A message from Nevus Outreach CEO Mark Beckwith:
It has been a very fruitful weekend where we more than doubled the donations to our crazy bicycle fundraiser! We send out a big “Thank you!” to everyone who has donated so far. At this point there are exactly 50 donations and pledges.
I have been somewhat close-lipped about something that happened earlier this year, but perhaps now is the time to come out and tell you that a donor who provided 42% of our funding in 2012 informed us that they cannot donate in 2013 because of other financial commitments they had made in previous years. Of course, one has to consider that the state of the economy must also contribute to that situation.
So I could sit here and mope around, trying to figure out which things Nevus Outreach does for so many people will have to get the axe – or I could get off my butt and do something about it. In case you didn’t know, we have a saying around here that goes:
“If we don’t do it, it won’t get done.”
If we combine that with my other words to live by, “The buck stops here,” it gives us a pretty clear mandate. It’s up to us to do something about it. Hence, Taylor and I, at great personal inconvenience (you think I’m kidding?) are riding our bicycles for 509 miles over the course of a week to raise money. Everyone else has the easy job – go to our website and donate in support of our effort, or pledge an amount per mile.
Yeah, we make it look like it’s all fun and games, but if you think about what it takes to prepare and execute riding 509 miles in 7 days, that should tell you just how serious we are about trying to help Nevus Outreach overcome this 42% deficit in 2013 funding. This Oklahoma Freewheel fundraiser, if it results in raising $39,000 as hoped, will make up about one-fourth of the 42% - which means there is still a lot of work to do, and other fundraisers that other people are going to have to throw into the ring for the greater good of all people affected by giant nevi.
Did I say we had 50 donations and pledges? Well, there are at least 2000 affected families who will read these words in the next week. Give that some thought. Remember that Nevus Outreach is the family you didn’t know you had – and remember how and why you found us. Remember that what we do is vital to you, and don’t take it for granted. Remember every $1 you give becomes $3. If you don’t usually give to charity, we are offering the most bang-for-your-buck that you’ll get anywhere. In short, we need your help, and now is the time.
To finish on a light note, I made this little video for you based on yesterday’s very hard training ride up into Kansas (while, I might add, Taylor was in New York assisting with the Positive Exposure project ). Enjoy!
