I have been accepted to the Gear Up Florida 2009 Team. In May of 2009 I will be cycling from Miami to Tallahassee to raise money and awareness for people with disabilities. If you would like to make a donation, please follow the link to my online profile at PushAmerica.org

To start with, if you are not familiar with Give Kids the World then you owe it to yourself to go to their website and learn more at http://www.gktw.org. To put it simply, this is one of the most amazing places that I have ever been in my life. The organization was founded by a Holocaust survivor who went on to become a successful hotel owner in Orlando. He used to donate rooms to terminally ill children who were visiting Disney World through various organizations. One day one of the reservations for a room was cancelled. When he investigated he discovered that during the time that it took to arrange the trip, the child had passed away. He was determined that this never happened again and formed this organization. It has grown and is located in Kissimmee just down the street from Disney. A wish child and their family are given a one week all expense paid trip to Orlando to visit Disney World, Universal Studios, and Sea World. 

They have helped over 60,000 children from 68 countries to date and they can fly a family in from anywhere in the world with 24 hours notice. The facility is staffed by a small crew of employees and a large staff of volunteers. During the visit this year and in the past the GUF teams have met volunteers that have donated their time regularly for years.

The team was escorted by Mayor Clayton the Rabbit of Give Kids the World.

Ronny was one of the wish children who greeted us at our arrival. He and his sister Rachel posed for the team and then the team sang Happy Birthday to help celebrate his 18th birthday.

The team enjoyed some ice cream at the parlor prior to heading to lodging.

The team returned to GKTW in the evening to volunteer for the night.  Half of the guys helped with the Parents Night Out. Local restaurants host the parents who are able to go out on a date while their children are watched at GKTW. This may not sound like all that big of a deal until you hear some of the parents say that they have not been out alone since their child was diagnosed with their illness. Last year one couple told us that it had been 5 years since they had been on a date together. It really means a lot to them.

The other half of the team helped out in the kitchen and dining room. It turns out that they were just in time to cover for a volunteer group that cancelled the day before. The team members helped to serve dinner and bus tables.

This place is just incredible and you are blown away by it all. It looks like Disney World inside and all of the families that you meet are so nice and everyone is having fun. The staff and volunteers love the place and everyone pursues their tasks with passion. Every so often you remember the reason that the kids are here and you get a big lump in your throat but then you soon forget again when you see someone smiling and having a good time. It’s what makes the place so special.

The team arrived at Webster Memorial Baptist Church right at lunch time which is good because these folks are very well known to anyone who has ridden GUF. They make the best home cooked lunches that they guys have on the ride. We’re talking fried chicken, sweet corn on the cob, greens, potato salad, ham, and all the other fixin’s. If that wasn’t enough there was a huge table full of deserts. 

The team arrives from Tampa

Chad in the middle is another old friend. Last year he rode Michel Bond’s handcycle in the parking lot (below).

The team did a Kids on the Block puppet show for the kids at the church.

If some of the guys look a little fatter in the picture you know why. This is a team picture before the team rode out. They were moving a little slower than they were when they arrived.

We had another friendship visit this evening with the folks from the Sunrise Community Center. This has always been a good visit in the past and today’s was no exception.

Pat and Joe on the right met David last year during the team’s visit to Lakeland. David is unable to speak and communicates through a letter board. He points out the letters on the board with his nose to spell out words. It takes a while to get used to but you soon realize that he has a terrific sense of humor and his spirit and determination shine through. Pat had a picture from last year of he and David which he couldn’t wait to give to him.

I didn’t get to see my friend Tracey at this visit. We met two years ago during my first Gear Up Florida ride and have kept in touch since then. Tracey, if you are reading this, I missed you.

Michael and I look very serious in this picture but we are really just a couple of geeks talking about the new Star Wars movie. I also met Michael two years ago as well but this visit was really the first time that we got to talk for a while. It turns out that we have a lot in common.

Well off to bed.  We have to get up at 5am for the ride to Orlando tomorrow.

I have installed an interesting application – BlogJet. It’s a cool Windows client for my blog tool (as well as for other tools). Get your copy here: http://blogjet.com

“Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.” — Pablo Picasso

It is cold (for Florida) and raining today. We were supposed to do an 80 mile training ride but I guess we’ll have to postpone it until a nicer day.

I am taking the opportunity to update the web site. I hope that you like the new layout.

Another stop.

The weather is holding up pretty well. Nice and cool. The sun is starting to come out.

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All the girls say we have the hottest crew.

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We’re here.

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quick stop no rain yet.

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We just finished a friendship visit. My battery is really low so no pictures for now. I’ll post some later.

Everyone had a blast but we are a little worried about the weather tomorrow with Charley on the way (maybe)

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red flag

Perljam

the gang

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Anybody hear something about a bike ride? We’re runnging a little late this morning.

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Morning picture drill. We’re out of here shotly.

>

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Policies and procedures

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We finally made it.

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This is just an example entry. I am experimenting with new software on my cell phone that will allow mw to update the site with short messages and pictures from my phone.

As you can see, the pictures aren’t all that great but what ca you expect from a phone?

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We stopped for lunch about 72 miles into the ride. It was about 95 degrees. Not looking forward to getting back on the bike.

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85 degrees already. It is going to be a hot one.

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Lou and I are riding 115 miles today from my house in Jacksonville Beach to his parents’ house in Deltona. We did this ride in April and it wasn’t too bad but it was a lot cooler then.

First short stop of the day just before St Augustine. Already getting warm.

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