The What, The Why and the Where You Come In!

Hi, for those who are visiting this blog for the first time and who don't already know me well, my name is Patrick Thurber. I'm embarking on my first long-distance bicycle tour. I'll be riding from La Salle, MI to Key West, Florida (and maybe even points beyond, we'll see). Aside from enjoying the scenery and the fresh air, I am also trying to raise money during the bike ride for the Monroe County Red Cross here in Michigan. I've been a Red Cross volunteer since 2005. Like a lot of people, I became involved with the organization immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. I went down to Mississippi and worked for several weeks, overseeing a staff shelter, moving crates of relief aid items in a warehouse and serving meals. There aren't really words to describe what a tremendous experience it was. I came home sick, exhausted, emotionally drained and completely ready to do it all again at a moment's notice.

When I first thought of doing this bike ride, I wanted to try to make it into a fundraiser of some kind. The Monroe Country Red Cross seemed the perfect recipient. As their name suggests, they are involved in emergency response here in south eastern Michigan. They provide shelter, food and money for people caught in the aftermath of disasters both large and small. The Monroe County RC is also involved nationally, sending many of its members to the Gulf Coast after Katrina as well as after recent hurricanes like Ike and Gustav. What I like best about the idea of helping to support my Red Cross chapter is that the donations go to an organization that functions both locally (initially my main focus) AND nationally. 

So, I'm having a great time riding my bike while raising money for the Monroe Country Red Cross, a group that helps people out both on the local and the national level. I think I'm not just having my cake and eating it, too...but I'm having, like, 3 cakes and I'm eating all of them...at the same time. I hope you can get in on this great, cake-eating time! Please check back here once a week or so, as I will try to update this blog with photos and thoughts about the bike ride. If you would like to donate to the Monroe Country Red Cross, you can download a pledge form here.