Today we get on the plane to Australia!

Another short story…
In Feb of 2009 Matt Young was approached by an investment banker out of the US to organize “an epic trip for he and his friends to accomplish”. The only criterion was it had to be something ‘big’, they would remember and have to train for. After ruling out the hardest hiking trail in the world (where 1 person dies each year by native tribes who have not yet been discovered) Matt asked Andrew’s thoughts on a bike ride in Australia. From here, the stage was set – let’s ride across Oz and... since our friends are riding across Canada at the same time, let’s ride for charity and make it internationalUnanimous “IN”. There were to be 16 riders; 8 from the US, 3 from Canada, and through the contact, a handful of Ozzzies on the ground making it happen. After all, how hard could it be to duplicate what had already been done in 07 and was being done again in 09 in our back yard? In February Australia was hit by the worse wildfires it has seen in decades, in March & April it was flooding and in May it was famine.... Jesus (literally). Needless to say the organizing group and general population in Oz was quite preoccupied so the call was made to shift from 1 million dollar fundraiser to ‘awareness campaign’. Then (in mid May) came the grand daddy of all natural disasters: contact with the JDRF charity in Oz who, after 3 conversations from Matt himself, 1 hostile conversation with the US investor and them contacting the Canadian JDRF to discuss Cyclebetes curiously never returned a call thereafter. The good news is that we have organized the coolest ride just about anywhere, the 8 American’s gradually recession-ed & injured themselves into 1 rider. Curtis & Matt & myself will be riding across our 2nd country and bringing a great deal of international exposure to the Canadian efforts. We have secured;
2 Australian actors to ride with
RV for $30 / day
free hotel in 2 provinces
1 free kick ass party at the end with a delegate from high up & free beer for 2 hrs to whomever comes and makes a donation
35k in cash sponsorship thus far and plan in swindling and whining our way into food donations gas
Our crew is 6 riders. Myself, Curtis, Matt, Andrew, Cameron & Steve and we are riding by day (not at night, except 2 provinces). We leave today (18th) and start riding on the 21st, finish on the 28th (latest) and plan on coming home and joining the Canadian team on the 13th as they pull into Victoria.... you know, for the glory ride. We’ll bring our Oz jerseys and try to make a story out of it!
Here is the Australian public service announcement for your viewing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx4kayc9JlY
Less than one month ago, I asked for support in the form of 20-50$ to help pay for my flight overseas, the shipping of my bike and any minor costs associated with this adventure. I am quite pleased to inform you all that because of the support of some very special people, I have met and surpassed my target goal by a couple hundred dollars!
I am very appreciative of the kind words, notes and of course donations that have come my way.Special thanks go out to: Jane b
Lynn w
Darcie y
Deb a
Dianne w
Linda l
Joyce l
Terry s
Deb c
Wayne s
Jason s
Erika a
Johann b
Wendy c
Dave s
Keith d
Cal l
Chris z
Erin c
Ed a
Ernst s
Meyrick j
Michele r
Blair n

Your names are on my jersey and I will be thinking of each and every one of you during our ride…I will send my thoughts to you with the wind..
We return to Canada at the end of the month and will be back on the training floor September 1st. See you all soon..

Looking to follow along, check out our Innovative Fitness Face Book page for updates.
http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=innovative+fitness&init=quick#/innovativefitness?ref=search&sid=1203982534.261821772..1

Thanks again, wishing you all a great summer!
Best,
Richard