Benefit Ride Information

[OrlinEngh]

Hello

My Brother in Laws Daughter Elizabeth age 25 found out Sept 25 2011 that she has stage 4 lung cancer. They are going to have a benefit ride for her called Cancer Schmancer in the spring. The date has not been set yet but we are looking for information on doing a benefit ride the whats to do and the not to do.

Both of us are new comers to the site less than a year for the both of us. My name is Orlin Engh and he goes by LTC Steve on the site.

I got to meet some very nice people at the Leaf Lookers ride Steve didnt get to attend he very much wanted to get to meet some of the people.

They do have a page on Face Book with information about what is going on for Elizabeth it is TEAM ELIZABETH.

We are just getting into the planing of the ride so any information we can get will be welcomed.

Thanks

Orlin

[Freebird]

I've never organized a benefit ride but hopefully there are some here who can offer suggestions. I just wanted to say that I'm very sorry to hear of her illness. A bad deal at any age but it just seems especially terrible when it afflicts somebody so young.

[IH Truck Guy]

Hi Orlin,real sorry to hear this.......

We've never organized a benefit ride,but have particapated in a few....

If the date works,you can count on us being there......

[ScottW]

Contact your local Abate group. They may have some people that will help put the ride together. Heres a link

 

http://www.abatewis.org/index.php

[DragonRider]

You could also try to contact one of your local M/C dealers, they are always helping out with benefit rides, if anyone knows how to put them together they do. Sorry to hear this, one so young shouldnt have to go through this. Our prayers are with her, her family and friends.

[Galapagos]

I am saddened by Elizabeths troubles. Please try and keep her spirits up.

 

I organized a run for seven years for a friend that is no longer with us.. It is an amazing amount of work to bring a successful run to fruitation and watch it grow.

 

Let me think on this project and try to help you in any way I can. After the holidays I will send you an email with the steps you should be taking now, near and at the run.

 

I am a life member of CMRO and ABATE. I have organized many runs for CMRO and helped in countless other charity runs for different peole and causes.

 

Also I would like to see the people from Wisconsin and the surrounding areas help out here if you can.

 

More to follow on this.

 

MoS

[Aussie Annie]

Man of Steel..... :clap2::clap2::clap2:

[BG Hawks]

Sorry to hear about you Brother in laws daughter. your family is in our prayers.

 

Past 2 years we have planned a charity ride. My suggestion is to start early planning and know your route. Can flyers out and make sure that your stops are on board with you. Make sure you ride the route the day before the ride. Road construction can pop up at anytime and mess up a ride. Not a bad idea to have road captains. They are the guys that know the route and will help with tricky area's. Make sure that they ride 55 miles per hour. Remember the tail end of the line will be riding alot faster. Touch base with local authorities as they can help get you through towns. Look for bike friendly locations to stop and many times they will write checks or donate for a raffle. Note that even raffles need a gambling liscense at least in Iowa. Check with the bar many times they have one and you can use theirs. If you have a silent auction start and stop at the same spot that way you can raise the bid while you are gone. If you start at a bar have one that serves breakfast. If you stop for lunch make sure that they have enough food for everyone; something simple and buffet style. You don't want 55+ bikes ordering off the menu or you will never get out of there. Have stops spaced out enough that you get some riding in 25-30+ miles between stops and have your ride go about 110-120 miles. Have a defintite idea of how long you are staying at each stop and make an announcement that your leaving in 10 minutes.

 

Sorry for the early morning rambles and best of luck to you!

[Galapagos]

1. Get a road Captain and a wingman to help the Captain. The road Captain will direct and lead the run. His position will be the front bike on the left side. His wingman will ride next to him on the right side. These positions remain the same on the run.

 

2. Assign two sweep riders. These will be two cyclists that remain the last two of the run. They will sweep in the blockers your will have for the intersections. They will ride the run and stay as the last two riders.

 

3. Blockers. This is a touchy area. Blockers do exactly what the name implies. They block intersections. Some cops are cool with this and some hate this. Blockers will stop opposing traffic and allow the group to proceed at an intersection. Blockers will drop to the rear and let the sweepers guide them in.

 

4. As far as choosing a Captain, wingman and blockers I would seek advice from a local bike club or ABATE that may be willing to help you out. Find out when they have a meeting and attend with your request. My club, CMRO, does runs for people all the time that request them. Look up some people from Gold Wing Riders, Moose Club riders, American Legion or AMVETS. I am a Moose member. If you wish I can get in touch with some local groups in Wisconsin and see if they would help.

 

5. Plan you route. Find out what your stops are going to be and make sure they know to expect you. Nothing worse than 75 bikers coming into an unprepared bar or restaurant. Get phone numbers and let them know your group will soon be at their establishment as you have already planned. Call a ½ hour before you will be there. Plan on four or five stops. Run the route a few days before to make sure roads are not being worked on. Keep your run under 100 miles.

 

6. Run a 50/50 or dice roll. These are money printing machines and will add to the final dollar amount for you charitable endeavor. The dice run will be fore the members of the run. Do a 50/50 at every stop. You are there to make money for your run. You will also have expenses to pay for.

 

7. Ask the places you are stopping if they would donate a door prize for your last stop.

 

8. Print 2000 fliers and make sure you have the people to distribute them. Get them out a month before the run and check them every week that month to make sure they are there. Go to tanning booths, restaurants, bars, your dry cleaner, the corner pizza shop, the grocer, your work place and pass them out. Pass them out at ANY business you have in a 25 mile radius. If they don’t have a flier they don’t know about your run. GET THE WORD OUT! Also make your fliers in color with all contact information. Make sure they know it is for a good cause. Some bars have runs and they keep the money.

 

9. You need to have a good place to end the run. A restaurant/bar is good because they can feed your people. Make a deal with the management if they want to supply the food. You need food supplied at the end of the run to keep the people happy.

 

10. Door prizes. Everywhere you drop your fliers you should ask for a donation. It is amazing how nice some people and businesses are and want to help. There is an old saying that if you want to close a deal you need to ask for the sale. ASK FOR THE DONATION!

 

11. Insurance, accidents and other bad things. You are the one putting this run on. Have people sign a waiver. It will not protect you in court but you never know. If you have an AMA member you may be able to buy run insurance. It is about $200. Use experienced people to Captain and sweep your run. Don’t let anybody get out of line. Throw them off the run if they drink too much or ride in an erratic manner. Their actions get you sued. See if you can get a nurse or Doctor to join your run. They ride bike too and can be a big help if something happens. We have three nurses in our group and it makes me feel better.

 

12. Numbers. You will get 75 to 150 riders. Make sure you have prizes and food for them. My last ride had 350 bikers. We split it into three groups because of the size.

 

13. If possible I would come and lead the run for you. Wisconsin is a little far for a run since I am in Ohio. Just get people with some common sense to help you locally. Ask the membership here to help you.

 

14. Get started tomorrow. Do not wait.

Get a band together also. Make a deal with the last stop to pay for half the band. Then get the last stop to donate the band.

 

If you have questions PM me please.

Edited November 23, 2011 by Man of Steel

[Kernal]

I want to thank all that have responded to Orlin's post. The details given about how to run this ride are very grateful. I also want to thank you for the kind words, prayers and thoughts heading my daughter's way.

She is too young for this terrible condition, however she is a fighter and we are seeing lung cancer specialists at Mayo Clinic. She starts her treatment next week, please continue to hold her and her newly-wed husband in your hearts and prayers.

 

We will keep you updated on our progress, in her treatment and for the ride.

And thank you ever so much.

 

Steve

[OrlinEngh]

All I can say is Thankyou for the help, I was told that when I joined and got to meet some of the people on here that its a place of more than friends but a place of family I am sure glad that I joined.

We will be getting some updates on Thursday I will let you all know what we find out. And will work out a date and area for the ride.

Thankyou

Orlin

[bryan52577]

Orlin, Steve,

We are so sorry to hear about Elizabeth. Let Elizabeth know she is in our thoughts & prayers.

I have never "put on" a bennifit ride, but would help you any way I can. You tell us the date and where and Lisa & I would love to come and join and help out. Just give us a job and we'll get it done. I can help lead, bring up the rear and / or we can both do security.

 

Bryan & Lisa

Edited November 23, 2011 by bryan52577

[BG Hawks]

Please let us know the date and starting location! Have fun planning!

[OrlinEngh]

Hello

It sounds like the ride is going to take place the end of May so not to get into the same weekend as other rides. We are thinking of starting here at my place its out in the country and would be a easy start to the ride. Now for the ending point would it be better to have it just out side of town so is we can stay out of the city with all of the bikes. Would like to keep this safe as we can for all riders.

I am going to leave up dates for Elizabeth up to Steve.

Thanks

Orlin

[OrlinEngh]

Hello

I talked with Steve and the date so far is Satarday June 9th it will start in Lacrosse Wi, and end at LaCresent Mn, For those of you that can come and join in and would like to come on Friday and campout here at our place near Viroqua we have a camping area here for freinds and family we will have a cookout and bone fire. And then you can ride with us to Lacrosse.

Thanks for all of the informaition, thoughts and prayers.

Orlin

[bryan52577]

Hello

I talked with Steve and the date so far is Satarday June 9th it will start in Lacrosse Wi, and end at LaCresent Mn,

Orlin

 

Isn't that like 1 mile or 2 right across the river from each other?

 

Bryan

[OrlinEngh]

Yes it is but not the way we are going, Sounds like we will leave Lacrosse and come back to Rockton from there make our way to Genoa then to LaCresent that will put the ride at a little over 100 miles,

Edited December 11, 2011 by OrlinEngh

[bryan52577]

Yes it is but not the way we are going, Sounds like we will leave Lacrosse and come back to Rockton from there make our way to Genoa then to LaCresent that will put the ride at a little over 100 miles,

That will be GREAT! We will be there!

 

Bryan

[Rick Haywood]

Hello

I talked with Steve and the date so far is Satarday June 9th it will start in Lacrosse Wi, and end at LaCresent Mn, For those of you that can come and join in and would like to come on Friday and campout here at our place near Viroqua we have a camping area here for freinds and family we will have a cookout and bone fire. And then you can ride with us to Lacrosse.

Thanks for all of the informaition, thoughts and prayers.

Orlin

 

Orlin This should be put on the calender so everyone can see it and make plans to attend. Also may want a sign up so you can get a number of how many.

[OrlinEngh]

How do I put this on the calender can I do this myself or do I have to have someone else do it.

Thanks

Orlin

[OrlinEngh]

That will be GREAT! We will be there!

 

Bryan

Thats great to hear,

[bryan52577]

How do I put this on the calender can I do this myself or do I have to have someone else do it.

Thanks

Orlin

Orlin,

I've only done it once I think but here goes.

1st go to "Calendar"

2nd put in month and year you want

3rd click on the "Single all day event"

4th Put in "Title", When, Where, Time to meet, Where the ride ends (All the info you can put in. Then the RSVP thing click yes (Not sure about the last part but you get that far I know you can figure it out from there.)

 

Hope this helps ya out?

 

Bryan

[bryan52577]

Well, looks like Steve got this on the calendar. So I RSVP'd we will be there.

Bryan