SEATTLE! JOIN US FOR LIVESTRONG DAY FRIDAY MAY 17, 2013!

More Cycling.  More Spandex. More Survivorship.

Need we say more?



Don't make me ride alone! (2007) ...

... Join a great group for a midday spin! (2012)

LIVESTRONG Day has been moved to Friday, May 17th this year!

Come out and join us for our SEVENTH annual "Spin for LIVESTRONG" event in downtown Seattle.  It's a hoot! It's a holler!  It's full on heckling of passing pedestrians and drivers!

Be ready to make some noise! If you are a cyclist, bring your bike and your trainer and spin with us.  If you aren't a cyclist, come down to cheer us on and heckle as well!  Wear your LIVESTRONG jerseys, t-shirts, or something yellow to support us!

Here are the details of this year's LIVESTRONG Day event in Seattle - hope you can join us, bring a friend, and have some fun for an extended lunch hour frolic on ... "Bike to Work Day"!

WHAT:	“LIVESTRONG DAY - Spin for LIVESTRONG”: a celebration to support those affected by cancer, part of a series of worldwide events. A number of Seattle-area LIVESTRONG Supporters will take to the streets and spin while fundraising and raising awareness for LIVESTRONG and the Foundation's programs to help and empower people affected by cancer.
DATE:	Friday, May 17, 2013
TIME:	11:30am-1:30pm, including15 minutes setup/takedown on either end. Be ready to start spinning by 11:45am!
LOCATION:	Union Street, south side, between 4th and 5th Avenue (Rainier Plaza).
HOW:	Cycling.  Spandex.  Survivorship. Need we say more?  Cyclists and supporters will ‘spin’ on stationary trainers for two hours in support of cancer survivors, on the downtown streets of Seattle! We will ride in unison, raise awareness and fundraise, and heckle pedestrians as they pass by our line of cyclists. Grab a wristband!  Cheer us on, or cheer with us!  Every donation gets a round of applause.   What to Bring:  If Biking: bring your bike and stationary trainer (need one? Let me know and I may be able to scrounge one up!), and your cycling kit.  Wear LIVESTRONG colors - yellow/black - but we may have a jersey to lend if you need it, too. If you're not biking: come cheer us on, and wear yellow!  Some snacks provided.  Be sure to bring full water bottles! We're riding rain or shine!  This year, we will have canopies overhead to keep us dry, just in case, compliments of our local Performance Bike store!  (As well as some raffly giveaways, too ...!)

It would be great to see you - please show up (RSVP's encouraged to rideforlivestrongseattle@gmail.com) and support us!

LIVESTRONG,

Patrick
Team Captain, Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle
Senior LIVESTRONG Leader
@patchatfield

LIVESTRONG - WHO WE ARE

POST-LIVESTRONG ASSEMBLY, PRE-BIKE EXPO ANTICIPATION

Hello, "Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle" Followers!

As a 2013 Senior LIVESTRONG Leader, I just returned from almost a week of training at the annual LIVESTRONG Assembly, in Chicago, Illinois and wanted to write a quick note:

A few weeks ago, I must admit that I was uneasy heading into the Seattle Bike Expo (next weekend, March 9-10, 2013), which is our group's first LIVESTRONG event for the year, and which sets the tone for our group during the season: I mean, how settled would we feel about LIVESTRONG, and what would we say to Expo-goers as they asked about LIVESTRONG this year?

Well, the good news is that the LIVESTRONG Assembly has reaffirmed my initial beliefs in the Foundation.  LIVESTRONG is not going anywhere.  Will it thrive?  Hell, yes.  Will it continue to grow, strengthen its survivor-focused programs and chart new territory to fill the voids in the cancer community?  Absolutely.

I was blown away by the energy, commitment and hearfelt dedication of LIVESTRONG staff, Leaders, Mentors, community partners and grantees - over 500 of them, who flew in from all corners of the globe - all working together to coordinate, grow and enhance existing and new programs.  The unanimous feeling was to double-down and move forward and continue to serve the 28 million people currently affected by cancer.

I invite you to check out the link above, which gives a heartfelt behind-the-scenes look at the work of the LIVESTRONG Foundation's staff, as well as this year's "State of the Foundation" address here: http://blog.livestrong.org/2013/02/28/the-2013-state-of-the-foundation-address/ which should give great insight into the Foundation that we support.

I'm looking forward to next weekend's Seattle Bike Expo with great anticipation and excitement.  There remains a lot to accomplish - please drop by and say hello!  We look forward to talking to you - our excitement is contagious.

LIVESTRONG -

Patrick

Senior LIVESTRONG Leader

Team Captain, Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle

@patchatfield

BACK IN THE SADDLE!

Hello, 2013!

Well, it’s been a rocky few months since the last posting in October of 2012, both personally and cause-driven, for our little Seattle team:

Ahhh, the accident.  Note the LIVESTRONG jersey (!).

-        Personally, I was unfortunately hit by a car while bike commuting to work in Seattle, just two weeks after the Team LIVESTRONG Challenge/Ride for the Roses Weekend in Austin, Texas in mid-October.  A car drove out in front of me, causing me to hit and ‘superman’ over the vehicle and land on my head, injuring me and totaling my bike.  Not great at all.

-        Cause-driven, and now with several weeks’ perspective, we are all affected and disappointed with the recent revelations of Lance, but the sentiment remains that LIVESTRONG is not about one person, nor about the professional cycling word: it is about the mission to serve people affected by cancer and to empower them to take action against the world’s leading cause of death.   LIVESTRONG's mission has not changed, nor should that powerful personal meaning of the yellow LIVESTRONG bracelets. Lance is no longer associated with the Foundation, but we thank him for his dedication to the cause in transforming cancer victims into cancer survivors.

But now, we’re improving and recuperating, focusing and forging forward into 2013!  Let’s get back in the saddle, physically and metaphorically!

Pre-accident, at the LIVESTRONG Challenge in Austin 10/12

Bring it on!  Please join us!

(You can register to fundraise with us here: https://secure.livestrong.org/site/TRR/675010060 - search under “Seattle” for our team!)

There’s much to be done, and a lot of fun to be had along the way.

There’s a lot to look forward to as we plan our events for this year.  Our team has been discussing what rides and events to participate in, and ask that you plan to join or support us however you can – and help us continue to build a LIVESTRONG community in the northwest!

Riding Events on tap this year (so far – keep watching as we update this post and blog):

1.      2013 Seattle Bicycle Expo: March 9-10: https://shop.cascade.org/content/events/expo Please join us at this annual landmark event, where we kick off our season – talk about the upcoming season, connect with survivors and caregivers – and meet YOU!

2.      Flying Wheels Summer Century: June 8: https://shop.cascade.org/content/events/flying-wheels-summer-century We have ridden this ride for the past handful of years, and enjoyed it as a humbling century (depending on your course length) for the start of the riding season. Please register and join us!

3.      Chelan Century: June 22: http://www.centuryride.com A couple of us are planning to attend, after hearing a colleague’s account of the harrowing three hills. Meh!   

4.      Portland Century: August 18: http://www.portlandcentury.com We’re switching things up this year!  After a great couple of years with the Seattle Century, we are teaming with the same organizers for the Portland Century.  Stay tuned for more details – working to still have the same discount, semi-group ride, gourmet food and finish line dedicated area for LIVESTRONG riders.  A great late summer ride!

5.      Austin Team LIVESTRONG Challenge: October 20: http://www.livestrong.org/Take-Action/Team-LIVESTRONG-Events/Ride/Team-LIVESTRONG-Challenge-Austin A highlight by any measure – riding a fantastic ride through the Texas hill country, in LIVESTRONG’s back yard.  You are part of the LIVESTRONG community the moment you arrive.

In addition, we will have representation at the 2013 LIVESTRONG Assembly in Chicago at the end of February, and will connect and join forces again with the likes of Camp Kesem (http://www.campkesem.org) and other organizations, as well as YACFest (http://www.yacfest.com) and other community outreach events.  More to come!

Rest up! Please join us! 

It’ll be another fantastic year.

LIVESTRONG,

Patrick

Senior LIVESTRONG Leader

Team Captain, Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle

@patchatfield



SUCCESS! 2012 SEATTLE LIVESTRONG DAY!

SPIN FOR LIVESTRONG SEATTLE 2012!

Last Friday we had our “Spin for LIVESTRONG Seattle” event on the downtown urban sidewalks. 

There were men and women in spandex, spinning on their bikes but going nowhere, loudly heckling Seattleites (including cowbells), handing out LIVESTRONG wristbands, and raising funds & awareness for cancer survivorship. 

It was a sight to be seen – and experienced, let me tell you.

2012 LIVESTRONG Day spinning on the streets of Seattle!

We were interviewed by a few news media outlets, which was great.  But most importantly, we heard a lot of “thanks” from people who know what LIVESTRONG does, and how this organization has helped them and their loved ones.  It’s those moments of unsolicited appreciation that keeps us going.

We couldn’t have pulled it off without the help of the riders/volunteers: from back to front in the photo – Dan, Damon, Jon, Nina, Patrick and Rob! Well done, everyone!

Of course, a HUGE thank you to Unico Properties (http://www.unicoprop.com) for hosting us again on their sidewalk, Gregg’s Cycles (http://greggscycles.com) for lending us their canopies, and Urban Nomad (http://www.urbannomadseattle.com) for the very tasty (and highly recommended) food truck pasta lunch at the finish.

We’re looking forward to next year’s event – and other future opportunities to “Spin for LIVESTRONG” around the area!

Thank you, Seattleites – for all your support this past year!

LIVESTRONG,

Patrick

Senior LIVESTRONG Leader

Team Captain, Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle

@patchatfield

---

Next (and last) official event stop for 2012:

The Team LIVESTRONG Challenge in Austin, Texas!

Our 'Cyclists Combating Cancer' team at the beginning of the ride in 2011.

From the October 19-21 weekend, a few of us will be at the birthplace of LIVESTRONG – participating in the final fundraising ride of the year, making connections within the LIVESTRONG community, and organizing for 2013.

“As our organization celebrates its 15th anniversary, the Team LIVESTRONG Challenge takes great pride in our history of cycling events. What started as a small ride called the Race for the Roses that Lance Armstrong began in 1997 has blossomed into a premiere fundraising event for LIVESTRONG.

We hope you’ll join us as we aim to make this year’s event a monumental cycling experience for LIVESTRONG. Our goal is to have over 4,000 cyclists raise $2 million to support our programs and services.”

We’ll let you know how it goes when we return!

REVVING UP FOR LIVESTRONG DAY 2012!

Cycling.  Spandex. Survivorship.

Need we say more?

Come out and join us for our SIXTH annual "Spin for LIVESTRONG" event in downtown Seattle.  It's a hoot! It's a holler!  It's full on heckling of passing pedestrians and drivers!

Please participate!  If you are a cyclist, bring your bike and your trainer and spin with us.  If you aren't a cyclist, come down to cheer us on and heckle as well!  Wear your LIVESTRONG jerseys, t-shirts, or something yellow to support us!

See you there!

WHAT:	“LIVESTRONG DAY - Spin for LIVESTRONG”: a celebration to support those affected by cancer, part of a series of worldwide events.
DATE:	Friday, October 5, 2012
TIME:	11:30-1:30 (ride time), with about 15-20 minutes setup/takedown on either end.
LOCATION:	Union Street, south side, between 4th and 5th Avenue.
HOW:	Cycling.  Spandex.  Survivorship. Need we say more?  Cyclists and supporters will ‘spin’ on stationary trainers for two hours in support of cancer survivors, on the downtown streets of Seattle! We will ride in unison, raise awareness and fundraise, and heckle pedestrians as they pass by our line of cyclists. Grab a wristband!  Cheer us on, or cheer with us!  Every donation gets a round of applause.  You can check out our event here: http://www.livestrongday.org./events/spin4livestrongseattle

The crew of volunteers from our LIVESTRONG Day 2011.  Please join us!

LANCE, LIVESTRONG AND OUR GROUP

Many people have approached me these past few days asking me about Lance Armstrong, and my work with LIVESTRONG.

Honestly, the latest media storm around Lance and news headlines have had little personal effect.  Through a range of viewpoints, they reveal an unfair and biased system with little accountability – and little chance to successfully fight back against accusations. I ask that you please take a moment to read this illuminating article: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20120825,0,2080853.column.  Everyone has their opinion of this matter, and I respect your stance, whatever it may be.

Cycling accomplishments aside, Lance Armstrong leveraged his fame for philanthropic purposes, more so than any other celebrity.  He created an organization that, since its inception 15 years ago, has raised nearly $500 million which supports and empowers people affected by cancer, through practical programs which have a tangible effect on people’s lives (see http://www.howsbrian.com for an entertaining viewpoint, or the LIVESTRONG Manifesto here).  LIVESTRONG has operated as its own, autonomous entity – separate from the professional cycling world – since its inception.

As in the past eight years, I remain as committed and dedicated to the LIVESTRONG organization.  LIVESTRONG continues to work in many capacities on our communities, and I ask for your continued supporting in helping our group, "Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle" - through volunteerism, fundraising and grassroots support - providing help for those people in the cancer community who need it the most.

Our group now looks forward to LIVESTRONG Day on October 2nd, some training rides before attending the LIVESTRONG Challenge/ Ride for the Roses event in Austin, Texas in October, as well as other opportunities to support the local Seattle cancer community.

As always, I ride in honor of the memory of my father, who ran out of time while fighting this disease.  Cancer is personal to everyone - and we are here to support each other.

Thank you for your past, present and future support.

LIVESTRONG

Patrick
Team Captain, Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle
Senior LIVESTRONG Leader  

(You can support LIVESTRONG by donating here:  http://laf.livestrong.org/goto/patrickchatfield. I have less than two months before my final fundraising event for 2012, in Austin, Texas!)

LIVESTRONG LOVE AT THE SEATTLE CENTURY!

SEATTLE CENTURY 2012:

WHAT A FANTASTIC RIDE!

Enough cannot be said about the fun and pride that I had captaining the LIVESTRONG presence at the Seattle Century this year.  In every respect, the ride has grown for our local grassroots LIVESTRONG group - in terms of rider numbers, presence during the ride, and generosity of the event organizers - but especially so about the people: the upswell of support and kindness and community of riders and non-riders alike.  We are gaining momentum and team spirit - and will continue to work on building our group and LIVESTRONG presence in the Seattle area community. That's a promise.

That said, let's talk about the ride!

I must admit, I was a little tentative early in the morning: I had emailed all of the people from the past months about the ride, and hoped that they would all show up.  Some I had met before, others I had "met" virtually, and others were strangers who were planning to ride with us, as part of a group of friends.  Some were locals, and others drove or flew in to participate in this ride - from Oregon and Nevada.

And show up they did - in all, we had TWENTY people (yes, twenty - I had to count everyone on my fingers and toes) ride with us through the day.  While keeping together on the initial flats, and separating into smaller groups during the hill climbs and pacelines, we did regroup at the rest stops and especially at the finish line festival.

Items of note throughout the day:

1. The Start:

Only part of our gang, getting ready for the start!

Our motley crew of LIVESTRONG riders found each other in the registration crowd, before 7:00am at Magnuson Park in Seattle. It was great to meet old and new faces alike.  After fueling up, we warmed up on the first 20+ miles of relatively flat route - trading stories, getting to know one another, and trying to keep from running each other down while distracted in conversation.

2.  The LIVESTRONG Rest Stop

Nina, Ron, Patrick, Paul, Rob, Amanda, Stefan
and Anthony at the LIVESTRONG rest stop!

New this year, we worked with the Seattle Century organizers to have the first rest stop be 'sponsored' by LIVESTRONG: we provided volunteers (thank you, Nina and Kevin, as well as Claire and Michelle from Camp Kesem who were there at 6:15am!) as well as decorated the stop with our LIVESTRONG banner and handed out LIVESTRONG wristbands.  Many riders were delighted by our stop, let us know they were survivors, and shared their stories.

3.  Hills

After the initial flats, reality hit quickly (Novelty Hill) with the introduction of what Seattle rides are infamous for - hills!  Novelty Hill was the first, but definitely not the last of a series of epic climbs.  Each was a great challenge ... making the last smaller climbs feel 'epic' on our tired legs.

4.  Pie

Ron and Patrick enjoy ... PIE!

A close runner up behind LIVESTRONG as the reason I participate in the ride is the food.  While the ride is challenging, riding with a food coma is even more so.  The Seattle Century is known not only for being "all about Seattle", but "all about food": There is a sandwich stop within the first half of the ride.  There is a strawberry shortcake stop in the last quarter.  MOST importantly (according to me) is the PIE stop mid-ride - in the middle of a farmer's field - serving the freshest and best pie imaginable (according to me again). 

5.  Stefan and Paul

Rob (far left) and Bill (far right) enjoy a rest stop with
the father-son power duo of Paul and Stefan.

One of my highlights of the day was finally meeting - and riding with - two cyclists who joined us from Portland: Stefan and his 14-year-old son, Paul.  I am in awe of a father-son relationship that includes cycling to support a cause (rather than, say, sitting at home playing Wii or Playstation).  Both Stefan and Paul actively raised funds for LIVESTRONG through our grassroots webpage, and I was in awe of their email campaigns, relating that they were riding in honor of colleagues and teachers who were cancer survivors.  Great people.

Stefan is an accomplished rider, and this was Paul's first long ride.  We were all amazed by Paul's determination and tenacity on the ride - he basically kept up with us the whole way!  I can hardly wait to see how he rides next year (he may be pulling us most of the way, I just know it).

6.  Amanda

Patrick and Amanda at the start.  I think that's the only
photo we have of her that's not a blur ...

I met Amanda back in March of this year, during the LIVESTRONG Assembly in Austin, Texas.  Being from the Northwest, and working for Nike-Livestrong, we naturally started chatting, and struck up a friendship. Amanda decided to join us ... and only two days before the Seattle Century, was informed that she would be competing in Ironman Kona in 2-1/2 months' time.

With that competition hanging over her head, Amanda related that she would need to turn up the heat, and would likely be pulling for most of the ride.  And pull she did!  It was like watching a blur ... 

7.  The Scenery

Snoqualmie Falls - beautiful, majestic ...

... speaking of beautiful and majestic:
Bill, Meredith, Patrick, Kenny and Ron at the falls!

The route for the Seattle Century was perfect, highlighting both the great urban trails and well as rural road routes around the Seattle Area. We passed through forests and small towns, alongside lakes, viewed mountains, saw abundant wildlife ... a ride where locals pinch themselves at their luck for living in such a beautiful and diverse area.  Challenging uphill climbs were matched by "woohoo!" downhill descents.  Loved it.

And did I mention we had a stop at Snoqualmie Falls?  Not a bad "bonus" for completing the 100-mile course!

8.  More Food

Enough cannot be said about the food stops.  Did I mention the pie?  A cyclist-architect colleague of mine, Bill, who was riding this ride for the first time, remarked at the first stop, "There's food like this at every stop?  I don't think that I could eat at every stop!" But eat he did, as well as everyone else ... with room to spare for the food-climax: the finish.

9.  The Finish

After the long ride, long hills, long stops for food (did I mention the pie?), floating bridges, amazing scenery and great downhills, we finally arrived mid-afternoon at the finish ... to be greeted with - you guessed it - more food!  It was the infamous grilled salmon feed and (open) beer garden, complemented with salads, rice dishes, grilled asparagus, cheesecake ... and the list goes on.

The organizers supplied us with a reserved LIVESTRONG section which we fully took advantage of, and we spent a few hours together, swapping stories, growing our friendships and finding how cancer had all touched our lives in one way or another.

10.  Old and New Friends

I am humbled by all of the people I met, and the support that we received as part of "Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle" this year at the Seattle Century.  During the ride, every rider in our group commented at how wonderful the other group members were, and that they would love to ride together again. What a HUGE compliment. 

Yes, I would love to ride and meet up with you all again, too - and invite like-minded friends to join and be part of our cycling and cancer-fighting LIVESTRONG community.  We have more rides, and other events in the cancer community - such as LIVESTRONG Day (end September/ beginning October), and the Austin LIVESTRONG Challenge (October).

To Kenny, Claire, Meredith, Patrick, Stefan, Paul, Ron, Rob, Nina, Kevin, Anthony & crew, R4C, Amanda, Bill and anyone I might have missed (my apologies) - thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and participation.

Let's keep this great group together - along with our other riders who could not make it - and I look forward to more adventures in the future.  You can always reach me at: rideforlivestrongseattle@gmail.com

LIVESTRONG,

Patrick
Team Captain, Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle
Senior LIVESTRONG Leader