Summer of WAM Special (Cycle For Make-A-Wish)
Donation protected
The Summer of WAM Special! (Please Read Below)
Through the Virtual Deadline of Aug.16, part of The Illiterate Cyclist's (Garden City's New Bike Shop) tune-up proceeds and anything raised through this Go-Fund-Me will go towards Make-A-Wish Michigan (MAW) and the 2020 Wish-A-Mile Bike Tour! #WAMTOUR20
Over the past few Summer's the Annual Wish-A-Mile 300 Bike Tour from TC down to Marshall has been the highlight of my year. A weird work vacation where I get up at 3 am, find myself wrenching in darkened parking lots an hour later, with just the best cast of characters I could ask for, and maybe get to bed at 11 pm...and then be ready to start over for the next day's journey. I believe we'd be going on the 33rd year of the event this July, but then the World started falling apart. On average this event generates $2.2 Million to go towards granting hundreds of Wishes each year for children, brave children, suffering from often incurable diseases that most strong adults couldn't burden. Now, the wishes can be as simple as a vacation trip to Disney World, a puppy (a freakin' puppy was purchased along the tour last year, folks), or something more selfless. Take Team Alex, who's namesake came from a young girl in the early 90's, who's wish was for a TV PSA to run on TV. The message was that if you saw a child suffering, in pain, in need of positivity; that you do the simplest thing of not looking away, but to give them a smile, just to show them that in their plight, people do care about them. And, in general, these wishes are to create memories for them and especially their families to keep with them after the potential of a life taken far too soon.
What am I doing, now that WAM is formally cancelled, and riders are struggling to garner donations in a more singular capacity with "Virtual Rides" amid a far more cash strapped and weakened World? Exactly what Balthazar Impresario would do. My Meat N' Potatoes Tune is as standard $70, and is very comprehensive. It's a tune-up that does not disappoint; as Ron Swanson said, "I know what I'm about, Son." So, if you opt for The Summer of WAM Special, the dollar amount now goes up to $100, but I split that 50/50 with Make-A-Wish Michigan through Aug. 16. At that point you are only paying $10 more than comparative bike shops, but you know a good chunk is going towards a very positive cause. Think about it, 20 repairs like that equates to $1000 towards the cause; and then I still can potentially keep the shop solvent (I hope). There can still be light at the end of this tunnel!
"A New Hope" is upon us. MAW can't in any way host a physical ride or promote anyone doing one for the cause this year, as there are too many very understandable risks and insurance liabilities handling a very typical few thousand riders in July. But, by way of a few local WAM Teams and Monroe Cycling Club, we are holding our own extended WAM '20 Tour to raise donations and ride in memory of the original founders from the early 80's. It's the singular individuals coming together that make this work. The current plan is still to run it the same week in July (22-26), but that the riders that want to will start in Mackinaw City Wednesday, and do two days to get to Traverse City, the normal start. Then, Friday through Sunday we will make our way to the OH/IN border...a slightly extended traditional WAM300. Typically we'd end at the Eaton Proving Grounds in Marshall, the largest crowd funder of the event. Anyone that wants to link up with us during this ride for SAG Support, or to join the ride can reach out to Monroe Cycling Club by July. We've currently got a lot of logistics, SAG, and routes orchestrated to keep us safe, covered, and keep us having fun.
How can you help?
1. If you're a Cyclist or have friends who are, come on over and support a new, local business and take me up on The Summer of WAM Special to give a portion of your repair towards Make-A-Wish MI.
2. Donate to this Go-Fund-Me specifically. The donations will go directly to Make-A-Wish MI by their Aug. 16 deadline.
3. I bring my 56cm Diamondback CX bike as a back-up "SAG" bike if any rider has a complete bike failure on route and needs to borrow a bike...three times last year. Anybody have a haggard 50-52cm road/gravel/cx bike they want to donate that I can spruce up as a more common smaller rider or Woman's size for these mobile events?
4. Does anyone know George Michael's, and if he would like to do a "WAM" song and dance at a point during our ride?
So, Ryan Reynolds, your PSA was great and all for MAW the other month; but, as I put it to the Avengers cast in a couple videos last July, "Come at me!"
Instaham: @theilliteratecyclist
Facebook: @theilliteratecyclistbicycleservice
Website: www.ticbikeshop.com
33423 Ford Rd, Garden City, MI 48135
989-450-9349
#wamtour20
Through the Virtual Deadline of Aug.16, part of The Illiterate Cyclist's (Garden City's New Bike Shop) tune-up proceeds and anything raised through this Go-Fund-Me will go towards Make-A-Wish Michigan (MAW) and the 2020 Wish-A-Mile Bike Tour! #WAMTOUR20
Over the past few Summer's the Annual Wish-A-Mile 300 Bike Tour from TC down to Marshall has been the highlight of my year. A weird work vacation where I get up at 3 am, find myself wrenching in darkened parking lots an hour later, with just the best cast of characters I could ask for, and maybe get to bed at 11 pm...and then be ready to start over for the next day's journey. I believe we'd be going on the 33rd year of the event this July, but then the World started falling apart. On average this event generates $2.2 Million to go towards granting hundreds of Wishes each year for children, brave children, suffering from often incurable diseases that most strong adults couldn't burden. Now, the wishes can be as simple as a vacation trip to Disney World, a puppy (a freakin' puppy was purchased along the tour last year, folks), or something more selfless. Take Team Alex, who's namesake came from a young girl in the early 90's, who's wish was for a TV PSA to run on TV. The message was that if you saw a child suffering, in pain, in need of positivity; that you do the simplest thing of not looking away, but to give them a smile, just to show them that in their plight, people do care about them. And, in general, these wishes are to create memories for them and especially their families to keep with them after the potential of a life taken far too soon.
What am I doing, now that WAM is formally cancelled, and riders are struggling to garner donations in a more singular capacity with "Virtual Rides" amid a far more cash strapped and weakened World? Exactly what Balthazar Impresario would do. My Meat N' Potatoes Tune is as standard $70, and is very comprehensive. It's a tune-up that does not disappoint; as Ron Swanson said, "I know what I'm about, Son." So, if you opt for The Summer of WAM Special, the dollar amount now goes up to $100, but I split that 50/50 with Make-A-Wish Michigan through Aug. 16. At that point you are only paying $10 more than comparative bike shops, but you know a good chunk is going towards a very positive cause. Think about it, 20 repairs like that equates to $1000 towards the cause; and then I still can potentially keep the shop solvent (I hope). There can still be light at the end of this tunnel!
"A New Hope" is upon us. MAW can't in any way host a physical ride or promote anyone doing one for the cause this year, as there are too many very understandable risks and insurance liabilities handling a very typical few thousand riders in July. But, by way of a few local WAM Teams and Monroe Cycling Club, we are holding our own extended WAM '20 Tour to raise donations and ride in memory of the original founders from the early 80's. It's the singular individuals coming together that make this work. The current plan is still to run it the same week in July (22-26), but that the riders that want to will start in Mackinaw City Wednesday, and do two days to get to Traverse City, the normal start. Then, Friday through Sunday we will make our way to the OH/IN border...a slightly extended traditional WAM300. Typically we'd end at the Eaton Proving Grounds in Marshall, the largest crowd funder of the event. Anyone that wants to link up with us during this ride for SAG Support, or to join the ride can reach out to Monroe Cycling Club by July. We've currently got a lot of logistics, SAG, and routes orchestrated to keep us safe, covered, and keep us having fun.
How can you help?
1. If you're a Cyclist or have friends who are, come on over and support a new, local business and take me up on The Summer of WAM Special to give a portion of your repair towards Make-A-Wish MI.
2. Donate to this Go-Fund-Me specifically. The donations will go directly to Make-A-Wish MI by their Aug. 16 deadline.
3. I bring my 56cm Diamondback CX bike as a back-up "SAG" bike if any rider has a complete bike failure on route and needs to borrow a bike...three times last year. Anybody have a haggard 50-52cm road/gravel/cx bike they want to donate that I can spruce up as a more common smaller rider or Woman's size for these mobile events?
4. Does anyone know George Michael's, and if he would like to do a "WAM" song and dance at a point during our ride?
So, Ryan Reynolds, your PSA was great and all for MAW the other month; but, as I put it to the Avengers cast in a couple videos last July, "Come at me!"
Instaham: @theilliteratecyclist
Facebook: @theilliteratecyclistbicycleservice
Website: www.ticbikeshop.com
33423 Ford Rd, Garden City, MI 48135
989-450-9349
#wamtour20
Organizer
Ivan Steinhoff-Arnot
Organizer
Garden City, MI
