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Thanks for the support!

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Judy
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Received a nice donation today from Patrick Madden of the Madden Vanderloop Law Firm S.C. To date I’ve raised a little over $25,000 for Alzheimer’s activities at Cedar Community. Other primary donors include USCCA, Wiedmeyer Trucking, Helen Reinke and Thrivent Financial. There are still two sponsorship spaces left to fill on this year’s jersey — and time is running out as we should go to layout and print before the end of March. Give a shout if you’d like to join in the effort on this year’s Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s as I bicycle from Nova Scotia to Wisconsin.

Below is one of my favorite photos from my Germany tour in 2008.

                                                                               

                                                                         

Next tour – on the moon?

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Judy
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When I was touring in Germany in 2008 I stayed with a woman who lived in Prien am Chiemsee – about 65 miles outside Munich. She pulled me out of a cemetery as I was setting up my tent for the night. Christiane was a former flight attendant – back when stewardesses wore hats and white gloves and you could smoke on the plane. I remember she set me up with a flat in Munich a day before I flew out – it was her grandfather’s place, overlooking the Englischer Garten. Christiane said, “If I ever hear of someone bicycling on the moon – I’ll know it’s you.”

                                                                              

Spring training run – Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes

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Judy
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Sunny skies and temps in the 50s today and FINALLY able to get a nice day of training outside!  Had this song in my head during my 5. 3-mile training run. Also a BIG sponsorship thanks to Thrivent Financial.

Seth Rogen fights for Alzheimer’s research

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Judy
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300 military pushups a day

By
Judy
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Phase II of workout – weights and walking

That’s a birds-eye view of my cryptic workout journal. Push ups on the left. The gadget on the right is a pedometer courtesy ThedaCare. I’m part of their media team recruited to knock off 10,000 steps a day. It’s the second year they’re using media to try and set an example and encourage people to make exercise a part of their daily routine.

I’ll be the first to chime in – it ain’t easy.

I’ve been pretty consistent with the push ups and curling my 15-pound girly hand weights but you can obviously see things veered off course when aerobics came into the mix.

I’m calling it ‘ME TIME’ …. but that means the dishes are stacked a little higher, along with the laundry and the dust bunnies are now herding under the bed.

I’ve got my steps in for the day and I’m half way through the push ups. (My promise of 10,000 before I leave was a good motivator.) I should have 3,000 on the books before the day is out.

Finally, a might big THANKS to American Metal & Paper for a nice donation to the tour!

A quick list of upcoming speaking engagements – if you’re in the area stop on by:

 – March 15 at the Trenton Town Hall – 1071 Wisconsin 33 just east of West Bend
 – March 27 at Cedar Ridge for the Foundation Social at 3:30 p.m.
                                                                            

Highlighting caregivers

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Judy
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New to the tour this year will be a video series focusing on Alzheimer’s caregivers. These will be short segments of personal stories of faith and hope and coping with ‘the adventure’ of Alzheimer’s.


                                                                           
Beverly Vogel credits her faith with helping her take care of her husband who has Alzheimer’s.

Let the training begin

By
Judy
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I never think I’m doing enough for the people who sponsor the tour – so this year I pledged 10,000 push ups before I leave in June for Nova Scotia.
                                                                             

No, I wasn’t drunk when I made the pledge. This is to help me get in shape for the 1,700-plus miles that lie ahead. At least that’s what I’m telling myself

Training is pretty basic. Turn on WISN and Mark Belling at 3 p.m. Listen to the podcast on my computer while completing 10 sets of 20 military push ups. Throw in some arm curls with my sand-filled Flintstone weights, maybe a set of dip off a chair (those are tough), some random cleaning during set recovery to spice things up and by 6 p.m. I’ve got the first phase of my winter workout complete and the house isn’t as messy.

I’m sure this scenario is similar to how Vin Diesel trains.

I scratch notches in my daily diary. Stay consistent – which is the secret anyway, right? Reviewing my stats from 2009 are incredible; my God I was sculpted. Knocking down 250 push ups a day with my toes on a step in an attempt to ramp up the level of difficulty.

Starting over now and completing 100 push ups on my knees was a harsh reality check. I watched YouTube videos of guys doing push ups just to get inspired. Three weeks before the announcement I managed to complete 1,900 push ups on my knees so I could be ready to go with a full military routine once the pledge was in place.

I’m at a ‘little pink girl’ stage of training but I’m making progress. As of today I’ve completed a total of 880 push ups with 142 days left before I leave.

Things like this note from Natalie that I received while biking in Alaska keep me focused.

Judy  Wow! What an accomplishment. I enjoyed following you every step of the way. You inspire me.  In the midst of struggling with my training this summer you have put my mind in a different place to move forward. Thank you for that. Your perseverance has motivated me beyond what my mind is telling me I can do right now.  You are a blessing to many, that is apparent.  So many qualities. You have found your gift and are using it with purpose.  Be Epic  Natalie 🙂

This is me working to ‘Be Epic.’ Next week I start my program with ThedaCare. They’ve selected members of the media to participate in a pedometer challenge. Walk/run 10,000 steps a day. They supplied me with a $15 pedometer. I also had to find a training buddy. I put a shout out and a man named Mark said he’d be game.

Mark is 53 years old….. he’s also a mailman and walks 10 miles a day. That’ll push me!

I’ll close today with another favorite note from a guy named Mike. He followed my last tour in Alaska.

“I am happy and relieved that you are back home safely….. It is amazing to me that you manage to make it through these trips without getting raped, mugged, or just plain run over…… When you are gone it takes up a lot of my time just praying for you……”

-Sincerely, Mike

It’s official: Nova Scotia to Wisconsin

By
Judy
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Hundreds in attendance today at Cedar Ridge for big announcement.
                                                                               

Me and my dad, Al Steffes, posing with the tour logo and primary sponsor for this year’s Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s. Behind the scenes my mother is taking the picture with my iPhone. I told her to take several shots. After the first she stopped and looked at the camera. “How do I wind it forward?”  Isn’t it fun when grandma learns newfangled stuff.

                                                                       

A HUGE thanks to Helen Reinke, a 20-year resident at Cedar Ridge. She donated $10,000 to the tour. Sooooooooo GENEROUS! Helen hoped her gift would encourage others to support the ride. I told Helen I’d knock out 10,000 military push ups before I left and I’d dedicate them to her. Helen was touched. “You’re crazy – but do what you want.”

Primary sponsor secured for Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s

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Judy
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For the second year in a row USCCA has agreed to come along for the ride.
                                                                               

Last week I threw out an email blast to a dozen corporations in the Washington County area in an attempt to secure a primary $10,000 sponsor for this year’s bicycle tour from Nova Scotia to Wisconsin. In less than 15 minutes Tim Schmidt, founder and president of the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, responded. “I’m in,” said Schmidt.  “I just really like what the ride stands for, the fact you work to give back to the community and that the money benefits a local organization.”

Schmidt and the USCCA were primary sponsors for last year’s Ride 2 Remember in Alaska which raised $20,000 for Alzheimer’s activities at Cedar Community. That money was later matched for a total of $40,000.

This year Cedar Ridge resident Helen Reinke offered a generous $10,000 match in an effort to encourage a primary sponsor to step to the plate. An official announcement regarding this year’s tour will be made during an event Thursday, Jan. 30 at Cedar Ridge. 

I can’t say enough how much I appreciate the strong early show of support from Tim and Helen; their generosity is truly amazing.  More good news ahead.  Stay tuned! 

Big announcement – 2014 tour details coming next week

By
Judy
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There’s a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes as I prep for my 2014 three-week bicycle tour.
                                                                             

Coming up Thursday more details will be announced for this year’s Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s. Sponsor letters are going out as we speak. A list of sponsor levels is posted below.

And take a look at this year’s biking logo – created and donated by the extremely talented Michael Albiero. There is a clue in the graphic regarding this year’s destination. Can you figure it out before next week?

My goal in the next 7 days is to find a primary sponsor for the front and back of this year’s jersey. There’s already a generous donation of a $10,000 match on the table. It would be great to unveil YOUR company logo along with the tour logo on the same day. My contact info is below.

Spread the word – – the big day is drawing near!

                                                                      

                                                                               

Sponsorship Opportunities
All proceeds benefit the Memory Care Program at Cedar Community
$10,000 +                     Yellow Jersey  Top prize at Tour de France
ŸCorporate logo on front and back of bicycling jersey ŸOfficial website with “Photo of the Day” and link to sponsors’ websiteŸEvent posters, press releases and email blastsŸOpportunity to provide company promotional banner for display during public appearancesŸPromotional mention during media interviews and announcementsŸRecognition in newspaper/radio/social media thanking all sponsorsŸWeekly personal postcard from the roadŸMotivational speaking engagement at your business or organization before and after the rideŸComplimentary Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s bicycling jerseyŸRecognition on the “Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s” blog
$7,500 – $9,999             Wheelie  Lifting the front wheel of the bicycle in the air
ŸCorporate logo on bicycling jersey ŸWeekly personal postcard from the roadŸMotivational speaking engagement at your business and organization before and after the rideŸComplimentary Ride 2 Remember bicycling jerseyŸRecognition on the “Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s” blog
$5,000 – $7,499             Cadence  Pace at which you ride – general steadiness
ŸCorporate logo on bicycling jersey ŸWeekly personal postcard from the roadŸMotivational speaking engagement at your business or organization before and after the rideŸRecognition on the “Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s” blog
 $2,500 – $4,999            Wheel and Sprocket  Primary gears and parts of a bike  
ŸCorporate logo on bicycling jersey ŸWeekly personal postcard from the roadŸRecognition on the “Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s” blog
 $1,000 – $2,499             Chain Gang   Repair crew
ŸCorporate logo on bicycling jerseyŸPersonal postcard from the roadŸRecognition on the “Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s” blog
$500 – $999                   Pelaton   The large main group in a bicycle road race
ŸPersonal postcard from the roadŸRecognition on the “Amazing Ride for Alzheimer’s” blog
$100 – $499                   Fans 
ŸPersonal thank you letter.
Contact Judy Steffes for more information at 262-334-4526 or [email protected]

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