I can't believe that we are already two weeks into November- where has this month gone? I have been busy fundraising and am happy to announce that, with the help of many of you, I have nearly doubled the amount raised since my last post! I am currently at $1,221 which not only beats the December 1st deadline, but also puts me under $300 away from receiving my 4k bike! So exciting! I wanted to take some time to show you the impact that you're making by supporting me and 4k for Cancer. Listed at the top of this post is a monetary breakdown of the services that we are helping provide for young people with cancer. So far, we've raised enough to help 40 patients get to treatment- that's pretty incredible! Every cent has truly made a difference in the lives of cancer patients and all donations have gone directly to supporting them through their treatment. As a group, the 2020 riders and runners have helped the Ulman Foundation raise over $100,000. This means that we have raised enough to start TEN Patient Navigation programs at different cancer centers- and we're just getting started! It is both inspiring and humbling to see the impact that our actions and efforts have already made. I think that sometimes, as an individual, it can feel like your actions won't make a difference to the "big picture". It can seem like making a small donation or sharing a fundraising post won't really have an impact. However, when you pair that action with the actions of others, you can see the huge impact that we are all making together. I want to thank each of you for your support. Whether you've shown up to a fundraiser, made a monetary donation or simply said that you were proud of me, you're the reason I am able to continue my journey with 4k for Cancer. You're the reason that the Ulman Foundation is able to provide support to young people with cancer. I can't seem to find the words that truly express my gratitude for the love and support I have received, but I truly appreciate each and everyone of you. I am hoping to keep the momentum moving and have $1500 raised by the end of the month and over $2000 raised by the end of the year. These feel like much more obtainable goals than they did a month ago and I'm excited to see the difference we continue to make. In case you hadn't seen, I am currently selling items through MN Brands for Good as a fundraiser- I will receive 40% of the profit from orders placed on or before 11/18. You can order products at: https://shop.mnbrandsforgood.com/. Make sure to select "YES" when asked if you are supporting a specific fundraiser. The group name is "4k for Cancer" and the seller name is "Lynsey Ihli". Many of their products would make the perfect holiday gift or stocking stuffer and all items will be delivered by 12/9! As always, my fundraising page is located at the bottom (mobile) or side (desktop) of this post if you would like to make a donation. Cheers!
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I’m happy to announce that I have officially met the deadline for November 1st! With the help of family and friends, I have already been able to raise $645 for young people with cancer! I am extremely grateful for the overwhelming amounts of love and support I have felt over the past few months. It’s been humbling to hear the connections to cancer the people in my network have and I feel honored that I get to dedicate my miles next summer to so many people.
I will be launching several fundraising campaigns over the next few months so make sure to follow my Instagram: @lynseypedals4k for updates on those! November 4th-18th, I will be partnering with MN Brands for Good- a company that helps individuals and groups fundraise through the sale of Minnesota made products. I will be selling a selection of foods, candles, chapsticks, stocking stuffers and more during the first few weeks of November with 40% of the profit going directly to my fundraiser. More information on how to order will come in my next blog post! I have also started an ongoing shoe collection drive with GotSneakers- I will receive $1 toward my fundraiser for ever sneaker that is donated. This fundraiser packs double the impact because not only will it contribute to 4k for cancer, but the used sneakers will be sent to those in need around the world. Leave a comment below if you have used sneakers you would like to donate! I’ve been lucky the past two Saturdays- the weather has been perfect for riding. It’s been wonderful to get outside and have the opportunity to try out a few saddles! Luckily, my father in law is something of a custom bike guru, so he’ll be helping me personalize my 4k bike once it arrives. I am hoping to have over $1500 by the end of the year so I will be eligible to receive my bike from the Ulman Foundation! That way, I will have plenty of time to customize and ‘break it in’. Please check out my donation page below (mobile) or to the side (desktop) and consider donating! All donations are tax deductible and go directly toward supporting those impacted by cancer. If you are unable to donate, please share my donation page with your network- the more people who know, the bigger the impact! More information about where donations are directed will come next week. Have a fun Halloween! Cheers! It’s been a busy couple weeks since my last post!
I’ve been working on setting up fundraisers (including some this month!), reaching out to local businesses and generally spreading the word about what I’m going to be doing next summer. Fundraising has been a slower start than what I hoped for so it’s nice to finally get some things moving! This past Saturday, I hosted a movie night fundraiser and was able to raise $100 thanks to my amazing friends who attended! The original plan was to project the movie outside and have a bonfire but unfortunately the temperature didn’t cooperate and we ended up inside. It was still lots of fun and we decided to get in the Halloween spirit by watching Hocus Pocus (on a side note- can anyone guess how many times the movie uses the word “virgin”? I’ll give you a hint: it’s a lot). I definitely feel lucky to have so many friends supporting me through this adventure! Next week on 10/23, I’ll be hosting a Chipotle fundraiser (flyer is attached to my last post). I’m hoping to raise a couple hundred dollars and push my fundraising over the $500 mark. The first official deadline is November 1st and I’m hoping to be a little ahead of the game! If you would like to donate and support me, please click on the link at the bottom of the page (mobile) or on the side of this post (desktop). I also have a bake sale set up on 12/7 in Chanhassen and am working on setting up a Galentine’s Day afternoon tea fundraiser. If you haven’t already, make sure to follow me on Instagram @lynseypedals4k. In the next couple of months, I’ll be posting raffle items including a date night basket and hand made mittens! In other news, the weather is looking promising for this upcoming weekend so I might be able to get off my stationary bike and do some training outside! That’s all I have for now! Stay posted for more updates! Cheers! Already another week of fundraising and riding gone! Feels like I just wrote my last blog post yesterday and I’m sure that May 31st will be here before I know it.
Unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate with my training schedule this week, so I did a lot of stationary riding at the gym. Luckily I had Netflix and the Great British Bake-off to keep me entertained. Looks like there are a few nice days coming up this week so I should get some outdoor cycling time! I’m happy to say that I have made progress towards fundraising in this past week. I have set up several events for October, the biggest one being a Chipotle fundraiser (flyer above). It will be at 5580 Excelsior Blvd in St. Louis Park, MN on Wednesday 10/23/19. I will receive 33% of the profits from anyone who brings in a flyer or mentions the fundraiser! If you live in the area, please come out to enjoy some food and support 4k for Cancer! I’ll be hanging around most of the evening to chat. Please also share the flyer with your friends and coworkers- the more the merrier! ... It’s been less than a month since I decided to sign up for this cross country bike ride, and I’m amazed at the ways in which it’s already impacted me. It has pushed me to be more outgoing and to ask for help (which is not something I normally do). In return, I have been able to connect with others and hear there stories. I am humbled by the massive amounts of support I have already received from family, friends and even strangers. I didn’t quite make my $500 goals for September, but I am still pushing to have $1,000 by the end of October. If you would like to support me and 4k for Cancer, please click on my fundraising link at the bottom of this page (mobile) or on the side of this post (desktop). Cheers everyone! This last week has been a whirlwind of getting organized, starting a training program and learning how to fundraise! Pretty sure I’ve gone through an entire notebook with all the ideas I’ve had.
My goal is to raise $500 each month up until I leave for the ride. I am currently at $125 for the month of September and am optimistic that I will be able to hit $500 within the next week (link below)! I have reached out to local bike shops to set up donation jars, sent letters to family and friends and have begun planning some bigger fundraising events for the month of October (more info to come on those later). Fundraising has been a good push to reconnect with people I haven't talked to in a while. It has been rewarding to share my personal connection with cancer and to hear the stories of others. As far as training goes, I'm making it up as I go along. I've been studying to be a personal trainer (test in two weeks!) and this ride is the perfect opportunity for me to practice creating an exercise program! The official training guide given to riders by the Ulman Foundation doesn't start until January, so to start off I've made some goals for myself. I am pushing myself to bike three times a week- going at least 15 miles each time. Ideally, I will complete at least one 50+ mile ride before (dare I say it?) winter comes. I've also kept up with my regular strength training and flexibility routines. Some things I've learned while biking this week:
Even though I'm realizing how challenging reaching my $5000 goal and training for the ride will be, I'm excited to be taking steps to start this journey! I feel unbelievably lucky to have the opportunity to participate in this ride and I can't wait to see all the ways it helps me grow! If you haven't already, check out my instagram @lynseypedals4k and visit my fundraising page (link below). I would also appreciate it if you all could share my fundraising page on your social media accounts! Every cent counts and every mile matters. Cheers! Hey There!
My name is Lynsey and I am proud to state that I am one of the riders for the Ulman Foundation’s 2020 4k for Cancer. What’s 4k, you ask? The 4k for Cancer is a 70 day, 4,000 mile cross country journey that shows support and solidarity to those impacted by cancer. The Ulman Foundation is a non profit based out of Baltimore, Maryland that raises money to support young people with cancer. Next summer, I will be cycling from Baltimore to San Francisco with a group of other crazy young adults. Along the way, we will raise awareness, award scholarships and participate in service days at local hospitals. Oh, and there will be cycling too. My fundraising goal is just over $5000 (link below)- wish me luck! Fundraising isn’t something that I’ve done before and I’m a little nervous but I think it will be rewarding to get out of my comfort zone! Donations contribute to supporting young adults through their diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. So far, the foundation has been able to impact the lives of 8,031 young adults! I have completed one century ride in my lifetime... 5 years ago. Next summer, I will be averaging 50-80 miles a day (yikes!). I am looking forward to both the mental and physical challenge of the ride as well as the bonding time I will get with teammates! I love being active and traveling, so this definitely seems like the perfect way to see the country. So, why this ride? I have acted as both a caregiver and as part as part of a support network for loved ones going through cancer treatment. I have seen up close the impact that a diagnosis can have on a person and a family. I have seen how painful treatment can be and how the battle doesn’t always end when the treatment does. I have also seen the immense impact that love and support can have on patients. I have seen their eyes light up from receiving a card and have seen how something as simple as a Facebook post can make their whole mood change. I truly believe that a support network is what keeps people fighting. My hope is that I will be able to show support to both those diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones during this ride. I look forward to being part of the Ulman Foundation’s mission. I will be posting weekly updates on my training and fundraising over the next several months. Once the ride starts, I will be posting updates to my adventures and sharing the impact my team is having on communities across the country. If you would like me to dedicate a ride to you or a loved one that has been impacted by cancer, please leave a comment below. Cheers! |