Less than $700 to go!

In very, very wonderful fundraising news, I have less than $700 until I meet my goal! I'm so excited! Here are some very awesome donors to thank:

Dorothy McGuire
Tim and Eileen Kozyra
Dean and Vanessa Abtahi
Mark and Jill Williams
Shannon Mahoney

I also went to the farmer's market on Saturday. I only made $14, but any money is still money for the cause and I got to talk to a lot of new people, so that was great. I was also set up next to a pet rescue organization and got to meet a very cool dog who was up for adoption, so that made my day pretty enjoyable. My parents also put a jar out at a car show they went to and made some money for me, so that was wonderful. My sister was collecting money in her classes during the spring semester, which is such a good idea and takes a lot of guts to do. I would have a hard time asking classmates to donate for one of my relatives every single class, but she did it and has apparently collected quite a bit. Her professors were really nice about letting her do it, too. Finally, Nancy Griffin (who has donated along with her husband and provides me with breakfast at the farmer's market every Saturday since I don't eat before I go) took me to the Gainesville Area Women's Network luncheon yesterday and made an announcement about the cause for me. We passed around a jar and Bike & Build brochures, and got $89 in donations! So, thank you, thank you to Mrs. Griffin and all of the members of GAWN for their support! I really appreciate it.

A couple of other fundraising ideas that I'm still hoping will pan out: going to a Rotary Club meeting (or three) before I leave, going to a church (or five) before I leave (this was recommended by Dr. Griffin, Nancy's husband), and possibly standing in front of Wal-Mart collecting donations. I haven't been able to get anyone to contact me back from the churches or the Rotary Clubs, and I've given up on the Wal-Mart here, but I'm hoping the Wal-Mart in West Palm Beach will help me out when I'm down there.

Here are some very awesome links for everyone to enjoy:
http://www.thecrier.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=76&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=13629&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1150&hn=gotowncrier&he=.com

http://www.haileguide.com/content.php?content=article13

Also, here's one about my friend Lisa, who is already on her way across the country!
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20080513/NEWS/805130317

There are also two other really good articles that aren't online, so you all can't see them. :(

And finally, training. On Saturday, I did an easy 30 miles. I was told, since it was my birthday, I had to ride at least my age in miles, and I did that. I rode with someone who has never done more than 8 miles in his life, so I fitted the Peugeot for him, put new tires on it, and we went. We stopped very frequently and went at a pretty slow, comfortable pace, and he made it the full 30. He whined an awful lot at the end because of the hills, but I was very impressed that he finished the entire Hawthorne Trail his first time out.

I really need to get more serious about training. Everything seems to be settling down; the issues on the house are finally getting wrapped up, packing is moving along, I only have 5 days left at The Princeton Review, etc., so hopefully I'll be able to devote a little more time to it before I leave. Otherwise, I may die that first week.

I'll post again after riding this weekend!