Livestrong Challenge - schedule for 2009

[Possegal]

I was thinking of that today actually, as I was telling my niece how I signed up and started my team on the first day registration opened just so the team was ready to go when/if the 1/2 off day came along.

I would imagine though, that you can sign up individually. Then when you set up a team, people already signed up can join it. However, I haven't done that and so I can't be certain. I have learned that what makes sense, isn't always what is true. It just seems to me that it would make sense that someone already registered can join a team at a later date.

I have a couple on the fence too, mainly due to my soon to be born nephew. I'm trying to convince folks to go ahead and sign up and if they end up not being able to go, well they donated $25 to a good cause.

[ny biker]

I'm pretty sure you can join a team after you register. If it's not clear on the registration site, then I would call them and ask.

I'm having trouble getting to my email right now (takes forever for the stupid ads to load! grrr) but I have a recent newsletter that provides the phone numbers. I'll post them when I can get access to it.
=============

Okay, finally got access to the email newsletter.

General Inquiries:
livestrongchallenge@laf.org
888-4-CHALLENGE (888.424.2553)

City Specific Inquiries:
seattlechallenge@livestrong.org
sanjosechallenge@livestrong.org
phillychallenge@livestrong.org
austinchallenge@livestrong.org

Also there is this, which may be of interest to some folks:

What is a Virtual Participant?

You spoke, and we listened! We heard from many of you last year who wanted to participate in a Challenge but couldn't make it to the event, so we created a new registration type just for you. In the event that you can't make it to a Challenge, or if you know of someone who wants to join your team in the fight against cancer, just sign up as a Virtual Challenge Participant. You will have access to all of our great fundraising tools and can ride or walk with us on the day of the event in your own city. After the Challenge is complete, we will send you a T-shirt and water bottle.

[bluebug32]

Thanks!

So excited to sign up and start training for this

[ny biker]

Looks like today is the perfect day to sign up!

And I thought I was getting a deal when I only had to pay $35 on the first day they opened registration...

[bluebug32]

We're currently fighting over a team name. This is what I get for signing up with boys.

[Possegal]

I knew when I paid $35 that a half-off day was likely in the future. In 06, 07 and 08, it was in May on their "livestrong day", which I believe was never on the same day in May. Then I read that this year, Livestrong day is in October and I thought - well how is that going to help my team save money? I almost contacted one of the people there that I talked a lot with last year to ask him, please tell me if there will be another 1/2 off day, so my team can save themselves a little money. No need now. Though so far only 2 of them have signed up and saved.

And sorry you are fighting over team names. I run my team like the dictatorship I think it should be. KIDDING.

[bluebug32]

Well, it's definitely an important cause, so I don't want to have a silly, trite sounding name. But I don't want some kind of cancer fighting cliche either. Ahh...sometimes I hate that I'm a writer and can't settle for mediocrity.

[Possegal]

Mine actually kinda wrote itself. We started the team because my sister Kelly had just been diagnosed. Her first day of chemo, her daughter commented that other people had a Chemo buddy, but there were so many of us there that her mother had a Chemo Posse. I laughed and said to her - I think you just named our Livestrong team. And thus, Kelly's Posse was born.

[andtckrtoo]

You can change teams or move to a team after you register - all you have to do is call or email them. I did last year's LiveStrong challenge in San Jose and am doing it again this year. I found the people associated with LiveStrong to be very friendly and accommodating. It's a great group.

[bluebug32]

Any good fund raising ideas?

[ny biker]

Well I just got this email from them:


We are always looking for new ways to help you in the fundraising process and we’ve got two great announcements for you! Based on participant feedback, this week marks the opening of the Materials Request Form on http://my.livestrong.org, a month earlier than last year, as well as the launch of a brand new fundraising tool for Facebook. Both of these resources are sure to help make your fundraising process a little easier.

The Material Request Form on my.livestrong.org allows you, as a participant, to request LIVESTRONG Challenge branded items or informational pieces in order to promote your own fundraising efforts. We offer a variety of items including banners, stickers, buttons, individualized sunscreen packets (NEW this year!) and brochures on the Foundation as well as the LIVESTRONG Challenge.

Not sure how to use these items to help with your fundraising efforts? Visit the mentor page on our website and contact your local mentor. Mentors are dedicated volunteers with proven fundraising success and their mission is to help you reach your goals! We encourage you to request materials on a monthly basis and enjoy hearing how you used the items successfully. Visit http://my.livestrong.org and order now!


The second tool, our LIVESTRONG Challenge Fundraising™ Application, can be added to your Facebook page so that you can easily extend your fundraising efforts to your online network of friends. You can add it now by logging in to your HQ (Seattle, San Jose, Philly, Austin); look for the “fundraise with Facebook” button.

Once you’ve added our LIVESTRONG Challenge Fundraising™ Application to your Facebook page, your friends can check your progress, donate to your efforts and join you in the fight against cancer.

As your fundraising total increases, your thermometer will fill up on your Facebook page and we’ll send newsfeeds to your network of friends to keep them up to date on your participation and fundraising progress. It’s that easy. Log in to your HQ and add this application now!

[Possegal]

I already ordered the sunscreen packets a couple of days ago. I will likely order more bracelets too. We gave them out to people who came to fundraisers.

Our biggest money maker was a yard sale. We raised over $600 with that. People are always happy to get rid of things during spring cleaning. We make sure to spread the word around - friends, family, co-workers. I highly recommend that as a fundraiser.

I also had a fundraiser at Max & Erma's restaurant in Pittsburgh. They made up the coupons, mailed them to me, I spread them around through my family. Then anyone that turned that coupon in with their bill on the day we chose, the company gave us 20% of the total. We made about $150 on that but more importantly it was a fun family event. I have a large family and they all came out for it, along with a number of friends. It was a really nice night! I think a number of restaurants will do that for you, worth asking!

Now, off to check out the facebook application.

And today I finished my little video to send around to my potential donors and the rest of my team.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7xNtQTJGG4

[ny biker]

I created a facebook account last night so I could use their application.

[Possegal]

Very cool! I'll see how well it works. In the end I've found nothing works quite as well as my direct personal emails to my friends where I play up the personal connections and all. I have a niece that rides with us who is very uncomfortable doing that (direct email pleas), so I'm hoping this helps her out.

[ny biker]

Well, I added the Livestrong application, but I don't see anything about it on my facebook page. But then I can't seem to figure out how to do much of anything on this facebook page. I think I need Facebook for Dummies.