You would think we would be far less nervous the second time around. After all, we are practically old pros at this fundraising thing now aren’t we?? I wish it was that easy. Truth be told, we were all nervous wrecks in the days and hours leading up to our Monday night beer and burger event. Would anyone show up? Would we actually sell more than 80 raffle tickets? Would people bid on our silent auction items???

Addison was the most confident out of all us. She kept asking, “When is the burger night?” And she spent several days carefully picking out her party outfit. She also took a couple of hours to create a work of art to be auctioned off at the event. The night of the fundraiser, she quipped, “Well the party can’t get started until the star gets there!” Ummmmm, at least it’s kind of precocious and cute for a 6 year old, right?

Well, thanks to all of our amazing supporters, we did it! You guys came, you ate, you drank, you played trivia, you generously bought (or were coerced by a tenacious 6-year old into buying) many chocolate bars, you filled out raffle tickets, you laughed, even those of you who couldn’t come did what you could to be part of our event, and most importantly, you made us realize just what an incredible circle of love we have surrounding us.

So I am sure you all want to know just how much money we raised for pediatric transplant research?? We are so excited to announce that we are over $4000 and still counting!! The big bike ride is this Sunday so we’ll wait until after that to tally up the final number.

We had set a slightly lower goal this year because we knew we were distracted from full-on planning with the McYongs in Spain for a month. But we are already working on our next fundraiser. We have been talking about changing things up to try and grow the event. Key to that will be moving the date out of the summer to spring or fall. We hope this means even more of you can come and join us, and ultimately raise even more money.

We’d also like to give a huge thank you to our long list of sponsors. We had so many business owners, friends and family donate wonderful prizes for our raffle and auction. We could not have done it without you.

You know the saying…it takes a village. And you guys are an awesome village!!

Love,
Sheena and Adam
Elaine, Aaron, Addison and Charlie

This year’s Golden Sombrero route was a little tamer than the past couple of years, but not by much. 120 kilometres and 3300 metres of vertical made for a challenging 7-hour ride. However, our small but mighty group of riders finished the day with smiles. And most importantly, conquering the bigger goal of raising money for pediatric transplant research. Addison was the lead cheerleader of the day, welcoming the riders with her signature moves. It was the perfect motivation to keep those pedals going right until the end.

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We were also really excited about the transplant community picnic at the finish line. This was something new this year, thanks to our very motivated double lung transplant buddy Margaret Benson with the Canadian Transplant Association. Along with BC Transplant and the Transplant Research Foundation of BC, these three groups came together to put on a fun afternoon.

And now on to the most exciting news…announcing our grand total…

♥ ♥ ♥ $5725 ♥ ♥ ♥

Woohoo!!!!! We are so thankful for all the support from friends, family, local businesses, colleagues and our transplant community. A special shout out to our co-organizers, Sheena and Adam Lee. This started with Adam and Aaron’s little idea for a slightly insane bike ride, and this year they really took over the reins. (We were a little preoccupied with the arrival of baby Charlie!) We wouldn’t be here without all their hard work and dedication to the cause. It is pretty amazing to see how far we’ve come, and we can only get bigger and better next year, which means even more funding for pediatric transplant research. Together we are making a difference in the lives of kids just like Addison.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Love,
Elaine, Aaron, Addison and Charlie

PS It’s never too late to DONATE! 🙂

Get ready to suffer for a great cause!

The Recycle Ride, also known affectionately as the Golden Sombrero, is full on suffering…but in a good way.  It will test your strength on the bike and give you a chance to have a great time on a memorable group ride of the North Shore. This is the third edition of the Sombrero – four climbs spanning 120 kilometres through North and West Vancouver. We tackle the traditional Triple Crown -Seymour, Grouse, and Cypress – but we throw in another climb in the Seymour/Lynn Valley Headwaters…just for fun.

Here it is! 120 km with 3200 meters of climbing

Since the first ride, the Sombrero has grown to become the main fundraising event for the Addison Fund at the Transplant Research Foundation of BC. My daughter Addison became desperately sick when she was just three weeks old. Her heart was failing, and according to doctors the only option was a heart transplant. In May of 2011 she became the youngest person to ever receive a heart transplant in BC. The surgery was just the beginning of what has become a lifelong journey for our whole family. Addison is now five and thriving, living a full life after transplant. But transplant isn’t a cure. It is a treatment. We want to change that. By dedicating our efforts to raising money specifically for pediatric transplant research, we are confident we can change patient outcomes and help these kids grow into adults with long, healthy lives.

In our first year on a hot day in August, six riders tackled the route and raised just over $2500 for pediatric transplant research.

By the time our second year rolled around, our fundraising efforts continued to grow. The Addison Fund had become the kickstarter for a national pediatric transplant research project. Partners from across the country have come on board to help fund a national team grant. However, things did not go quite as well from a riding standpoint. Pouring rain (the first in a long, hot, dry summer) washed out the ride.

We still managed 80 km and two of the four climbs. It was a strong effort by a dozen riders who started in East Vancouver. We doubled our ridership, and more than doubled our fund raising targets.

This year by pushing the date back to the end of the August we hope to catch some great weather. There is no entry fee for the event – we need as many people on bikes as we can get. We do please ask that if you are clipping in, you make a donation to the Addison Fund at Transplant Research Foundation of BC.  Remember, we are not a Fondo. We are not a race.  We are a social ride made up of people who want to test their limits on a bicycle – and have a beer or two afterwards to brag about the accomplishment.  If this sounds like fun, email us: therecycleride@gmail.com

Even with a few fairweather drop-outs, what an awesome turnout for the Recycle Ride!

After a gazillion days of gorgeous sunshine, the rains arrived in the Lower Mainland with a vengeance. Exactly at the same time as our Recycle Ride for pediatric transplant research. Rivers of water on slick road do not make for fun or safe descents from killer climbs, and we actually weren’t even sure if any riders would show up at 7am this morning. Well, we were so excited, honoured and touched to come around the corner of the JJ Bean on Commercial Drive to see an awesome group of people. Wow! And even more impressive…they were prepared to go for a ride.

The cheer team at the first rest stop.

We decided right away to kill all the butt-kicking climbs due to safety and everyone agreed to just see how it went as the morning progressed. Of course, 15 minutes after the cyclists took off, the skies really opened up. By the time they arrived at the first rest stop 28km later, they were drenched. And at the next rest stop, the decision was made to end the Recycle Ride at Grouse Mountain. Not quite the 160km, four-crazy-climb, full-day event we had been planning for, but life doesn’t always work out the way you want. You just do the best you can, and have as much fun as you can. I think we accomplished that today!

Addison loved “her bike ride”, as she calls it. She had a great time cheering on the riders despite the wet weather, and she kept the support team thoroughly entertained while hanging out in the support van, refusing to take off her PJs all day. She makes it easy to see the bright side of things, no matter how bleak things may look. Doesn’t the sun always come out after the storm? And of course, it certainly did exactly that. Vancouver weather!!!!

Grouse Mountain – the rainy day end of the Recycle Ride.

Next year, we are going to have an even more incredible event. Our experience this second time around made us realize we have a great community of riders, supporters, transplant family, friends, loved ones and family. A big thank you to each and every one who took part today, and to our sponsors: Canadian Transplant Association, Price-Smart Foods (Grandview), Superstore (Marine Drive).

What an awesome team!

And a big hug and thank you to all our generous donors who gave to the Addison Pediatric Transplant Research Fund. You make it possible for us to help support researchers who are giving hope to families like us. Transplant isn’t a cure, but we know we can get there. (And if you haven’t donated, it’s never too late!! Click HERE.)

Much love and thanks,
Elaine, Aaron and Addison

…or at least your support of organ donation! We are in the process of ordering custom cycling jerseys for the Recycle Ride. Cost will be $60 CDN. Personalization is possible for an extra $5. How cool would it be to have “Heart transplant recipient” or “A donor saved my daughter’s life!” on your jersey?? Men’s and women’s race and club cuts, and children’s cuts are available (all the same price). Sizing chart is HERE.

Still a few tweaks in the works but this is a pretty good idea of how it will look. We will move the “We heart Addison” to the left sleeve and the Canadian Transplant Association logo will go on that back pocket. Personalization will be on the back on top of the recycling symbol.

We are also planning to order the design on technical fabric running singlet/tanks ($40) and/or short sleeved shirts ($46). Let us know by MONDAY JUNE 8 if you are interested in placing an order. We are working on a tight deadline so we can get them before the ride.

Halfway up Cypress

Good things come from small ideas. Our insanity started out as nothing more than that. We wanted to ride our bikes on about as challenging a route as we could think of, and so the Golden Sombrero was born. The sombrero is a baseball term – the ignominious act of striking out four times in one game.  So our version is riding up four mountains in one 100-mile day.  It is both awesome and awful at the same time.

Regrouping at the Top

There were moments last year I wanted to get off my bike, but we made it. Mostly. Six of us started out, five finished, and in the process we raised $1500 for the Addison Fund to support transplant research.

The Route

This year we are hoping to surpass that fundraising goal and encourage new riders. If you are interested in tackling a serious cycling challenge you should join us. But we get it – not everyone is a glutton for punishment. So we will have  second route called the Sombrero Pequeno, slightly more sane… 60 km with one big climb to prove you are slightly mad.

You can find all the details of the Golden Sombrero 2015 here. If you want to commit email us @ therecycleride@gmail.com  Or at least donate some money.