Fundraising For Sids & Kids WA In Memory of my brother. Cycle from Albany to Perth

[Kilma]

The short:
I'm cycling over 400kms from Perth to Albany to raise money for Sids & Kids WA. http://www.sidsandkids.org/
You can donate through this link: (http://www.everydayhero.com.au/damon_parsons
You can spread the word by joining/invite friends/post on your wall/all of the above this facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=115049005221879

The full story:
At just 6 weeks 6 days old, my brother Ashley fell victim to SIDS. On the 20th March 2011, what would have been Ashley’s 25th birthday, I plan on completing a ride from Albany to Perth, over 400kms in memory of the brother I don’t remember, but will never forget and to raise money to help SIDS and Kids WA (http://www.sidsandkids.org/). I would be very appreciative if everyone will support me in one of the toughest things I have ever aimed to complete in my life.

If you or any of your friends want a tax write off (or one for their companies) that will go to a great cause, I’m more than happy to help out in this area as well as everything over $2 is tax deductible. The easiest way is to go to my donations web page (http://www.everydayhero.com.au/damon_parsons) and put some dosh in using your credit card, but if you want to hand it to me or arrange something else I am happy to help there as well.

I've created an event on Facebook because that just seems to be the easiest way to spread the word on Facebook. Please feel free to join, invite any or all of your friends and/or post it on your wall etc. to spread the word and raise the awareness of this event. http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=115049005221879

To be honest, I’ve never planned anything of this magnitude, so anyone who has any advice or wants to help out, I will be more than appreciative as well. If there is anyone who wants to challenge themselves and ride with me, whether it be for the whole time, 1 leg or only for half an hour, you are more than welcome. I will be doing the ride no matter what happens.

One of the very few pics we have of Ashley.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs386.ash2/66414_10150267067490517_572910516_14704643_4469784 _n.jpg

Me holding Ashley.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs179.ash2/44211_10150267306770517_572910516_14710085_7223284 _n.jpg

Thanks to everyone for the support and assistance.
Damon

[Tocchi]

hey damon, maybe contact the AFD organisers about having flyers "advertising" the cause in the showbags etc?

[Kilma]

Great idea. Cheers heaps Tocchi.

[ED40]

All the best Damon, you should be proud of yourself for doing something like this.
Will donate for sure.

[thommo]

thats gonna be a tough ride, good on you for doing it !

do you happen to cycle often already ?

[Mad_Aussie]

Talk to the police local to the areas you plan to ride through. Let them know what your intentions are, ask them for any help etc. You might just find they are willing to escort you through certain areas. Also speak to the Albany City Council, they may be able to set up something for your arrival.

Next pay i'll budget a little cash to sling you mate. Sounds like a top idea for a damn good cause. Good on ya!

[e46pwa]

Good on ya will make a donation next pay day. Also will try to attend the ride, don't even own a bike atm but will see till then.

[TJ]

Awesome work.

Anyone makes light of this on this thread.. expect a holiday.

[YOUR MATE]

Best of luck with it mate.

[Tocchi]

Great idea. Cheers heaps Tocchi.
no probs man. i probably wont see you before AFD, so ill bring some moolah there :)



Anyone makes light of this on this thread.. expect a holiday.
+1

[shifted]

Hey Damon, good on ya for doing this! Slinging some cash towards your cause now. Hope you reach your targets and pull through!

[31-EVO]

Wow, good on you Damon, wish you all the best.

[Kilma]

Carl/Mad_Aussie/e46pwa/Tocchi/shifted: Thanks heaps for the donations. Much appreciated. Everything helps.

thommo: I do cycle, but it has only ever been recreational stuff and relatively short distances (max of 30kms) up until recently. About a month ago I bought a proper road bike and road gear specifically for this event and have been doing it a bit more since. I am now up to 50kms in a session (1.5-2 hours) and 100kms a day once a week. I'll work my way up to the full distance, but most importantly, I'm in less pain the day after each time I do a ride like this. I think the 400kms would be done relatively easily. It will be the hills all the way there and back that will be the challenge and make it difficult.

Mad_Aussie: Cheers for the ideas. I'll definitely be hitting up the local councils. I need to find out what is required as far as escorts go between towns as well. I'll be starting in Albany and finishing in Perth, but am hoping to have a decent gathering for my departure from Albany, arrival in Perth and my overnight stops.

[thommo]

Far out that's some good training you have started, reason I asked was I just started getting back into it also. Anywhere in particular you ride?

[Mad_Aussie]

It will be the hills all the way there and back that will be the challenge and make it difficult.

So long as you have a good set of clips and shoes the hills shouldn't be all that bad.

[RS_Gav]

Awesome mate. Like I said on the Everyday Hero page, having 5 healthy kids of my own this kind of condition hits home for me. Reminds me how lucky we really are sometimes.
All the best with this.

[Kilma]

No-where in particular so far. I have been riding to & from work with a few detours to make up about 50kms each way. Welcome to join me for a ride if you want. I head out most weekends at some point (varies each weekend).

I've done the hill up Crystal Brook Road a couple of times now. That's hard work (about 1:10 elevation:distance ratio), but going down at 70km/h next to cars is rewarding and fun (wouldn't want to come off at that speed). I can go up hills. I think the number of hills over 4 days will be tough work.

Thanks RS Gav for the donation as well. :)

[Kilma]

Thanks to schnoods for the donation (and the anonymous person if it was anyone from here).

I'm nearing $800 already. :)

Did a trip back from Mount Barker after visiting family over the weekend and VERY QUICKLY realised how much I am going to hurt on the first day.

[MMM]

http://www.watoday.com.au/lifestyle/wellbeing/secret-to-sids-unlocked-by-researchers-20101021-16vax.html

[Kilma]

Interesting article. Thanks MMM.

Cheers to e46pwa & Kye for the donations as well. I've hit $900 now.

Rode home this week going up Welshpool road, and that was A LOT easier than I thought it would be. Short steel climb is FAR harder than a long steady incline. Going down Crystal Brook Road my heart rate hit 140 though. Not because I was working hard, but because it was dark and I was shit scared. :lol:

[AGIT8D]

Best of luck! I was down in Katanning on Tuesday for work and there are some awesome roads and scenery along the way which I'm sure you'll enjoy.

Where do you plan to do your stop overs?

[Kilma]

Cheers for the donation AGIT8D.

I have a lot of scouting of the roads to do yet and make sure they are suitable, but am loosely planning on this route (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Albany,+Western+Australia&daddr=-33.40144,117.36389+to:-32.801,116.47564+to:-32.71817,116.02404+to:Perth,+Western+Australia&hl=en&geocode=Ff-T6f0dl8IGBynrf0PhJSc5KjHV5EcikIc2yg%3BFaBVAv4dstT-BimZRch-BNg2KjGZuEzwGZGbJQ%3BFRh_C_4d-EbxBim3sk8ZZdIzKjGMkOJkF1sDLw%3BFabCDP4d6GLqBimJNJ girWoyKjGgzWiQwH82Ew%3BFThmGP4dntznBilt8V8p1boyKjF Nek2jX3ZXKA&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=3&sz=9&via=1,2,3&sll=-32.650938,116.479797&sspn=1.31584,2.897644&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.201924,117.180176&spn=5.229919,11.590576&z=7).
Day 1 = Albany to Tambelup (spending the night in Cranbrook, as that is where all of my family live and where I am originally from)
Day 2 = Tambellup to Williams
Day 3 = Williams to Pinjarra
Day 4 = Pinjarra to Perth

Actual start and finish places are yet to be determined (I'm looking to get some form of sponsorship for starting and finishing points, and hopefully my overnight stops as well).

A lot of work is ahead of me yet. :)

[AGIT8D]

Should be decent mate.. We went thru Pinni, Boddington and Williams to Katanning, obviously down Albany Hwy.. Which way will you go Pinni to Perth? Fwy, Southwest Hwy etc??

[Kilma]

I'm thinking Freeway at this stage. I want a nice easy ride for the last day, and depending on what I get organised I might be able to get a bit more exposure on the freeway. Still to be determined yet (as a lot of this event is).

[Kilma]

I've made it up to $995 now thanks to "AnonomysALHoon". Much appreciated, and I LOL'd at the name as well. :)
http://www.everydayhero.com.au/damon_parsons

[AGIT8D]

I'm thinking Freeway at this stage. I want a nice easy ride for the last day, and depending on what I get organised I might be able to get a bit more exposure on the freeway. Still to be determined yet (as a lot of this event is).

If you ride along Pinjarra Rd and hang a right onto Mandurah Rd you can go along the new entry to the Fwy. It connects south of Lakes Rd but drops you North of it at Lymon Rd entrance. Yell out if you need a noisy car-escort through Mandurah lol, best I sit behind you so you don't get fumed out :P

[Kilma]

Yes, will definitely have to sit behind me AGIT8D.

Cracked $1500 in donations.

Progressing as far as the distance travelled goes as well. Finding time is becoming difficult, and routes that are slightly more interesting. Did the pushbike equivalent of a suicide run up Welshpool Road with the bus stops a couple of weeks ago. That was hard work and time consuming.

Killing 100kms in a day at this stage. Need to raise it and do it a couple of times a week (again, time is the restriction).

Anyone who is interested in a bike ride, feel free to send me a PM and hit me up. My pace isn't blistering (anywhere between 25 & 30km/h usually) but more than happy to slow down for you or keep up if/when I can.

Is there anyone on here who works in marketing? I would like to get some decent sized companies on board for some good money, but have zero experience with approaching them for this sort of thing and walking in or phoning up and saying "Hey, I'm doing this. Will you sponsor and/or get behind me?" doesn't sound like the right way to go about it (correct me if I'm wrong and it is that simple).

Cheers
Damon

[Tocchi]

Got any stickers, or logo or whatnot?

I'll chuck some on the car for this weekend's fabcar rally :)

[Kilma]

Stickers, no.

Logo:
http://www.sidsandkids.org/wp-content/themes/sidsandkids/images/logo.gif

Have a heap of flyers though (thanks RS_Gav and your contacts).

Don't really think it's worth having a full logo for this 1 event.

[Tocchi]

Gav already has logo?

I'll let him know that. Get some of those logos on for you

[Kilma]

He doesn't have the logos. I asked for flyers to be printed. He doesn't do flyers. :(

He did put me onto another guy who has printed them for free though. :D

[Sammish]

Had a chat to my HR manager. Out dealership has hit their quote for sponsorships this year so im looking into a few other things for you ill let you know if anything comes of it.

[Tocchi]

big thanks to Gav @ GT Graphics for making this at such short notice.

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/3331/img05981.jpg

[Kilma]

Don't worry Sammish. The ride isn't until March next year. :p

Thanks heaps to Gav & Tocchi. Can't express how much this is appreciated. I plan on making it around to some of the stages on Sunday (I'm not following on pushbike).

[Kilma]

I will have a little stall somewhere in the Speedaware tent on Sunday at the Festival of Speed with flyers and SIDS pamphlets.

A gold coin donation puts you in the draw to win a hot lap with Alistair McRae at the next Speedaware Twilight Sprint (unsure if it will be in the Evo X or the Porsche) in December.
Sprint Series Details: http://antilag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41441
Round 1 Thread: http://antilag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41696

Unfortunately I can't be there to man the stand as I have some family commitments, but if you speak to Lauren (I think that is who will be there) she will be able to give you all the details and make sure you get in the draw.

Special thanks to Speedaware for supporting my project. :)

[Kilma]

Just a quick update for this.

I have made it into a couple of the local papers as some people have keenly spotted. This is the article from my local, the Gosnells community paper about 2 weeks ago. I'm also in the current Eastern Reporter (same article but different picture) and have grabbed a mention in the Cycling WA eNewsletter.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs003.snc6/165368_10150091896375233_729700232_6561455_5634966 _n.jpg

I am currently riding over 250kms/week (around full time work) and have clocked up 1,000kms for the month. Did my longest single ride to date on Oz day (some would say a waste of a public holiday) of 87kms (including climbing over 1.2kms) up through Mundaring Weir Road. I wish I had have known I was that close as I would have just gone with the extra 13kms to make it a nice round number. Hahaha. Here is the route for anyone interested: http://runkeeper.com/user/Horacegodfrey/activity/24311308 Managed to rack up another 35kms riding after that as well, so did my 120 for the day (125/day is my objective on the actual ride).

I have raised just under $2k so far, but am still chasing corporate sponsors as well. I'm trying to organise a custom jersey & shorts, so that real estate is up for grabs.

Last, but FAR from least (for this installment), thanks to all my family and friends for the encouragement, support and advice. Without some of the simple pieces of advice I have been given, I wouldn't be able to do anything like what I currently am, which is another whole step short of the final objective.

[YOUR MATE]

Any more news on this Damon? When are you leaving and from where etc?Off all next week so keen if you're after a send off via underground hoon club members etc.

[Kilma]

Yep. The plan is to ride from Albany to Perth, so you might want to greet me at the finishing point, rather than see me off at the starting point.

I'll be departing from Bendigo Bank in Albany at about 9am (TBC) on the 17th March, and arriving in Perth on 20th March at Tomato Lake in Kewdale (click here for location (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Tomato+Lake,+Kewdale,+Western+Australia&aq=0&sll=-32.021612,115.936317&sspn=0.118181,0.264187&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Tomato+Lake&z=15)) at 3pm.

Travel times will be various between 6am & 6pm to knock out about 125kms a day.

Route I will be following is as follows:
Road - Distance (est) - Info
Day 1
Lockyer Ave, Albany - 3kms - Start at Bendigo Bank
Albany Highway, Albany to Cranbrook turnoff - 84kms
Great Southern Highway, Cranbrook turnoff to Tambellup - 38kms - Drive back to Tenterden for the night
Day 2
Great Southern Highway, Tambellup to Wagin - 98kms - Drive to Tambellup for start of day
Tudhoe St, Wagin - 0.5kms
Arthur Road, Wagin to Albany Highway - 29kms
Albany Highway, Wagin turnoff to Williams - 39kms - Stay in Williams for the night
Day 3
Albany Highway, Williams to Bannister Marradong Road turnoff - 52kms - Start in Williams
Bannister Marradong Road, Albany Highway turnoff to Marradong (turns into Pijarra Williams Road) - 22kms
Pinjarra Williams Road, Marradong to Pinjarra - 69kms
South Western Highway, Pinjarra - 0.5kms - Stay in Pinjarra for the night
Day 4
Pinjarra Road, Pinjarra to Freeway - 9kms - Start in Pinjarra
Freeway bike path, from Pinjarra Road to Leach Highway - 61kms
Leach Highway, Freeway to Orrong Road - 10kms
Orrong Road, Leach Highway to Oats Street - 1km
Oats Street, Orrong Road to Tomato Lake - 1km

This is a link to the route. (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=78%2F82+Lockyer+Avenue,+Albany+WA+6330+(Bend igo+Bank)&daddr=-33.84084,117.63515+to:-33.32062,117.23656+to:-32.83726,116.46573+to:Tomato+Lake,+Kewdale,+Wester n+Australia&geocode=FX6q6f0dt8UGByGFrpMErz8MAg%3BFTih-_0dTvgCByl5kcjCrmg3KjGQh6gUOPYAEw%3BFVSRA_4dUOP8Bi njHGirStI2KjFwZtkUOPYAEw%3BFXTxCv4dQiDxBil7OsQxVdI zKjEQ9pLcO_YAEw%3BFeUTGP4dDf_oBikZfRU297syKjHQQR-FtfAEKg&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrsp=3&sz=10&via=1,2,3&sll=-32.818441,116.559448&sspn=0.937126,2.113495&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.458943,117.449341&spn=3.7209,8.453979&z=8)

[Kilma]

For anyone interested, the final finishing point has been changed.

I will be at Tomato Lake in Kewdale at 3pm on Sunday 20th March. Head down Scenic Drive in the location for the link below and we'll be along there somewhere. Look for the banners. We will have a sausage sizzle with funds being added to the total. Come on down to say g'day, or just to buy a hot dog and support a cause. :)
Click here for location. (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Tomato+Lake,+Kewdale,+Western+Australia&aq=0&sll=-32.021612,115.936317&sspn=0.118181,0.264187&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Tomato+Lake&z=15)

[Kilma]

Last bump for this one. Thanks for the support all.

So far...
Day 1 was Albany to Tambellup. Lots of stop offs as I have lots of rellies in the area.
Time: 4 hours 55 mins
Distance: 131kms
Better pace than I thought I would get. Pretty happy.
Stopped off to put flowers on Ashley's grave. My 3 remaining grandparents and me.
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/198999_10150421579010517_572910516_17150482_422573 5_n.jpg
Had a police escort through my home area:
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/196642_10150421579320517_572910516_17150488_75712_ n.jpg
Stopped in at the primary school my Mum went to.
Asked questions by the kids like "What happens if ALL of your tyres pop?" and "What happens if you fall off and get hit by a truck?"
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/196146_10150421579225517_572910516_17150486_759706 _n.jpg
Pic with the entire school.
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/198012_10150421579275517_572910516_17150487_220988 7_n.jpg

Day 2 was from Tambellup to Williams. Thanks to the Katanning Kruisers who joined me from Tambellup to Katanning before going to work (they had done 90kms by 9am!!)
Time: 6 hours 41 mins
Distance: 170kms!!!
Longest day over and done with. Quite sore tonight, but will recover for tomorrow (hopefully).

Day 3 was Williams to Pinjarra.
Time: 5 hours 9 minutes
Distance: 125kms
Early knock off. :D Absolutely too many hills. Woke up with a sharp pain in my knee. Didn't think I was going to be able to make the whole day, but after being on the bike for 20kms the tender tail bone and sore palms took my mind off the sore knee.


I will be at Tomato Lake in Kewdale at 3pm on tomorrow (20th March). Head down Scenic Drive in the location for the link below and we'll be along there somewhere. Look for the banners. We will have a sausage sizzle with funds being added to the total. Come on down to say g'day, or just to buy a hot dog and support a cause. :)
Click here for location. (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Tomato+Lake,+Kewdale,+Western+Australia&aq=0&sll=-32.021612,115.936317&sspn=0.118181,0.264187&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Tomato+Lake&z=15)

For anyone who has checked my fund raising page, you may notice that I have now TOTALLY ECLIPSED my target, as I am now up over $7k. This also doesn't include $1k donated by the Bendigo Community Banks of Albany, Mount Barker, Tambellup/Cranbrrok and Pinjarra. They provided me with a beautiful feed and presented me with one of the novelty cheques at a conference they were conveniently having early this week.
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/189135_10150417292550517_572910516_17111946_410292 6_n.jpg

Thanks again to all of my friends, family and the strangers who have supported me. This is something that is very close to home for me. Hope to see some of you at the finish point tomorrow arvo.

Cheers
Damon

[YOUR MATE]

Awesome effort mate. Will try my best to be down there tomorrow arvo if I wake up in time.

[AGIT8D]

How did you go yesterday Damon? $8k + is such a huge effort for a single person, you should be very proud of your efforts.

Any interesting stories from the ride??

[Kilma]

Cheers all for the grats, moral & financial support. It is all much appreciated.

I have over $10k in donations now (a couple of corporate sponsors went straight to SIDS rather than on the web site), which is double what my original target was.

To be honest, I'm actually quite stunned considering that Tuesday last week I had only just hit the $5k mark.

I had a few people pull over and stop mid trip to give me money. That's quite moving knowing that there are people who will do that.

There was only 1 person who didn't appreciate me being on the road. Some Commo/Falcon ute driver between Boddington and Dwellingup who roared past once there was a straight bit of road horn blazing and finger out the window. There were far more who waved and gave a few beeps of the horn and congrats in the towns. Small things like that work wonders for raising motivation.

Towards the end, my mood played a really big factor. I was quite surprised by this. I would just come around a corner faced with a hill and just want to get off and give up. Regardless, I pushed on. A good song came on the ipod that I hadn't heard in a while, or I came to a sign saying 10kms until the next town and it picked up again substantially. All of a sudden I had a heap more energy and was back at it again. Unfortunately, that energy burst never really lasted long though.

There were a few highlights of the trip for me.
1. Stopping in at the Cranbrook Primary School. The enthusiasm shown by the kids and some of the questions they asked are not something I ever remember experiencing as a kid or have seen as an adult. "What happens if you fall off and get hit by a truck" is still my favourite and only a question a young child can get away with. :)
2. Taking time out to stop off at Ashley's grave. I don't get there as often as I would like to any more.
3. Getting a police escort through my home area. Not something I have experienced before. Was actually amusing (and frustrating) to see the cars behind us hesitating to overtake because the police car was up front.
4. Thursday night dinner. Some rellies organised a St Patrick's Day dinner at the local sporting club on Thursday night where all the proceeds went to SIDS & Kids. This was also the first time in about a month that I have actually managed to feel full after a meal.
5. Crossing the finish line and seeing friends and family there to greet me and celebrate with me.

Thanks again to everyone who gave any form of support. It is all much appreciated.

[R3N]

Did you have "Eye of the Tiger" on your iPod?

Massive effort and congrats on your achievement

[Kilma]

No eye of the tiger. Plenty of old school stuff I haven't heard in a while though. Korn, Limpbizkit, KRS One, Naughty by Nature, Darude and far too much else that I can't think of.

[AGIT8D]

Awesome!! Sooooo........ Doing it again next year?