If you can't reach the minimum you have 1 of 2 choices:
1. You cannot participate in the ride 2. You could 'pay' the remainder of the pledges you are waiting for, on a credit card or something, and you get 30 days after the ride is over to get the remainder. So if you raised $2000, you could 'top yourself up' by using your credit card or however you like to get you to the $2500 to ride, then collect the other $500 in the 30 days following the ride and then you can still participate in the ride.
I don't believe there are any other options, or if I got the 30 days incorrect, someone please correct me.
Dean, do you have a team? It is definitely easier and a lot more fun to do all of this with a team. You just get more support and more help to raise the funds.
Are you in Calgary? Edmonton?
I am in Edmonton and am the captain of The Freedom Riders (so far, it's me and my sister in law) and this will be my 3rd year doing the ride.
PS - don't get discouraged already - you have LOTS of time to raise the money. It is a common 'fear' for those who are doing the ride for the first time (including myself).
Thanks - I'm not discouraged, I just wanted to know as it wasn't in the registration material I received (or I couldn't find it). The $2500 minimum is quite steep compared to other charity rides I've done (it actually seems unreasonable) but there must be a good reason for it. I think the MS ride has a $275 minimum yet is still quite successful.
Yes, it is steep, I agree however most seem to be able to raise it which means more money for Cancer Research = closer to a cure! The past two years, together, we have managed to raise more than 1.5 million dollars through this event alone. I guess sometimes having a minimum so high is a good thing!
Actually, last year it was $8.6 million raised by the Ride...since the Alberta Ride started in 2009, I do believe the total is over $20 million that has been brought in for cancer research from this event.
Yeah, as compared to some charity rides (i.e. the MS Rides) it is steep, but as compared to others (I think there is a Lance Armstrong ride where it is like $25,000 as a minimum) is isn't too bad. All a case of perspective.
I'm happy to say that the "what if" for me never came into play, and I did reach my minimum a week ago.
What is curious, though, is that as soon as I reached my minimum, I quit getting donations. I think that potential donators looked at my link and saw "100%+" and figured it was over. At least I didn't have to personally "top up" to ride, and I'm proud to have collected that much!
I feel for anyone who didn't make it, but hey - raising money is the REAL goal of this event, ride or not. We're all heros as it stands, for raising any amount.
If you didn't make it - SO WHAT! Go out and do your own 100 km ride...and keep riding! Be an inspiration to others to get in shape and stay in shape. Prevention is half the battle to beat cancer anyway!
