KTM Ride4Kids... support requested please.

[Hammy]

Hi, I'm posting this on behalf of my son Jeremy who's participating in this years KTM Ride 4 Kids event.

For those who haven't heard of it, the Ride4Kids is a day of non-competitive riding at the Wonthaggi MX track, providing the opportunity for riders to have a great day on a professional track while raising much needed funds for children living with cancer. I'm not affiliated with running this day at all, just a parent.

We attended for our first time last year, had a great day out, and always intended to do it again this year. Last year the track was saturated from an early thunderstorm, so it was quite a handful for the learner kids for a while but it was a professionally run, yet easygoing, fun day. Sessions are held for each age group / bike size. Jez was just a learner last year and it was a massive day for him. After several sessions on the track already, most of the kids had headed home by the last session of the day. Knowing that Jez had been doing it tough on his CRF80, dropping it almost every lap in the ruts and mud, I gave him the option of calling it a day (just as it started raining again). But no Dad, we're here... I want another go (a real proud-dad moment that was!):grinning-. So off he went and paddled his way around in the rain for another 20 minutes. Happy days...

As we only heard about it a few days beforehand, we didn't do any fundraising last year, but donated $400 ourselves on the day. Each participant also pays for their entry fee on the day, adding to the fundraising pool.

This year Jez wanted to get into the fundraising, and as it's his first time doing any of this (he's 11) I'm giving him a hand and encouraging him wherever i can. His aim is to raise more than last year, and we'll be doing this by organising some events at his school, in our local town and reaching out to friends and family.

This is where DBW comes in. I've been a member here for a long time, but have only been on a handful of DBW rides, and not many of you would know me personally. Nonetheless, I'm throwing it out there for anyone who'd like to make a small donation to the cause, as every bit helps


Donations can be made online at Jez's fundraising page: https://ride4kids2013.everydayhero.com/au/jez

(via Paypal, credit/debit card or BPay and all donations over $2 are fully tax deductable)

Please add your name and optionally "DBW" on the donation page,so that others can see your generosity



For those who want to know more, the event home page (Challenge Org) is here: http://www.challenge.org.au/events.a...&events_id=206

Thanks in advance for your support...

Please also post a comment on this thread to keep it alive



Mods - please let me know if this is against forum rules or needs to be moved/modified


Cheers
Chris (Hammy)

[Battered Sav]

Done.

[Hammy]

Thanks Sav, much appreciated

[Hammy]

Jez's update

We've had a fantastic response already and Jez is only $5 away from his first goal of raising $700. You could be the person who tips him over his goal!
https://ride4kids2013.everydayhero.com/au/jez

He's finding this so mind-blowing and is amazed at what people have donated already. We're both puting our heads together and trying to think of some innovative ways to keep the interest in this fundraiser flowing.

Currently we're thinking of some mini-challenges for him revolving around doing certain things in his MX gear, and then updating his everyday hero page with photos and maybe facebook (i'll need to work out how to use this social media stuff properly). Our first idea is for him to take on a local bushwalk which is normally a good 50min walk including a pretty taxing 100m ascent (helmet, boots and all)...or a certain number of laps around the bmx park fully geared up.

[Hammy]

Well Jez has stepped up (literally) and walked up the local mountain in his full MX kit, to thank those that have helped him raise $1200 so far

Here's a short video

http://youtu.be/tOzwNPoIL5c

For those inclined to donate, please post back here to keep this thread alive. Donations go directly to Challenge Org.

More info on his supporter page at https://ride4kids2013.everydayhero.com/au/jez

Ta

[LPP]

Hey Chris.

You weren't joking when you said he (Jez) had all his riding clobber on were you.

Best I better throw some money to this great cause.

Great stuff guys

Richo

[nimj]

Done in a true kid spirit. Wandering around but not giving up. Great kid you got!

[Hammy]

Done in a true kid spirit. Wandering around but not giving up. Great kid you got!

Yeah he's a keeper! He's learning a lot doing this, and tackles things with a good spirit. Those boots are bloody heavy hand me downs too...

[sag55y]

Good Stuff :grinning-

Added to the fund.

[Hammy]

Here?s a few photos from Jez?s walk for his personal challenge.

The start was quite easy and gave him time to get his head around the challenge and fix his boots (he thought it would be a good idea to wear short sports socks today ). At this stage he?s thinking that maybe riding his bike would?ve been a better idea.

Just after this we had a chat with a few nice flower photographers which was a welcome distraction for him, and gave him a chance, in his own words to say what he was doing and why..



15 minutes in and up the first set of long steps and he?s struggling a little.



A little breather and a lookout. He?s also fortunate to have his little sister tagging along which is moderating the pace a little



OK, getting a bit more serious now. It?s definitely a mini-bike free zone ^roost now unless he?s going to be the next trials champion



25 minutes in. Helmet off? Starting to really feel it now



Chuffed with himself to have almost made it to the first summit, and just a little beetroot red (all my kids do that!).



At the first summit. Nice views and a welcome breeze.

[Hammy]

At this point I was prepared to let him take his boots and/or helmet off and wear his sneakers, given that he?d shown a lot of gusto and taken on this challenge with good character. I was promptly told that we?re ?not at the real summit yet Dad, so I'll stay in the gear".



Some nice ST (if only!)



Shortly after this we came across a fit looking, older dude who was running up and down the walking track. Old mate has commented on Jez's gear (being slightly out of place and a long way from a MX track), and we've stuck up a conversation... Turns out that he was once in the motocross scene bigtime, organised the Victorian GP back in the McFarlane, Reed, Metty days and has been involved in choosing some of the Aussie teams for the MXoN

Approaching the summit


Proud to have made it. Resting... Wind in the hair


This is a lovely little spot, and quite often you can sit and watch eagles flying around or just soak in the scenery. With the hardest part of the walk behind us now, we break out the chocolate and snakes which is a great incentive for the kids and we?ve been known to use it as leverage on many occasions to get them to the top! Met a young couple, had a good chat about the cause again, and some good positive enforcement for Jez

On the way down. We're in sneakers now as my parenting has kicked in and I'm thinking "safety", and the multitude of steps we'll have on the way down. Not content to slack, he's carrying them down.



An artistic shot by Jez



This whole fundraising thing was initiated by Jeremys experience at last years Ride4Kids event, and he was always keen to see what he could accomplish, and how much he could raise for the kids. Its been a huge learning experience for my son, and there have been a lot of proud-Dad moments along the way. Being a motorbike event was a great hook for a young kid, but he's now also learnt a lot about other kids that aren't as lucky as he is. He's had some great feedback from people along the way, and also some negatives (some people aren't into donating, and that's fine), but its all been character building in one way or another.

Only 2 weeks until the ride day now, and we?re both massively looking forward to it. Make it down to Wonthaggi on the 20th if you're free.

Thanks for reading this post.