It is a start...

Hi Y'all!

My fundraising efforts have barely started -- my first request letter to just one company went out yesterday -- but I wanted to let you know that I've started hearing from people who want to help. My old friend (uh, ex-wife) Sunny Wallace sent me $100 last week. I also got an e-mail from someone in North Carolina who is sending $250 or more and someone in Ohio who is sending an undisclosed amount. Isn't that cool?

As a reminder, any checks should be written to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I'll provide a receipt for tax purposes and 100% of the money will go to them. I'm working on a couple of underwriters (as you saw yesterday, with Serono) to pay for the trip itself, making this possible.

By the way, I'm getting a slow start, but I'm pretty optimistic about the potential for fundraising. For those who don't know, I've spent most of my career as a professional fundraiser (mostly political, but also non-profit) and I have high hopes for what we might do.

As always, I'll keep you posted. Have a great day!

- sean

Sean Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net

My first day of fundraising...

Hi Y'all!

Over the next 60+ days, I'm going to do a lot of fundraising. My first real fundraising letter is going to Serono, the makers of Rebif, which I take for my MS. For those of you who don't know, Rebif is a drug I inject three times each week. It slows the progression of my condition and should help me stay healthy and active a lot longer.

I've just sent the letter to the CEO of Serono, Fereydoun Firouz (e-mail and mail), and pasted it below. I'm going to send at least one letter a day from now until the end of March (including a mass letter to pretty much everyone I've ever met in my life). I'll keep you posted as I send letters and receive responses.

Have a great day!

- sean

MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net



Mr. Fereydoun Firouz
Serono, Inc.
1 Technology pl
Rockland, MA 02370

Dear Mr. Firouz,

I have Multiple Sclerosis, have used Rebif since being diagnosed in 2003, and I’m asking Serono to sponsor my 1500-mile bicycle trip in April – from Kansas City, Missouri to New York City – to raise money for MS research and treatment.

If Serono will provide the $12,680 cost of the trip (food, lodging and expenses for the team that will accompany me) then all other money raised will go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, their local affiliates along the route, and other nationally recognized MS organizations.

After that introduction, you might think that I’m an athlete and that physical activity is a run of the mill part of my life. Not so. Before deciding to make this trip several months ago, you would have been far more likely to find me on the couch with a pizza than doing anything that could remotely be called athletic. But I have decided to overcome my preference for laziness, and have been training for the last few months, riding over 200 miles every week, preparing to ride an average of 100 miles each day for three weeks.

Rebif is already part of what makes this trip possible – and I’m asking that Serono take another step in that partnership by sponsoring my trip.

Diagnosed with MS in 2003 and using Rebif from the beginning, I know the importance of the medical research performed every day by companies such as Serono and will use this trip to talk about that at gatherings along the route (covering six states). As you know, early treatment makes all the difference in the world for those of us with this condition. My trip will shed light on the realities of treatment and research, and will give hope to the thousands of people in every state along my route with MS.

Today, I am asking that you partner with me. Please pass this request to the appropriate person in your organization and we can talk about how we can work together.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Sean C. Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net614-208-2608

I'm back!

Hi Y'all!

Yes, for the last week I've been absent from the blogosphere. Training has continued, so I'm not being a slacker, but work has been killing me. Some of my regular readers know that I am a political campaign professional. Typically, that means my job is 12-14 hours a day, 6-7 days a week. Right now, that schedule is going into overdrive because our election is just a month away (yes, we actually have a primary February 27th; then another election one month later if we win it).

I think I'm back on track now, though, and should be getting back to daily updates for the rest of the month. Thanks for sticking with me!

More tomorrow.

- sean

Sean Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net

Well, I've survived the first 75 mile ride

Hi Y'all!

It took nearly seven hours, counting breaks, but I've finished my first 75 mile ride. Yay!

Now, I think I need to go collapse somewhere.

- sean

Sean Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net

47.7 miles and I'm taking a break

Alright, y'all, I need a break. Yes, if I was just doing a 50 miles this morning, I'd wrap up the last 2.3 miles and be done with training for the day. But I still have 27.3 miles to go, and I need a rest. I really thought I could do the whole things with periodic 1-2 minute breaks, but I need to rest for 15-30 minutes now.

The ride is going just fine, though, and I'm planning to take my lunch after about 50 miles when I'm on the actual trip.

Don't worry, I'll get back on in no longer than a half hour and finish my first go at 75 miles. I'll let you know when I'm done.

- sean

Sean Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net

Stay tuned, 75 miles...

Hey Y'all!

I'm up at 5 a.m. and preparing to ride 75 miles on my stationary bike. Can I make it? Probably, but the big rides I've been taking up to now have been 50 miles, so who knows? This will definitely be the farthest I've ridden is my life.

Training is going well, with my daily rides of 25-30 miles continuing. I was riding on the road as much as possible but the incredible cold and snow have posed a problem the last week or so. Certainly, regular reader Michelle in Alaska will tell me I'm being a wimp or something, but... okay, I'm a wimp. When it gets too cold, I'm just not going outside.

There are certainly differences between riding on the road and riding on the stationary bike, but I'm feeling good about the training regimen. Riding on the road requires a different kind of strain because your body has to keep the bike balanced, whereas the stationary bike stays up no matter what you do. The balancing factor, though, is that you have to pedal the entire time on the stationary bike, wherease you can coast on the road. Effort wise, it all seems to even out.

Anyway, here I go. I should be done in 5-6 hours. On my trip, I'll take a lunch break at 50 miles or so, but for training I'm just going to ride the 75 miles with only short breaks.

Tune in and see if I make it (between 10 and 11 Central Time). I promise I'll tell you the truth!

- sean

Sean Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net

Snow

Hi Y'all!

I have to tell you that the snow and incredible cold we've had in Kansas City is totally bumming me out. Yes, I have continued to train every day on my stationary bike, but it is killing my opportunity to road train, which I was really enjoying.

The response from local MS chapters continues to be good. I'm moving forward with almost every chapter between Kansas City and New York City, and I figure the others will just take a little longer. As always, I continue to be gratified by the generosity and good nature in the world; my experience with the MS Society folks is further evidence of that.

Take care.

- sean

Sean Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net

Ohio

Hi Y'all!

Alright, everyone is going to worry that I'm flaking because I need to report that I wasn't able to train yesterday and won't be able to do my planned 75-mile ride today. The bump I hit is that I had to make a last-minute trip out of town. Literally, I went from deciding to leave at 7:30 or so yesterday morning to arriving at the airport before 8:00. Yes, it was a very quick decision.

So I'll have to schedule the next really big ride for one week from today.

Don't worry, I'm not becoming a slacker.

- sean

Sean Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net

First little bike wreck

Hi Y'all!

Well, it isn't really a big deal, but I had my first bike wreck last night. Does that make me a real cyclist now?

Here's the story. I was riding in a neighborhood by the hotel where I'm staying (have I mentioned that I'm living in a hotel for the next couple of months, until the current election I'm running is over?). Anyway, the bottom line is that I got too close to the side of the rode, slipped off just a bit, lost my balance and went ass over teakettle into someone's yard. I'm a little banged up, but otherwise fine.

Yes, I am officially a real cyclist. : )

- sean

Sean Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net

Training Update

Hi Y'all!

A regular reader pointed out that I haven't mentioned my training in a while, so I should update. All is well -- I'm riding around 30 miles 5-7 morning a week riding on the road as much as I can. Right now I'm looking for a good bike path close to my new home in Kansas City (I'm living in a hotel until the end of February or March).

I haven't moved up to the 75-mile mark, and had planned to do that by now, but the timing didn't work out. So, yes, I'm going to make sure I do it this Sunday. That should take about 6-7 hours and I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm also excited that I'm starting to communicate with local MS Society staff in most of the chapters along the route. My next big contact target will be cycling clubs. Look for posts on that in the coming days.

Have a great Wednesday!

- sean

Sean Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net

Lots of new visitors

Hi Y'all!

I'm pretty excited because we had nearly 100 visitors to the blog yesterday. No, I don't think we'll continue to have that many people visit, but it was still nice. My New Year's cards are hitting friends and family around the country right now, and it mentions my trip, so that's what is generating traffic. Hopefully folks will continue to come back, post to the blog from time to time, and help me spread the word (hint, hint!).

I've also started hearing back from MS Society staff folks along the route and we are starting to talk about how to really make this trip benefit the cause. I can't tell you how happy that makes me.

Have a great Tuesday!

- sean

Sean Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net

Getting serious about organizing

Hi Y'all!

As I mentioned a few days ago, January needs to be the month where I really step up the organization of this trip -- particularly as I pull together support of every kind. So this morning I'm e-mailing all of the local chapters for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, letting them know exactly what I am doing and asking for their help.

Below is the template for the e-mail I'm sending.

Are you someone who would like to get involved in making the trip a success? Please let me know; I'd love your help!

- sean

Sean Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net




Hi Pat,

I'm writing to let you know that I'm preparing for a bike ride in April from Kansas City, MO to New York City to benefit MS research and treatment. My hope is that you can help me identify someone with whom I can work in both St. Louis and Columbia, where stops are scheduled. You can learn more about my trip at www.MissouriToManhattan.com.

My goal is to create small fundraising and media events in Columbia (April 4th, evening) and St. Louis (April 6, afternoon or evening), designed primarily to support your local organizations. With your help, I would like to identify local board members or other volunteers interested in assisting with such events.

You'll find that I have a long background in fundraising, media relations and grassroots organizing (at local, statewide and national levels). While I realize that there are hurdles to creating successful events of this sort, I'm convinced we can make these work in a way that makes sense for the Columbia and St. Louis organizations, as well as for the National MS Society.

I would be happy to speak with you further about this, or to whomever you feel is appropriate. Please let me know if you and I should chat in the next week or so, or if there is someone more appropriate there at your chapter.

I look forward to working with you.

- sean

Sean Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.comseanspence@earthlink.net

Fundraising

Hi Y'all!

Okay, we all knew it was going to happen. My training program is coming together and now I need to get serious about the fundraising portion of my trip. I have three months to put the money together -- don't have any idea how much it might be, but I'm hoping to deliver at least $25,000 to the National Mulitiple Sclerosis Society at the end of my trip in April.

To meet my goals, I've created a contribution structure, as follows:

Trip Sponsors:
$10,000 Diamond
$5000 Platinum
$2500 Gold
$1000 Silver
$500 Copper
$250 Bronze
$125 Crystal
$60 Marble
$35 Granite

We will also have "mileage sponsors" starting at a penny a mile for the 1500+ mile trip.

If you'd like to be a trip sponsor, checks should be made out to "National Multiple Sclerosis Society" and sent to Sean Spence, 819 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106. I'm going to deliver the checks -- 100% of the money contributed -- to the National MS Society.

Have a great day!

- sean

Sean Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net

this week on the road

Hi Y'all!

We're in the first week of January and the weatherman is telling me that it will be unseasonably warm (thank goodness for global warming!). For me, that means I'm going to do most of my training on the road, instead of on the stationary bike. My goal will be to do at least 90 miles on the road before the weekend. Then this weekend it is time for my first 75 mile ride. Yikes!

We'll see how it goes.

- sean

Sean Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net

The New Year

Happy New Year Everybody!

Training continues to go well -- now is the time to step everything up and make this thing happen.

January needs to be a busy month. I really need to make sure that the bulk of my sponsorship requests go out this month, certainly all of the large corporate requests. They work on a long timeline, and months of notice are required. So I'm going to start looking for sponsors for the trip this week. Remember, by the way, that my goal is to pay for the expenses of the trip with the help of a few friends. Most of the sponsors will be writing checks directly to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The other big deal is that I'm going to start paying attention to my eating. Yes, I've been losing weight because of all of the writing, but I need to get serious about every aspect of training if I have any real intention of making it 1500 miles in about 90 days from now. Since I started, I've continued to eat absolutely anything I want, and that has to change. So it changes today. We'll see.

Have an awesome New Year. I have high hopes for this year -- I'm going to make the most of it.

- sean

Sean Spence
MS Advocate
www.MissouriToManhattan.com
www.SharingOurDays.com
seanspence@earthlink.net