to the right place. Thanks!
My goal is $3000 by the end of October. That is a little over a month away and I feel like I’ve barely got started. Please help with what you can.
Thanks!
Pete
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You sir continue to be the man.
100 miles on a fixie huh
Do you still ride in the Monday after something like that?
Great cause, glad I can help a little.
First: Thanks y’all for your donations. They are much appreciated.
Second: I train all year for riding from mid September through mid October. This is what I call Stupid Human Tricks. The 220 mile ride two weeks ago and the century in the mountains were definitely a good warm-up for what’s coming week after next. This weekend I need to get a little time on the mountain bike to make sure I know how to ride the thing. Not doing anything too difficult or long since I’ve got a 250-mile weekend in a few weeks.
What makes it worse is that I’ve scheduled the Kill Bill Century the weekend before Seagull and the MoCo epic. Should make it interesting.
Enjoy the rainy rides today.
Pete
@Tim Kelley 9142 wrote:
I even got a nice Thank You from your organization letter by snail mail!
Coolness. They’re a serious class act.
Great rides this weekend!
Saturday the fixie Seagull Century went perfectly, thanks to the help of my friend Jabberwocky. The wind was brutal. 100 miles in 5 hours. PHotos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrogringo/sets/72157627901708984/
The Sunday mountain bike epic was flawless! 136 miles in 13 hours. Absolutely no problems at all. Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrogringo/sets/72157627910693256/
Monday morning intervals were super slow.
I got one doughnut for each interval I completed.Thanks again for all your support!!!
Pete
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