Know and Join our Awesome Group!

"RIDE FOR LIVESTRONG SEATTLE":

WHAT WE'RE ABOUT (and please join us)!

As we make more inroads into our community in 2012, people have been asking about us, and how they can join our group, whether on or off the bike.  This should help!


Who we are:

• We are a dedicated group of Seattle cyclists and cancer survivorship supporters, promoting LIVESTRONG and its programs through fundraising, local outreach, and community rides.  We began in 2011, after the LIVESTRONG Challenge relocated from our area, to show our continued support for the local cancer community.
   
• We're inclusive. Want to help out in the cancer community but don't know how? Support LIVESTRONG and want to do something about it in your neighborhood?  Want to know what LIVESTRONG has done locally, and help to support it?  If you said yes to any of these questions, and you have passion and dedication, you're in the right place and we'd love to hear from you.
   
• We're volunteers.  Our group consists of volunteers who support LIVESTRONG on our own time.  We do what we can.  We have daytime jobs, families and responbilities ... but we ARE passionate about LIVESTRONG's mission and goals to "fight to improve the lives of people affected by cancer" ... whether directing survivors and their families to the LIVESTRONG website or free navigation services, or reach out personally to support those that we can.

We also try to leverage our real-world skills and contacts to help advocate and support LIVESTRONG in the community.  

Know a restaurant or bar owner who would support a LIVESTRONG fundraising event?  A bike shop owner who can help promote us?  Have PR/Marketing skills from work that could help promote our group?  Know of someone who has been recently diagnosed, and could use our help and support?  These are the personal, grassroots-level things that will help us succeed!

• Most of us bike.  We aren't fast, but we are somewhat intermediate in pace and distance.  We have fun on our rides and push whenever we can, but most of all try to enjoy the experience of getting on our bikes, and enjoy our time together before returning to our other 'real world' responsiblities.
• Some of us don't bike. That's totally cool.  We have events that we attend off the bike where we need presence.  Bike Expos.  Cancer-related events. Rest stops at bike rides.  Talking to folks and handing out flyers about us and LIVESTRONG.  It's all fun, and it adds up to opening conversations about cancer, and what LIVESTRONG can do to help.
   
• We're a community. Yes, off the bike we are equal and like to hang out with each other. Want to grab a beer and talk about the week, your challenges, riding, LIVESTRONG, or your cancer experience (or not)?  We're all about that, too.

Help us grow!

 

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 and volunteers!  We're also out in the cancer community at various events!

It's easy (and free!):

1. Sign up on the LIVESTRONG website as a group rider or supporter:  www.tinyurl.com/ride4lsseattle - which also sets up a "fundraising HQ" to help facilitate any fundraising activities.
2. Send me an email - rideforlivestrongseattle@gmail.com so I know that you are out there!
3. We'll let you know when we ride, or planning a community outreach event! 

UPDATE!  Join us for the Seattle Century on July 28, 2012!

**WITH BONUS COUPON CODE ($10 OFF REGISTRATION) IF YOU SIGN UP WITH US***

Be part of a great ride through the Seattle Area, supported by gourmet food, culminated by a fantastic beer garden and salmon feed at the end.  Similar to last year, Seattle Century will provide a LIVESTRONG area at the finish where, regardless of speed and distance, we can all meet at the end and celebrate our ride together!  How cool is that?

1. Go to www.seattlecentury.com and click on the "Register" button.
2. Select "Advanced Online Registration"
3. At the bottom, key in the promotional code LIVESTRONG96 to receive your discount.
4. Continue the registration process, and be part of our group!

We identified several events for this year, including:

• "Seattle Bike Expo" in March, 2012;
• "YACFest" (Young Adults with Cancer Festival) on May 10, 2012;
• "Flying Wheels Summer Century" on June 9th, 2012; 
• "Seattle Century" on July 28th, 2012;
• "LIVESTRONG Day" on/near October 2, 2012;
• ongoing events and training rides around the Seattle area.
• "Team LIVESTRONG Challenge" Austin, TX during October 21, 2012 weekend (typically part of the "Cyclists Combatting Cancer" team - another awesome group);

More information when you join up!

Any questions? I'd love to hear from you -

LIVESTRONG,
Patrick

Senior LIVESTRONG Leader

Team Captain, Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle
  

RIDE WITH US ON SUNDAY!

SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

SPRING TRAINING RIDE - RIDE WITH US!

The weather forecast is looking GREAT for this Sunday!

Want to ride an intermediate pace with us?  Check out a good loop ride around Seattle?  Put in about 70+ miles with a few hills thrown in for good measure?  Meet some cool people who support LIVESTRONG in the Seattle area?

Here's the route that we are planning to follow: http://g.co/maps/7fa3a

(Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish loops, with some hills and a good climb halfway in!)

Of course, we're throwing in the 'dreaded' Montreux hill climb for kicks. If we survive it, the rest of the ride is a walk in the park!

Depart: 9:00 am from the Gas Works Park parking lot!

(North side of Lake Union.  Free Parking if you are driving there.)

We'll be going at an INTERMEDIATE pace (18-20mph in terms of exertion) to stretch our legs and get some base miles in - and enjoy the ride together.  We're not super-fast, but we ride at a fairly consistent intermediate pace.

***

On a personal note, I will be riding in honor of two wonderful people, great friends and fellow LIVESTRONG survivors and leaders - Steve Bartolucci (California) and Ashleigh Moore (Australia) - who have been re-diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer within the past day.  We're with you in spirit here in Seattle, and support your fight!

***

Hope to see you!

LIVESTRONG,

Patrick

Team Captain, Ride for LIVESTRONG Seattle

Senior LIVESTRONG Leader

rideforlivestrongseattle@gmail.com

As a general disclaimer, this is not an organized ride of any sort: Riding with us is at your own risk and peril (and pleasure!) - we cannot be responsible for you.  Wear a helmet.  Make sure your bike is in good running order.  Make sure that YOU are in good running order - ride at your own pace and stop/turn around if you are not comfortable with the distance and/or pace of the ride.  Bring extra tubes, flat repair kit, water and bottles, energy food, and a good sense of humor.  Wear sunscreen. Wear clean socks.  Understand and obey the rules of the road and ride responsibly.  There will be occassional stops and regroups at hills.  Bring a phone and cash/ID, just in case of an emergency.  Cheering is encouraged.


-----

Post-ride update!

We had a great ride - just over 70 miles (albeit we trimmed off the south Lake Washington loop in favor of the Mercer Island return route ... we'll blame our legs after the Montreux climb!). 

The weather was perfect and we had a lot of fun.  If you're interested in riding with us, just send me an email for notifications.  At this time of year, we ride practically every weekend, as schedule and weather permit!


Patrick and Mike with the pre-Montreux hill climb jitters ...



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