Mark Rhode completes 24 Hour race, combining his passion for cycling with his passion for his cause

On
Labor Day 2005, Mark Rhode participated in the 2005 World 24 Hours of
Adrenalin Championships, racing his bike all day and night for Team
World Vision to support World Vision relief efforts for African AIDS
Orphans.  Mark had recently returned to the Seattle area from a visit
to Africa during which he met many families affected by the HIV/AIDS
epidemic that is devastating that area, and he was determined to make
his cycling pursuits about something bigger than just his own interest.

Mark
completed the race and raised nearly $10,000 for Team World Vision, in
the face of terrible weather conditions affecting the course and his
physical well-being.  Mark tells us about his experience in his own
words (see below) and offers some tips and suggestions based on what
worked for him in his fundraising efforts:

• Keep
  your supporters engaged:  Mark used the easy-to-edit page to update his
  supporters on his training and race progress, emailing his contact list
  each time with a new subject line.  This way, he says, he felt like he
  always had a reason to reach out to his network again.
• Promote
  yourself and your cause: Mark contacted his local paper about his
  upcoming race participation and about his online fundraising page.
  They wrote a story about him featuring a link to the page, resulting in
  donations from people Mark had never met before.
• Don’t
  be shy: Mark included people far away and people he hadn’t heard from
  in a long time in his contact list.& People are always interested to
  hear what’s going on with old friends, and Mark received a $100
  donation from a co-worker he hadn’t seen in 20 years.

According
to Mark, his personal commitment to supporting his cause kept him
motivated to keep asking for donations, and motivated to finish a
grueling race.

See Mark’s online fundraising page at:  http://www.firstgiving.com/markrhode and read his story below:

…it was one of the toughest things I’ve ever encountered . . .

In
an earlier email, I asked you to consider joining me and TEAM WORLD
VISION in my campaign to care for African Aids Orphans…so, I thought
you might want a report on the race and the campaign.

I
DID finish the 24 Hour World Championship race…but, I did not achieve
my (athletic) goal.This wasthe most difficult race in myshort 5-years
of cycling.

It rained constantly — and was
cold.This wasunusual forWhistler on Labor Day– as it istypically sunny
and nice. Rain started two hours prior to the race and ended 2 hours
after.

Saturday afternoon — I was recording fairly
fast lap times (1 hour20 minutes). Each lapis about 11 miles of
singletrack and hiking trailswith about 1,200 of altitude gain. But,I
was soaked to the skin.Part way through my thirdlap I began feeling
really weird. I finished the lap very cold and a dizzy.

In
the "Pit Area", Brian Boyd (friend and Pit Crew) and Titus wrapped
blankets around me, and that’s when I started shivering. Couldn’t stop
. . .They concluded I was hypothermic (my core temperature had lowered)
and I needed to get warm.

They took meto our hotel room, got me a hot bath, new warm clothes and I got back out on the course. Still pouring. Still cold.

Next lap felt great and I was back on my good lap time (1 hour 30 minutes).

The
water made the course conditions nasty-terrible − with thick
(plaster-of-Paris-thick) mud that sucked the energy out of my tires…
and very slick roots/rocks on the descents.

During
the following lap I becamedizzy (again). That lap took me 2 hours and
20 minutes. I was too dizzy to ride thetechnical descents…so, I walked
them…still raining. Very cold.

Brian and Titus
wereconcerned by my slow lap time. Melody and Meridien were at the pit
as well.I came in very wet andhypothermic again. . .we made the
decision to get me another warm bath. Since I was dizzy, I made the
decision that riding was too risky…as it wouldbe easy to sustain a bad
injury (when dizzy) in these conditions. So, Iwent into the hotel to
warm up and try and recover. About midnight,I went to sleep.

I
set the alarm for 5:00 am − woke, dressed in my third set of dry
cycling apparel − and headed up to the course to continue racing. Titus
joined me…I started riding at daybreak andfinished the race…

I
ended up finishing last in my age division — which was disappointing
to me. But, I wasn’t alone in my condition…as many racers did not ride
through the night or finish at all.

Anyway,I didn’t quit. I came back from the warmth of my room twice during the race…and I finished.

When
I got back to Bellingham, I had to go to ER for a staph infection in my
left calf, probably stemming from the race and a depleted immune
system. Tough few days. I’m on heavy antibiotics and healing well, but
took two "sick" days for recovery this week.

Well, that’s about enough about the race.

Now, for the REAL VICTORY. So far, friends and familyhave joined
with me togenerate awareness and almost $9,000!– which
will be used to care for African aids orphans (through the work
of World Vision).  Our goal is $10,000 — so, we’re very close.
If you haven’t already, would you please consider joining our campaign
to care for African children who’ve lost parents to HIV/Aids.

It’s easy, totally safe and convenient. All the monies go to World Vision. Just go to my site: http://www.firstgiving.commarkrhode

Blessings and THANK YOU.

Mark Rhode