Raise One For Anne

One month.  That's how long we have until our  12 Hour Challenge . I wrote this post in my head while spending an hour on the indoor trainer during what passes for lunch time when working from home. I was thinking about what is left for us to do.  More training rides Work on logistical details for the 12 Hour ride on July 23 More training rides Pester people I know for donations More training rides Thinking about why we do this Of course, we are doing this in memory of Anne but to be blunt, it doesn't matter to her. Hopefully, the funds we raise matter to others like her. Hopefully, some family is spared the pain of a loved one losing their life to SUDEP. Hopefully, we help fund some new pathway for treatment that helps people with epilepsy live a full and rewarding life.  But what is 70/30? 120 miles is 70% of the distance we hope to ride on July 23. One of those training rides mentioned above will be this Saturday, June 25. We will be following a route  link ...

 Like most neurological disorders/diseases those who live with them face constant challenges. The one in 26 Americans who have been diagnosed with Epilepsy are no different. They have no way of knowing when their next seizure might come. Even if their seizures are well controlled with medication, the medications can make you feel like "you are not you". I know Anne struggled with this at times. The medication, of course, can be very expensive. Those with frequent enough seizures often cannot obtain or lose their license to drive a car. That makes them reliant on public transportation or friends and family to take them to work or complete everyday errands most of us take for granted. The hours and days post-seizure can be a blur as their brain tries to put itself back together. Frequent seizures can also make sleep difficult and lack of good sleep can increase frequency of seizures.  These are just the challenge I know about from Anne's 25 years of dealing with seizures be...

Each year we do this, in whatever current incarnation suits us, it starts to get more real when we start logging longer days on the bike. The last two Sundays, we’ve ridden 50+ miles each. Getting out butts accustomed to “seat” time is tough during the Winter. But the Spring finally looks to be happening in Central Ohio, so away we go! Training. Brainstorming fundraising ideas. Making notes about logistical stuff for the long day. We’ve got time but it all needs to happen.  We are looking for people to share the draft in July(looking hard at 7/23). Let me know if you are interested. In the meantime, be well. If you want more pretty pictures from our rides, follow us on Instagram @raiseoneforanne.

We had a really successful 2021 both riding and fundraising, $6492! So, what challenge have we cooked up for this year? This will likely be our most aggressive challenge in the 5 year history of Raise One For Anne. Remember, in 2019 we rode 165 miles in one day from Grand Rapids, MI to Frankfort, MI. That took us about 14 hours including stops, a crash, and roadside bike maintenance. This year we are going to attempt cover at least that distance in 12 hours. That's right, 165 miles in 12 total hours , including stops. Our stretch goal is 170 miles.  By my estimate, we will have to spend at least 10 hours on the bikes to hit our goal! How and where are we going to accomplish this? Training, training, and more training Careful route selection to minimize time spent at stop lights etc.  Riding various loops that will bring us back near a central point every 1-2 hours for water, food, and bathroom breaks. Sample Loop 1 The loops/laps will originate from a park near Columbus, OH. ...

 Once again we will be accepting donations via Epilepsy.org and their Athletes vs. Epilepsy program. We're off to a great start via a fb fundraiser and donations via the Epilepsy site with over $2000 in donations! Here is the... LINK

  We know where we're going! No, we will not be crossing the Atlantic Ocean but we will be visiting our old "friend", The White Pine Trail on JUNE 12th  to ride from Rockford to Paris, MI and back. On the northern most point of the ride we will stop to visit a 20 foot tall replica of The Eiffel Tower in  Paris Park . I can't wait to have my picture taken next to this monument to making use of idle hands.  The total route is 105 miles (click that to see a map) from the staging area in Belmont(That's not technically Rockford, I know but I have reasons. Number one being the staging area has actual bathrooms.) to Paris and back. For those unfamiliar with the trail, the section between Sand Lake and Big Rapids is unpaved/gravel. It's not the roughest track I've ridden but it's certainly not smooth tarmac. Other than that and the distance the route is pretty nice. With only 2200 feet of climbing over the 105 miles, the journey will be flat by any cycling sta...