Karen's mileage tracker

Karen's ride for Malawi

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Speaking in NJ in September!

Things are starting to 'heat up'!!  I am ending my summer classes, which means the month of August will be a fast month of training, fundraising and promotion.

The latest updates:  Up to $425 funds raised already toward the big goal.  Thank you to those who have been so supportive already by sending your donations!

I have scheduled our first speaking engagement in New Jersey on September 5th.  Stephen and I will speak at the Washington Township Public library,  http://www.wtpl.org/.  located in Long Valley, NJ.  That day, I will be riding approximately 55 miles from Jim Thorpe, PA to Hope, NJ, then we will speak at the library that evening.

This week some of my goals are to attempt to secure another speaking engagement along our ride route; also, to write some great press releases to attempt to get some local press coverage.



I have just spoken to our project manager in Malawi, Mathew (above), who says that the foundation of our project has been started and he will be sending pictures soon, so stay tuned for that!  Mathew has been working hard for us to ensure that the project is handled properly and also that funds are used wisely.  We are grateful for him and his assistance, which is invaluable!

Time for me to go now and ride...training will be kicking into a higher gear now...one month to go!


Wednesday, July 24, 2013

THE FUNDRAISING HAS BEGUN!!!



I have begun the exciting process of preparing for Karen's Ride 2013 and have sent out my fundraising letters.  I have begun to receive donations from some wonderful long term supporters and am extremely grateful!!  The thermometer has been updated, and it is always fun to watch it move...It means many things to me.  It means we are closer to our goal, it means there are many generous people, it means we can continue our work in Malawi and our efforts are 'rewarded'...

I have been reviewing photos from the last 2 year's rides as we are in the process of updating the website.  I love the experience of riding all day and then camping in a new place each night.  This year, I realized, will be the first year that I have absolutely no idea what the roads will be like in terms of hills, etc.  The last 2 years we were closer to home and were in somewhat familiar territory.  Well, Maine was not entirely familiar, but we pretty much knew we could remain on Route 1 for a lot of the way, and the conditions were pretty much the same. 
Stephen will again be my road support, if I haven't already said that.  This photo was from our first year's ride and this car proved to be perfect for our use! 

In case anyone reading this has not received any of our mailings or fundraising letters, we have an anonymous donor who has pledged to match donations up to $1,000!!  In addition to that wonderful incentive, this year we will be offering an opportunity for donors to be entered to win a special gift baskets.  Donations of $50 and $100 will each be entered into a drawing for a special prize from Educate Malawi and generous business donors!

More to come in the next few weeks!  Thank you again, all who have generously donated and supported our mission and projects!

Karen

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Route Map

I have chosen the route and have mapped it out on Map My Ride...it is not exact, but it gives a good idea of where I will be riding!  I cannot wait to get out there and ride...every day for 8 days to raise money and awareness of Malawi!!!

I know it shows only 394 miles...but I predict that once I am out riding, it will be closer to 500!!  Getting this inforomation in here was almost as much work as it will be riding!!  I am not the computer wiz I wish I was, so I had to figure out how to create the map, and then get it 'into' this blog!  Not as easy as it may sound...again, not for me!!

More to come!