Fighting Prostate Cancer in Challenging Times - the Fight Continues |
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Greetings everyone, and welcome to our March Captains Club Update. There is no denying that we took quite a hit in 2020, but with your help, the Ride for Dad remained viable, and although it has meant a little less money for Research & Awareness, we are proud to say that we are still in the fight. Over 1350 Riders and Champions took part this year as opposed to a usual 8,000. So clearly a lot of people sat it out and in many ways that’s understandable, there was a tremendous amount of anxiety and uncertainty last spring.
Going into 2021 I believe we have a better understanding of the Virus and what we need to do to stay safe. There is a new sense of renewed optimism even though we grudgingly admit that the Virus isn’t going away any time soon.
Now is the time to put what we learned in 2020 to work. We are kicking off a refined Ride Alone Together event, called Ride Alone Together 2021 and coupling it with some exciting new fundraising features. But first, there are a couple very important items to deal with before we wrap up 2020.
Prize Winner
I am happy to announce the winner of our 2020 Captain’s Club Exclusive-Package draw. Congratulations to Charles Hynes of Portugal Cove, NL. Charles won a prize of over $200 worth of Captain’s Club and RFD gear. We expect to run the contest again in ’21, details to come.
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With the Captain’s Club 2020 season now wrapped up, we have tabulated and crosschecked the data, the lists have now been posted on the Ride For Dad website @ ridefordad.ca Although the Covid19 related drop in participation was reflected in the 2020 Captain’s Club total, the figures are still impressive and point to some significant personal achievements.
We had 54 members join the Club for the first time this year and another 48 members moved up a class, welcome and congratulations. We were thrilled that we had not one, but two members, Lynn Norton & Don Sapsford enter the Platinum level, having crossed over the $100,000.00 mark in pledges. Looking at the other levels; Triple Diamond is up by 4, Double Diamond went up by 5 and the Diamond level grew by 11. The remaining increases were; Gold 17, the Silver 20, and Bronze 44.
Congratulations to you all, your packages will be in the mail shortly.
In recent years we have posted a list of the pledges that our Captain’s Club members raised in just the previous year alone. We did this again for 2020 and it makes for interesting reading, for instance for the second straight year Lynn Norton lead the country with an amazing $27,247.00. Great job Lynn, and it was also great to see, that even in a rough year, 145 Riders brought in over $1000.00 each.
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Inside News:
We are ready to unveil our most current and updated version of the Ride For Dad website! It has taken a lot of work, especially amid the shifting sands of Covid19, but we are sure you will enjoy it.
2021 Season
This time last year we hardly knew what Covid19 was. Terms like; Social Distancing, masking up and locking down, infection waves, rapid testing, vaccinations, and variants were not yet in our everyday vocabulary. Last summer we were sure this would all be long gone and in our rear view mirror by now. Not so.
Over the last months, our updates have chronicled our efforts to maintain the Prostate Cancer fight while navigating the myriad of restrictions set out by the Public Health Authorities. We are aware that many of you did more than just follow along, you were right in there with us. All our adaptations were documented, and we learned a few things from 2020.
Fundraising Season
Our plan for 2021 is not to lock ourselves down to a single event and cross our fingers that it will come to pass.
Instead, on March 1 we opened registration for the 2021 Fundraising Season that will include events between May and September. That means you register for the season so you can begin your Fundraising, then when the time comes you can pick the event(s) that you wish to participate in, your information is already in place and you just pay the entry fee, whatever that might be. That gives you the flexibility to join in multiple events while keeping your fundraising uncomplicated.
We are still cautiously optimistic that we will be able to hold larger Rides later this summer or fall. That will again vary by location.
Check your local Chapter webpages for details.
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Starting in May we will open the Ride Alone Together 2021 event in Chapters across the country. Like last year, it will be an opportunity to raise pledges then ride on your own time over a pre-selected route, alone or with a couple of friends. Send us your pictures and we will post them on the FB sites and web page.
The registration fee will be $35.00 which includes a pin and patch, or the deluxe registration which is the pin, patch and an exclusive T-shirt for $75.00. All mailed to you.
If you have already registered for the Fundraising season just pay the fee and you are ready to go. If you skipped this last year, we need you to try it this year.
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This is a spin-off of The Ride Alone Together event, with more of an emphasis on the Together. Gather a group of your friends, or if you are in a riding club a few of the members, get them to register for Ride Alone Together raise some funds then ride out. Be sure to send us a masked up picture. Challenge other Clubs or Groups to do the same. |
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Planned Giving
Your pledgers are important, both to you and to the Cause. We are always looking for ways to make the donation process as simple as possible for them. We are starting a program called planned giving, which is a method for persons to make a set monthly donation to the Ride For Dad, while at the same time keeping the personal connection between you and your pledger going. When we can establish the connection, the amount they pledge will be included in your yearly Captain’s Club tally, and you will be informed of their donation so you won’t have to “knock on their door” time and again. They will know that the donation is part of your efforts to fight Prostate Cancer. Your Captain’s Club will grow year round and your pledgers are guaranteed their tax receipts electronically.
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Souvenirs 2021
Souvenirs will be a challenge once again in 2021 due to the Covid19 problems around retail opportunities. The Chapters are investigating ways that they can safely work around the restrictions The On-line store remains open and the patches and pins for 2021 will be available at RideForDadStore.ca.
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Captain's Club In Memoriam
Posting notices of Captain’s Club members that have left us is probably long overdue. As the Ride For Dad passes its 20th year it is understandable that this list is growing. In many Chapters we are seeing friends gather around and make donations in Memory of a brother or sister that has passed, often in an attempt to see them move up a level in their final year. If that is the case in your area please let us know and we will see that the word is spread, and if you have a Captain’s Club member you wished mentioned here in an update, email me the information and if possible, a photo. Space constraints will have to be considered, but we will do our best.
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In 2020 we lost a true friend to the Ride For Dad, and a pillar for our organization in Western Canada. John was a member of the Edmonton Police Service and was instrumental in not only helping us establish the Edmonton Chapter in 2007 but went on to mentor other Chapters in the west. We honour him as a builder, and as an accomplished fundraiser. He was a Diamond level member of the Captain’s Club, and a strong voice for the Cause. He will be missed in many ways.
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Well that’s it for this month...Spring can’t be too far away, and we will soon be on the road again.
Word of caution please avoid tunnels, we keep hearing that there is a light at the other end of it, and until such time as they figure out what that is, best to stay away.
For Ride Alone Together 2021 registration options visit RideForDad.ca.
Ride Safe,
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Byron Smith
Ride For Dad National Ride Captain
Diamond CC Member #100048
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