WOW! 2012 IS SHAPING UP!

What an amazing past month and a half!

I wanted to share with you the highlights from our "Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle" group, on so many levels -

1.  Seattle Bike Expo Wrap-Up
2.  LIVESTRONG Assembly in Austin, Texas
3.  Looking Ahead!


Seattle Bike Expo Wrap-up
(March 10-11, 2012)

Wow!  Thanks to everyone in our group who volunteered to help out at the LIVESTRONG booth this year.  This was the FIFTH year that we had a LIVESTRONG presence, and it was great to connect to the almost 10,000 visitors over the two day event period.  It was fantastic to reach out to the cycling community and feel the love.

We shared stories, communicated the LIVESTRONG mission, raised funds, told people about our riding group and anticipated rides (including http://www.seattlecentury.com/ in July), and also helped a few people who were recently diagnosed by providing LIVESTRONG notebooks, as well as the number to the FREE LIVESTRONG Survivorcare (1-855-220-7777) where cancer survivors and their families can receive support.  Please forward this number to anyone you know who has been diagnosed with cancer - an amazing resource.

Thanks a ton to AJ, Mike, Jackie and Kent for your support.  Also, thanks to Magnolia Audio Video (http://www.magnoliaav.com/) for lending flat screens for the event, ARC Reprographics (http://www.e-arc.com/) for the banner, and to our booth roommates Cycling Camp San Diego (http://www.ccsd.com/) and Holland Cycles (http://www.hollandcycles.com/). It was a great time that we hope to repeat again next year!

...

LIVESTRONG Assembly in Austin, Texas
March 27-30, 2012

As a Senior LIVESTRONG Leader, I was invited to the LIVESTRONG Assembly in Austin, Texas at the end of March.  I, along with other Senior LIVESTRONG Leaders joined Leaders from around the world (about 200 of us!) to learn more about LIVESTRONG mission, advocacy and fundraising. 

It was an incredible few days connecting with Leaders who I had only met virtually, hear about what they are doing in their respective communities, and learn valuable information that you can only do with face-to-face interaction.  In addition to information and friendship overload (!), we were also introduced to some of our community partners. 

One of note is Camp Kesem (http://www.campkesem.org/) which provides a FREE week of camp to children whose parent(s) have been affected by cancer.  Amazing.  If you are in the Washington area, check out the local chapter - this is their first year, and the counselors that I met are passionate about their work!

Enough cannot be said about this Assembly. We all left Texas feeling united and energized!

...

LOOKING AHEAD!

(Riding the Burke Gilman from Gas Works Park to Marymoor and back - base miles!)



(Riding to Richmond Beach, North Seattle)



RIDING:
(Almost every weekend!)

We're out and training in the Seattle Area!  The usual cast of "Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle" riders above (AJ, Mike and me [Patrick]) are out on the roads and trails, and we would love to grow our group of riders!  We're not especially good or fast, and we enjoy the camaraderie.

It's easy:
1.  Sign up on the LIVESTRONG website as a group rider:  www.tinyurl.com/ride4lsseattle
2.  Send me an email - rideforlivestrongseattle@gmail.com
3.  We'll let you know when we ride!

So far, we have identified our first ride to be the "Flying Wheels Summer Century" to be held on June 9th, 2012.  Join us - hell, it'll be my birthday - and make the day special!


COMMUNITY:

This year, once again, we will be part of the Young Adults with Cancer Festival (YACFest), along with other local youth organizations,and organized by Seattle Children's Hospital.  Here's what I do know - please join us!

When:  May 10, 2012  6pm-9+pm
Where:  South Lake Union Portage Bay Café, downtown Seattle
What:  A way for your organizations to connect with young adult cancer patients and survivors in the community. 
Yum:  Catered by Portage Bay Café, beer and wine available

Guests: 
Glenn Rockowitz, author of Rodeo in Jolliet – a young adult cancer survivor’s memoir
Mike Lang – cancer survivor and founder of Survive and Thrive and maker of the films ‘Wrong Way to Hope’ and the newly released ‘Ebb and Flow:  Storytelling for Cancer’ (which we will screen)

...

Well, that's it for now - thanks for following us.  Keep an eye out for updates - another coming soon on our list of rides and events as they unfold for 2012. 

We're a group of volunteers who passionately support LIVESTRONG and their support of cancer survivorship.  Please contact me if you'd like to support or join our group!

LIVESTRONG,

Patrick
Captain, Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle
Senior LIVESTRONG Leader

Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle at the 2012 Seattle Bike Expo!

Our first "official" 2012 event is upon us!

This weekend we will be representing LIVESTRONG at the 2012 Seattle Bike Expo (see http://shop.cascade.org/content/events/expo), held this year on Saturday, March 10th and Sunday, March 11th!

This is our 6th year at the Seattle Bike Expo, and enjoy it immensely - it totally gets us riled up and thinking of the year and events ahead of us, and what our 'message' will be to the nearly 10,000 people who will be visiting the event!  (Of course, it also gets us scrambling to get organized for the event, too!)

If you're in Seattle this weekend, please come and experience the Bike Expo. There's a ton to see and do (and buy ... nice, shiny bikes ... drool, drool ...), but most importantly, drop by the LIVESTRONG booth on the first floor and say hello to either myself or my other volunteer friends! 

See what we're up to! 
See how you can join and/or support us!

(... for a sneak peek, check out www.tinyurl.com/ride4lsseattle ... and sign up!)

We willl also be handing out information about our ongoing local 'partner' event, the Seattle Century (www.seattlecentury.com) which was a blast last year and promises to be better this year.

Enough said - see you there!

2012: HERE WE COME!

It's mid-January in Seattle.  I'm sitting at my desk at work and looking outside.

SNOWMAGEDDON.

That's what they're calling it.  We're being dumped on with snow today - worst day of the week, and it's supposed to get worse.  Only 5 out of my 35 coworkers made it into the office this morning, and there are numerous spinouts and accidents outside my window.  Public buses have chains on their tires to navigate the streets and hills.  Most people are 'working from home'. The city has ground to a halt.

Still, I can't help but be excited for what this New Year has to offer -

Building on 2011's inaugural "Ride for Livestrong Seattle" activities, rides and successes, I am working to continue to raise the profile of LIVESTRONG and its mission in our area, champion cancer survivorship and awareness, and continue to bring together people from the cancer community - near and far - to help us accomplish our goals as well as build community and have some fun.

So far, we're aiming to have presence at the Seattle International Bike Expo (see http://www.cascade.org), Young Adults with Cancer Festival (see http://www.yacfest.com) to spread the word, as well as participate in a host of rides - similar to last year - in the Seattle area, as well as in Austin, Texas.

Plus, as a personal bit of good news, I have been accepted as one of only 19 worldwide Senior LIVESTRONG Leaders - helping to grow LIVESTRONG on the grassroots level, as well as groom the new crop of LIVESTRONG Leaders this year and helping them with their activities, fundraising and advocacy projects.

Have an idea?  Want to join us as we grow?   Able to sponsor us or provide exposure to our group? Please be sure to drop me a line at rideforlivestrongseattle@gmail.com and let's talk.

More to come soon - now, back to the snow!

LIVESTRONG

Patrick

Patrick Chatfield

Senior Livestrong Leader

Team Captain, Ride for Livestrong Seattle

SWOOSH! One week to Austin LIVESTRONG Challenge!

“SWOOSH, Daddy!”

I look down to see my three-year old girl tracing the “Nike” swoosh symbol on my cycling shorts with her finger.

It’s early morning, and I’m getting ready to bike to work.  Like every bike day, I wear my LIVESTRONG bike kit and my daughter takes delight in sending me off with her little ‘swoosh’ tradition.  She’s been doing so every day since she started talking a couple of years ago – sounding at first like “Thwooth”, and gradually becoming more recognizable as she’s grown.  My, what wonderful times. 

I reach down and give her a hug and kiss before leaving for work.  Aside from my wife, she’s the most adorable girl I know, and wonderful big sister to her nearly one-year-old brother.  It’s been a busy family year – and I enjoy these moments with her immensely.

It’s a misty morning in Seattle.  On my bike ride to work, I have the luxury of exercise, as well as time for thought and reflection:

Next week I will be landing in Austin, ready to hit tarmac with guns blazing, to participate in the Ride for the Roses weekend.  I’m looking forward to reacquainting myself with LIVESTRONG staff and volunteer colleagues that have become my friends through my seven years of involvement with LIVESTRONG – first as a participant, then Mentor, and now as a LIVESTRONG Leader.  Most importantly, I look forward to celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of the past year, and also refocus and get re-energized for the next year of volunteerism for LIVESTRONG.

I also think about how LIVESTRONG has become such an important part of my life.

I think about LIVESTRONG.  While I’m not a ‘survivor’, LIVESTRONG personally afforded me a cathartic and tangible means to cope with the passing of my father – my hero, my mentor, my friend – due to cancer.  During his fight, he didn’t have the means and access to information, support and most importantly, to Hope, which is the core of this organization – and it is this drive for enlightenment to all cancer survivors that has made me champion its cause in my community.

I think about my family.  There is an adage: “Behind every great man, there is a great woman.”  If that is true, I should by all accounts be a seriously GREAT man.  My wife is the pillar of our family, and has supported me through thick and thin.  Each year, during the LIVESTRONG Mentor or Leader application process, I wistfully ask my wife if she is OK with me spending another year of evenings and weekends away from our young and growing family - to organize, lead, attend and volunteer at cause-related events, as well as train for rides.  Without exception or pause, she replies, “I know that this is important to you.  Do it.  We’ll figure it out.” I love her with all my heart, even if she doesn’t understand why I need a few new cycling jerseys every year.

“Swoosh!”  I look down while I’m pedaling and smile.  I feel a certain lightness as I speed through the streets.

This year, I especially think about my kids.  Three years ago, the carefree world that my wife and I took for granted came to a wondrous screeching halt with the birth of our daughter, and exploded again with the arrival of our son last October.  We’ve never looked back.  These kids are our world.  Every mushy, drippy, loving bit of it. 

When you become a parent, (much as when you are diagnosed I am told), your mortality hits you like a truck: you gain ‘life perspective’, and time is treasured.  Every moment with your children is precious, and cherished.  You want them to be healthy, and enjoy long, loving, happy lives.  Maybe if I’m lucky, they’ll love me as much as I did my father.  If I’m lucky, selfishly, I’ll have more time on this earth to spend with them, than I did with my father. 

As I think ahead to traveling solo to Austin this year, I know that I will cherish my time you all - my LIVESTRONG family - while keeping my Seattle family in my heart and soul.  During the Challenge ride, I will look down at the “I ride for Dad” decal on the top tube of my bike, and gain strength to go faster and further, knowing he is with me in spirit.

I will especially think of my daughter, who will turn three years old the day I ride in Austin – and know that she will understand that her Dad is doing something special, something right, in this crazy world.

Swoosh, my little girl, and Happy Birthday.  I’m riding for you. 

Daddy loves you.  See you soon.

P.

...

VERY BELATED UPDATE: 

Wow!  What an incredible weekend it was in Austin, being part of the 'Ride for the Roses' crew (thank you, dear friend, Michael Wolf!), and meeting up with my LIVESTRONG family.

Every trip to Austin has been unique and memorable, and this was without exception.  The RftR Friday dinner was held at Lance's house, in his backyard of all things, which was incredible.  My great friends Michael and AJ from Seattle joined me for the trip, and we explored parts of Austin together.  We rode the LIVESTRONG Challenge ride together (hot and hilly!) culminating with riding next to Chris Horner (Team Radioshack) during the final yards to the finish. 

We met survivors and supporters from all over the country, and enjoyed the time together in such a supportive and inclusive environment.  If you ever have the chance to experience the LIVESTRONG Challenge in Austin, I encourage you to do so!

But of course, I missed my family greatly during that weekend, and made sure to sing "Happy Birthday" to my little girl during the ride ... and made her a little video of the weekend as a special keepsake.

See you there next year!

LIVESTRONG DAY: SPIN FOR LIVESTRONG SEATTLE - please join us!

PLEASE JOIN US FOR LIVESTRONG DAY!

When:  Friday, September 30th, 2011
Time:   11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Where: Downtown Seattle - Union Street, between 4th Avenue & 5th Avenue.

Please join us for our FIFTH year spinning on the sidewalks of downtown Seattle for LIVESTRONG DAY, supporting LIVESTRONG's mission to raise awareness & support cancer survivorship.  (As a background, LIVESTRONG Day is held each year, worldwide, around October 2nd - the day that Lance Armstrong was first diagnosed with cancer, or as he put it, "The day I started living." See http://livestrongday.livestrong.org/ for more information.)



A scene from previous years' Livestrong Day spinning on Seattle's sidewalks!

Smiles on their faces!  It's fun!  Join us!




How can you participate?

Bring your bike, a stationary trainer & your bike clothes to spin with us during an "extended lunch hour".  We will band together to heckle pedestrians (!), hand out wristbands, and raise money and awareness.

or ... simply WEAR YELLOW and join us to support us, make some noise, and have some fun with us as we inject a little fun onto the streets of Seattle!

It's fun! It's memorable! It's a good cause!

Please join us!

(To notify me of your participation, or if you have any questions, you are welcome to email me at rideforlivestrongseattle@gmail.com) 

LIVESTRONG

Patrick

Patrick Chatfield

Seattle Livestrong Leader

Team Captain, Ride for Livestrong Seattle

SEATTLE CENTURY - Great team ride for LIVESTRONG in the Northwest!

SEATTLE CENTURY - "Ride for Livestrong Seattle" cyclists ride for a great cause! 

Wow!  What a fun and exhilarating (and exhausting!) ride!  Time flew - and so did we (!) on the great back routes of the Seattle Century ride last Saturday, July 30, 2011!  The weather was perfect, the company was fearless (!), and the ride was well supported and organized!

Long shadows - early morning start



Mike and Patrick at the start: little did they know what hills awaited them ...

AJ: our powerhouse rider.

 

Calm (and flat) early morning ride along Sammamish River Trail.

  

Riding with the crew - looking serious ...

Pie Stop: one of the great rest stops.  Others included shortcake, handmade sandwiches ... all good.

Picturesque Rest Stop: eating pie in the middle of a farmer's field/lawn on a warm, sunny day. 
Mountains in the background!

Our fearless "Ride for Livestrong Seattle" Riders before more hills ...

If you do the full Century ride, you stop at Snoqualmie Falls.  Gorgeous.  And a welcome cool mist, too.

Four of us - AJ, Robert, Patrick and Mike - at Snoqualmie Falls.



The Finish: we had a reserved LIVESTRONG Table in the beer garden, complemented with a wonderful salmon and asparagus dinner.  And Dave's Killer Bread, too! Awesome.

 To summarize the day's events, there are a few things that need mentioning:  

1. THANK YOU! - to our "Ride for Livestrong Seattle" riders. You are putting a name and face to cancer survivorship in Seattle and the Northwest by participating in this ride, as part of our group. LIVESTRONG kicks in when someone is first diagnosed with cancer - and you definitely kicked in and showed the LIVESTRONG spirit before, during and after the ride.  We raised some money that went directly to LIVESTRONG to help those in need of support.  Your camaraderie this year - as friends and fellow riders - is appreciated and I am honored and humbled to be in your company.
2. THANK YOU - to the Seattle Century and Good Sport Promotion (www.goodsportpromotion.com).  You welcomed LIVESTRONG and our riders with open arms and helped us gain visibility through your website, course and finish area.  To Neil and Ayleen - you have been great to work with, and we appreciated all the help and generosity to make our team feel special.  We look forward to supporting you with more team members next year!  Be sure to support this ride and other Good Sport Promotion rides through the summer months!
3. HOW REWARDING!  I sound like a broken record at times when I reiterate that we ride in support of LIVESTRONG - but on this ride, it totally hit home.  We had many, many people root for us along the route - and had great conversations with people at rest stops and at the finish line about what we are doing, and how to support us.  We talked to cancer survivors, caregivers and those who lost loved ones to this dreaded disease, and let them know of LIVESTRONG's mission and how to contact them for support.  We even had folks come up to us at our finish line dinner table and ask how to join us next year!
4. WHAT A RIDE!  If you haven't ridden the Seattle Century (http://www.seattlecentury.com/) before, please consider doing so next year.  The course is beautiful, the rest stops fabulous, and the finish line festival was top notch.  We stopped at every rest stop and ATE.  We had homemade pie in the middle of a farmer's field.  We had a full-on salmon dinner and beer at the finish! And to top it off, the weather was perfect.  Of course, we were hungry after 5,160 feet of climbing and 100 miles of pedaling- check out the course route and profile here.

It was a fun, thrilling ride - that we're sure to do again next year. 

This is by no means our swansong for 2011!  We intend to keep training and joining rides where we can, with our next main focus on the LIVESTRONG Challenge in Austin, Texas on the October 15-16 weekend (http://www.livestrong.org/Take-Action/Team-LIVESTRONG-Events/LIVESTRONG-Challenge-Series).

Want to join us locally? 
You still can.  Simply join our fundraising team at http://www.tinyurl.com/ride4lssea, then shoot me an email at rideforlivestrongseattle@gmail.com to let me know that you're interested, either through this year, or with our events/rides for next year.   

Want to support "Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle"? 
You are always welcome to.  Each of our team has LIVESTRONG Grassroots fundraising accounts, and we welcome your donations which go 100% go to LIVESTRONG (click HERE for our team page) . 

You can also sponsor us as you see fit - for cycling-related incentives, support, promotion, etc. - or let us know if there is a cancer-related event in the Seattle area that you think we could help to complement. Drop me an email at rideforlivestrongseattle@gmail.com and let's talk!

Thank you again, everyone -

LIVESTRONG,

Patrick Chatfield

Seattle Livestrong Leader

Team Captain, Ride for Livestrong Seattle



THREE DAYS TO THE SEATTLE CENTURY!

  

Hello, fellow ‘Ride for Livestrong Seattle’ cyclists and supporters!

Just THREE days until the Seattle Century this Saturday, July 30^th!  My, how time has flown by.  And the weather forecast looks perfect for the ride – sunny and 77 degrees F!

We’re excited to be participating in this ride: raising the flag for Livestrong and showing that Seattle supports cancer survivors and their families!  I want to thank you for your interest and support for our group in its inaugural year, through fundraising and participation in our rides and events.

And keep in mind that it's not to late for you and others can still register for our group (for this ride and future rides and events):

1. 
   Go to http://www.seattlecentury.com and register as a rider (
   use our Seattle Century discount code - LIVESTRONG23 - which gets you $10 off of the registration fee!)
2. Register yourself and be part of the "Ride for Livestrong Seattle" team at http://www.tinyurl.com/ride4lssea
3. 
   Drop me an email at rideforlivestrongseattle@gmail.com so that I know that you're there! 

Now ... on to business!

Fundraising

Of course, we are supporting Livestrong both through ‘representing’ at various rides and events, but also by fundraising.  Some of you have been fundraising in your online grassroots accounts – thank you for doing so! 

If you haven’t, or are in the process, please consider a push before the event – send an email to your friends, family and colleagues letting them know that you are riding this weekend in support of Livestrong, and send them your grassroots Livestrong Fundraising HQ link (i.e. http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/patrickchatfield - or whatever your alias happens to be). It’s amazing what support you’ll get by just letting people know what you’ve been up to.

The Ride

The Seattle Century starts at Magnuson Park.  Here is the general schedule, per the www.seattlecentury.com website:

6-9:30am Continental breakfast

6:00am Registration and start line for 100-mile route

8:00am Registration and start line for 50-mile route opens

8:00am 100 mile course start line closes

9:00am 50 mile course start line closes

11:30-1:00pm Finish line music and snacks

1-6:00pm Massage

1-6:00pm Gourmet dinner

Invite your friends and family to join you at the finish line - purchase extra gourmet dinner tickets (includes free beer) in advance or at the event.

5:30pm Course closes

6:00pm Event closes

Our start

On our side, from what I’ve gathered, most of us will be riding the century (100-mile) route.  We are planning on arriving at Magnuson Park at 6:00am for the breakfast and registration, likely on the road around 6:30am-ish.  Please show support for Livestrong and our team by wearing your Livestrong bike jersey and/or shorts!  Look for us in the white, black and yellow bike 'kits'.

Our ride

With the Burke-Gilman detour, hills, rest stops, etc. the 100-mile group should be on the road around 6 hours – and back to the finish area around 1:00pm, barring any unforeseen circumstances (i.e. a triple flat tire, eh, Mike?), which lands us back in time to secure our bikes and enjoy the gourmet dinner, massages, etc.  If you are enjoying the 50-mile route and departing later per Seattle Century’s schedule, don’t despair – enjoy a great ride, and we hope to meet up with you at the finish line celebration!

Our finish

The great news is that we will have a Livestrong table reserved for us at the finish area, where we will be enjoying the gourmet  salmon dinner!  Not sure how large the table is, but please keep an eye on it, sit there, bring your friends/family, and we’ll be sure to catch up there in the afternoon as a ‘meeting point’.  It’s time to celebrate a good ride together – we should be there at least from 1:00 – 3:00pm on Saturday afternoon.

See you on Saturday morning – looking forward to it!

LIVESTRONG,

Patrick Chatfield

Seattle Livestrong Leader

Team Captain, Ride for Livestrong Seattle