Accepting my Returning Rider of the Year award and telling my reasons for riding.
Me and my better half at the Feisty Devils team dinner the night before the ride.
With the family at the start line. My mom is signing one of the Pedal Partner bandanas.
There is no better feeling than completing this ride. This year's was rough but well worth it!
Thanks to all of you, I've exceeded my fundraising goals for 2007!!!! I am so moved by the overwhelming response from our friends and family. You rock. From my family to you, THANK YOU!
Well, the 2007 MS150 is now behind me and I can say that I'm torn between feeling glad that I'm not still on the bike and a little sad that it's all over with.
The second day of riding (Sunday) was even more challenging than the first. You can only imagine how difficult it is to hop on the seat for another 75 mile day. On top of that it was hilly and windy to boot! It was a great challenge and I'm glad to have finished another year. If this thing wasn't challenging it wouldn't be right. MS offers no guarantees of consecutive "good" days nor does it promise to be easy to deal with. I don't pretend to empathize with my mom or others like her b/c in the end I recover and go back to life as I know it.
In addition to my own fundraising efforts, I also worked with our "Culture Club" here at imc2, a panel of individuals charged with keeping the culture here at imc2 fun and lively. We hosted several very successful fundraising events. We definitely put the FUN in fundraiser! One event we hosted was a Cinco de Mayo party where for a minimum donation of $20 you got all-you-can-eat fajitas and bottomless margaritas y cervesas plus 10 raffle tickets for great prizes. We raised approx. $2000 to donate to the MS Society which was a major accomplishment for our first time out!
We had a great time and actual won some awards for our efforts. At the team dinner Friday night, our Culture Club MS150 team won two awards. We won an award for "Most Creative Fundraiser 2007" for our Cinco de Mayo party and our smaller fundraising events. We also won "The Heart of the Team 2007" award for representing the passion and drive associated with the Feisty Devils. Not to toot my own horn but I was flattered and honored to win "Returning Team Member of the Year 2007." I was surprised and very proud to receive this award because I only do what I do because I'm so enthusiastic and passionate about the cause. In receiving this award, it confirms that I'm doing the things that bring awareness to devastating effects of MS and hopefully change the lives of current and future MS patients.
As I've mentioned in previous posts, I invite anyone to join us for next year's ride. There are so many people that set personal goals for the ride. One new teammate set out to make it to lunch both days, approx. 45 miles each day, and ended up making it to a rest stop or two further! That's awesome and is completely inline with the spirit of the ride. If you watch the video linked in an earlier post, you'll see riders of all ages, shapes, sizes, and skill levels. The one common factor is that they put themselves out there and challenge themselves physically and mentally. It's a touching and humbling experience everytime I participate and I can't encourage you enough to try it yourself. Whether you do an MS Walk, MS150 or any challenging charitable event, you'll be forever changed and blessed.
Until next year,
Thank You and take care!
Well, one day and 78 miles down, one day and 75+ to go! As if the MS150 isn't hard enough, it rained right in our faces the last half of the day. Good times! I can say that I'm 100% sure I've been off my bike for about 3 yrs. Holy crap, I'm so sore and it took me too long to finish today. Granted, we were waiting on a straggling friend of a friend but that only explains an hour or so.
Regardless, it was a good time for a great cause and I can only hope that the weather improves tomorrow. I'll make sure to give an update after tomorrow's ride including a summary of the entire weekend.
Thanks again for all your support. FYI - I received another $275 donations while I was riding and for that I'm so thankful.
I tried a little different tactic this year in my fundraising. Rather than flat out asking for donations, I tried to ask people to check out this blog hoping they would visit and then donate. Well, we're all busy and this world is cluttered with so much info it makes our brain's hurt. So after a slower fundraising start than in years past, I went ahead and asked for everyone's help. I sent out an email to my friends and family last night and the response has been incredible! In less than 12 hours I've received over $500 bringing the grand total to.....
$2120
Thank you to all who have donated. This is a very special event benefiting a cause near and dear to my heart. It means the world to me that you've added the MS Society to your generous charitable plans for 2007-08. Please let me know if I can ever help you in any way.
If you tried to donated online yesterday (4/17) the site was down. It's now been repaired and operators are standing by to take your donation. Well, no operators but there is now a way to donate to help us find a cure for MS. Please donate today.
Thanks,
Matt
Here's a link to the 2006 Sam's Club MS150 event video. It perfectly highlights all the elements of this awesome event. Enjoy.
I would love the company if you're interested. You can ride as little or as much as you want because it's a fully supported ride. Meaning, you can can stop 15 miles in, catch a van to lunch, a later rest stop, or even the Texas Motor Speedway overnight. This is much more common than you might think.
Many folks participate for many reasons. Some want to raise funds in honor of a friend or family member, but can physically only ride 20 miles. Some are diehard cyclists who raise the minimum donation ($300) and enjoy a fully supported, Tour de France like event. Whatever your reason(s), I guarantee you will have a great time and make some awesome memories. Please drop me an email if you are interested in joining the greatest team in the world, the FEISTY DEVILS!
my email: busternoe@yahoo.com
The MS150 is far from being an event created just to give us something to brag about. That's what marathons and triathlons are for. This is one of many fundraising events put on by regional chapters of the National MS Society. This event goes from Frisco to Texas Motor Speedway on day one, then kicks off day 2 with a lap around the TMS track ending in Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth. It's a beautiful route through the open spaces of North Texas. It's a great time with nearly 3000 riders of all ages, shapes and skill levels all with the same goal -- to raise awareness and funds necessary to end MS!
My 2007 goal is to raise at least $2500 and I need your help. If you would like to donate, you have 2 easy options:
1. Click Here ---> ONLINE DONATIONS This is a direct link to a MS Society rider fundraising page specifically linked to my fundraising efforts for the MS150. Simply fill in your credit/debit card info, your donation amount, then click "submit." This is a secure transaction that goes directly to the MS Society and will give you an electronic receipt for your tax records. NOTE: If you would prefer to donate anonymously, this online tool has that option. 
***click image to enlarge***
I frequently have people ask me “how’s your mom doing?” That’s a hard question to answer. How do you tell someone that the woman who used to run you all over town, volunteer for PTA, maintain a spotless house and manage a happy home now cannot drive a car, is in a wheelchair and has a cleaning service?
Let me tell you why I find it hard to answer that question. I find it hard to answer that question because MS is the most frustrating, helpless disease for both the patient and those that care about them.
How would you respond if you had to watch someone you love lose use of their major motor skills, short term memory and only on occasion do you get to see their natural, infectious personality?
Well, I ride! I get on my bike for 2 days and cover 150 miles, most of the time wondering if my pain and soreness compares to anything near what MS patients experience. I ride because she and millions of others just like her cannot – and I’m positive they wish they could. I ride to raise money for finding a cure.
Please join me in the fight to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. You’re probably reading this because you know me and/or my family. Together we can make a difference in the lives of millions of families around the world.
MS is a disabling, chronic, devastating disease that affects young adults, is unpredictable in its course, and has no known cure. MS can impair mobility, sight, speech, balance, and coordination. It is often characterized by patterns of attack and remission and most commonly strikes people between the ages of 20 and 50, at the time when many people are beginning a career and starting families.
However, advances in research are giving hope to those affected. The continuation of this research is solely dependent on funding. That's where you and I can make a difference. Simply follow the "PLEASE DONATE..." link and give any amount you can. Every dollar helps us get closer to wiping out MS!!!
Well, it's been a few years since my last ride but better late than never. After nearly 3 years in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina and no MS150's, I'm ready to saddle up for another 150 miles! I've got to be honest, I've barely ridden my bike in since the 2004 MS150 and I can definitely tell in the few rides I've done preparing for this years tour. Regardless, I'm pumped to be riding again as a part of everyone's favorite team, the Feisty Devils.
Just to bring you up to speed on the last few months of my life, here's the quick version. In January we moved back to Dallas/Ft. Worth when I accepted a great offer to take a marketing position with an incredible digital advertising agency imc2. In that time at the company I've some how been "nominated" to co-head our MS150 recruiting and fundraising efforts at imc2.
I learned about imc2 when I rode with the Feisty Devils in 2003 & '04 where many of the team members were from imc2, including the President & Founder of imc2 Doug Levy. Doug and his wonderful wife Alyce co-founded the Feisty Devils as a friends & family team after Alyce was diagnosed with MS. Due in large part to their infectious passion and exitement, the team is now one of the largest & highest fundraising teams in the NATION!
So, I've been on my bike about 4 times and need to ride alot more or it's going to be a really rough event. I'm working on ramping up my mileage now that the weather's nice and the reality of the ride being in less than one month has hit me.
Please continue to check back often for more info on my training and fundraising efforts.
My wonderful mom Valorie and I at the finish of my first (2003) MS150. Don't be fooled, she's really holding me up in this picture ;)
I've always wanted to finish with the no hands, Tour de France pose but fear the nasty -- and highly embarassing -- crash that would definitely follow. So, I just went with the standard "ahhhhh, I'm finished and could use some help removing this seat from my backside."
Mom and I after the 2004 ride. She asked me to let her ride on the handlebars, but I was in no shape for that. Maybe this year she can swap out with Hayden in the baby trailer. We'll see... that's what she always told me when I wanted to do something risky
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