BigBlueBOTTLE

So this is it. This Thursday afternoon, Team B3C begins the long ride across Massachusetts. I know we said we were starting this grand adventure on Friday, not Thursday, but a very interesting thing happened to us over the last couple months that made us change our plans.

You see, we started this challenge by asking people for money, plain and simple…and we set our goal high: $20,000. You’ll be glad to know that we are going to meet our goal THIS WEEK. But we threw in an extra challenge to those from whom we were asking support. We said that for every donation above a certain dollar amount, we would be attacking a mountain climb in memory of, or in support of, a person that they name. Little did we know what we were getting ourselves into! The support has been so overwhelming that we have to leave a day early to start logging climbs BEFORE the actual ride starts on Friday. You’ve held up your end of the bargain, and so shall we. It’s going to be an interesting few days!

But something else happened when we presented this challenge. Not only did we get money, and names. We got stories. So what we’ve done is create a storyboard of sorts, a place for us to post the pictures and brief quotes from family members and friends of loved ones…some of them survivors, others less fortunate. And it’s not only for those who came to the table and challenged us to climb the mountain, it’s for ANYONE who is helping us. Please take a moment to click the “Who We Ride For…” link at the top left of your web browser, take a look at the pictures, and read the stories. We hope they move you as much as they have us.

So what have we learned? We’ve learned that what inspires, what motivates, is different for everyone, and it’s worth taking the time to ask, and listen to the stories. This team is not riding for one person, or one cause, or just to raise money. We are riding to raise awareness, with the hope that everyone gets the full, vividly colored picture of what this disease is, and how differently it affects the people impacted by it.

Thank you everyone, for your help.

- Team Big Blue Bottle for the Cure (B3C)!