Training Tips from a Pro

Our resident former pro-cyclist, and all around bike guru, Richard Fries, will be offering up some training tips for the Challenge community as we get closer to our Hyannis Port event (on June5th)! Read on for some words of wisdom...

Little rides add up. Ride your bike as often as possible during weekdays. Ride to the supermarket. Ride to the kids' baseball game. Ride to your friends' barbecue. And perhaps best of all, ride to and from work. You would be surprised how simple, fun and easy commuting can be especially for a busy person.

With a little bit of planning, the time we spend stuck in traffic or waiting for transit can become your training time. Take some time to map out interesting routes. You'll discover a whole new network of roads and trails that are off the highway.

A ride of 10 miles or less in a metro area usually is faster by bike than any other means. So get to work and get fit.

Team FUNDRAISING Events Taking Off

With the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port coming up in just two months we are starting to hear about some teams that are really starting to kick their fund raising into gear!

We wanted to feature a few of the events we have heard about so that you can attend, host a similar event for your own fund raising efforts, or share what you are doing with us!

If you have any questions about the events listed below or would like us to feature your upcoming fund raising event please email kellybeatty@bestbuddies.org

TOMORROW SATURDAY APRIL 10th - Team William Spin-a-Thon at Fitness For You in North Andover, MA at 12:00 pm.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 14th - Toole Time Fundraiser at the Mayflower Brewery in Plymouth MA from 5:30 - 7:30 pm.

SATURDAY MAY 1st -Richard Berman's Twilight Showcase Live Fundraiser at Second Church of Plymouth in Plymouth MA from 4:00 - 7:00 pm.

THURSDAY MAY 6th - Team UPS Fundraiser at Dedham Health and Raquet Club in Dedham, MA from 6:00 -8:00 pm.

The fundraising dollars for Best Buddies are rolling in - keep up the great work and don't forget about our training ride THIS SUNDAY!

FUND RAISING TIP: Train and Fund raise...Fund raise and Train

Hello Again - it is time for this week's Fund raising Friday tip!

This week I am suggesting Fund Raising while Training at the same time! You may wonder how this can be possible and the simple answer is...ERRANDS!

Friends, neighbors, co-workers and just about everyone you come in contact with each day is probably pretty busy so why not offer to run some errands for them and do this on your bike?!

Ride into town with a backpack on your back to pick up a few grocery items that a neighbor needs. Hear a co-worker complain that she doesn't have enough hours in the day to get to the post office? Offer to ride to the post office on your lunch break and take care of all her mailing needs!

You get the picture - you can help people out while getting a training ride in and in gratitude of the errand you run for them - ask people to go on home and make a donation on your personal fund raising page or write you a check to Best Buddies on the spot.

Here in Boston it is supposed to be cold but nice this weekend so get out and train and run a few errands at the same time!

Finally, some sun!

So for all of my fellow New Englanders, we are finally seeing the first indications of spring. Sun, little flower buds, warmer days...longer days, and people - outside and loving it. If you are like me, you are dying to get out there for lunchtime, after work, even earlier in the morning, just because you don't need a hat and gloves anymore.

This also means it's time to get back on your bike to get training. Here's Boston.com's listing of a few Boston-area bike routes that are great options to try...ENJOY!

http://www.boston.com/thingstodo/gallery/bikes/

FUNDRAISING TIP: Do What You Love...Love What You Do

When brainstorming fund raising ideas for the Audi Best Buddies Challenge - don't forget about your hobbies, skills, and the things you enjoy doing the most.

While emails and letters are great why not put a little FUN into FUNd raising?!

Here are some examples:

If you enjoy baking - offer to bake and deliver a different type of cookies each month for a year for a donation of $200.

If you enjoy gardening - invite friends, neighbors, and co-workers over for a "how to session." Ask for a $25 donation for the session and then offer advice on what flowers, plants, and vegetables folks should think about buying this year and even do a demonstration.

If you enjoy children - offer to babysit so that friends can enjoy a night out. Let them know that half (or all) of what they pay you will be going towards Best Buddies and they will be sure to be extra generous!

If you enjoy golf - why not organize a fun tournament at your local club? Golf season is about a month away so planning now would be perfect

And last but not least...if you enjoy taking part in March Madness (as I do!) consider asking for a donation towards Best Buddies as the entrance fee for your bracket or have the winner talk half and Best Buddies take half.

This list could go on forever; keep in mind that fund raising really can be fun when you do the things you already enjoy!

Come Meet Us!

To the 2010 Audi Best Buddies Challenge Hyannis Port Community:

Over the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to meet many of you in person. Whether you came to our Captains Night, Kick Off Party, or one of our bike shop visits - THANK YOU for coming out!

It has been truly wonderful to get to know the Audi Best Buddies Challenge community and it has been awesome to put a face to an email address or hear first hand about who you ride in honor of and why this event means so much to you.

For those of you who have not yet been able to make it to one of our events, I would like to extend a special invitation for you to come out and meet this year's Ride Team!

Currently we are hosting most of our outreach events at local bike shops. Warm weather is on it's way (we hope!) and with that comes time for training outdoors! Why not pick up some bike equipment that you need while also grabbing a beer with your Coach? Why not come share your stories from past rides while meeting new riders? Why not come register for the 2010 Audi Best Buddies Challenge or receive training and fund raising advice from your Coach?

We would love to meet you (and your friends, neighbors, and families) so consider stopping by one of our upcoming events:

Thursday, March 11 at Cycle Loft in Burlington @ 7:00

Monday, March 15 at Quad Cycles in Arlington @ 6:30

Tuesday March 16 at Back Bay Bikes in Boston@ 6:00 (Note: The shop will be offering $15 off bike tune ups and a 25% discount on accessories during the event!)

Thursday March 18 at Bicycle Alley in Worcester @ 6:30


We hop to see you soon! Thank You for all that you do on behalf of Best Buddies and for those of you that participate in the Audi Best Buddies Challenge Hearst Castle - your Coaches will soon be out and about at bike shops, training rides, and coffee shops - get excited!

FUNDRAISING TIP: The Importance of Following Up

Someone once told me that for the average person it takes 6 “asks” before they actually remember to make a donation. This surprised me because asking someone six times for money seems like quite a lot! Think about it though: between work, taking care of kids, taxes, etc. often times a letter from a friend asking for a donation gets lost in a stack of bills or an email ends up in a spam filter or filed away in a folder of “things to deal with later.”

It is CRUCIAL that you FOLLOW UP with your potential donors! In many cases people genuinely want to make a donation and support you and the Best Buddies cause but they simply forget!

Because asking people for money over and over again can feel like “nagging” and can be a bit uncomfortable, I would like to suggest “UPDATE EMAILS”.

The Update Email reminds people that you are still training and fund raising for the Audi Best Buddies Challenge without directly asking them again for money. Check out this example:


Hello Family and Friends,

I wanted to send you a quick email to update you on my progress for the upcoming Audi Best Buddies Challenge! So far (thanks to generous support from many of you) I have raised $500 which puts me one third of the way to my total goal!

THANK YOU so much for all of your support! I am have been so touched and impressed by how generous you all have been.

I also wanted to keep you posted on how my training is going. I tried spinning for the first time last week and am now really getting into it! My longest ride so far has been 20 miles so I am making progress towards my goal of being able to ride 50 miles on June 5th!

Thanks so much for your support and encouragement and if anyone has not yet had time to visit my personal web page and make a donation please visit: INSERT LINK TO PAGE HERE

Thanks!
INSERT NAME


*Don’t forget it is also really important to follow up with those that DID MAKE A DONATION. Thank you emails or hand written notes go a long way to show how grateful you are and will help inspire this donor to support you again in the future!

FUNDRAISING TIP: 100 DAYS EMAIL

Are you participating in the Audi Best Buddies Challenge Hyannis Port 100 mile ride this year?

If so then mark your calendars, set a reminder, and do whatever it takes to get the email below out to family, friends, and co-workers on Friday February 26th

Dear Friends and Family,

In 100 days I will be riding 100 miles in support of people with intellectual disabilities. Although it has been chilly outside training is always on my mind as I prepare for this amazing ride in support of some pretty amazing people.

In addition to my training, I am also working hard to raise important dollars to support Best Buddies programs. Over the next 100 days I will raise at least INSERT FUND RAISING GOAL dollars!

I can’t do this without your support and every little bit helps so please visit my personal fund raising page today: INSERT LINK TO PERSONAL FUND RAISING WEB PAGE

Thank you so much for supporting me as I challenge myself to change lives!

In Friendship,

INSERT YOUR NAME

Please note this fund raising tip above could be used for either event (HP and HC) and any distance!
50 days until I will ride 50 miles in support of Best Buddies
20 days until I will ride 20 miles in support of Best Buddies
15 days until I will ride 15 miles in support of Best Buddies
35 days until I will ride 35 miles in support of Best Buddies
62 days until I will ride 62 miles in support of Best Buddies
3 weeks until I will walk a 3k in support of Best Buddies
5 weeks until I will run a 5k in support of Best Buddies

Fundraising First - Tips from a Team

We, at the Audi Best Buddies Challenge, are always looking for fundraising tips to share with our participants. Sometimes, the best people to ask for these ideas are our participants. I wanted to share the first tip (of six) from Julie Sears of Team Six Degrees. All 6 Fundraising Tips will be featured in this month's newsletter...so here's an excellent teaser for what's to come...

#1 Make it Personal! Think of one moment in your life where a friend made the difference! And then start writing! The more real, the more heart-felt you can relay that the better. Everyone can relate to a friend that as made their day….and that is why we are riding and running anyway! It is to give everyone a chance to have a friend like that! So make it real! Sell it! Don’t use just the generic write up that Best Buddies provides on your personal webpage. Keep the parts you want of course, but make it your own! If I read your personal story about a friend and it makes me smile, laugh out loud or cry I’m gonna donate!!!! Guaranteed!!!!

For tips 2-6, keep an eye out for the February Newsletter.

Hyannis Port Kick Off Party - One Week Away

For the first time, we’ve decided to celebrate the start of our event season in a BIG way! Come meet and mingle with the Audi Best Buddies Challenge Staff, as well as past, present and future participants, over drinks and passed hors d’oeuvres. We will also be celebrating the premiere of The Greatest Bar’s two new paintings of Ted and Bobby Kennedy by local artist, Giovanni DeCunto. Mix 104.1’s DJ Freddy will be emceeing, so come and register at our lowest rate and help us kick-off the season! Bring a friend (or 5) and help us celebrate the eleventh annual Audi Best Buddies Challenge Hyannis Port!

WHO: YOU and any friends you bring! Or anyone else interested in learning about the Audi Best Buddies Challenge
WHAT: The Audi Best Buddies Challenge Hyannis Port Kick Off Party
WHEN: Thursday, February 18, 2010 from 6pm – 9pm
WHERE: The Greatest Bar, 262 Friend Street, Boston, MA 02114
WHY: To celebrate the eleventh Audi Best Buddies Challenge Hyannis Port and register on site!

RSVP to catelaroche@bestbuddies.org