Riding for Roses

Spencer and I have been working seriously on fundraising for the Ride for the Roses for 66 days of our 100 day plan. It’s time for a status report….

Today we had another oncologist visit. The expectation was Spencer would need Neulasta to help with low white counts and platelets to help make sure his blood will clot. The day did not go as planned.

As expected, Spencer needed red cells today. We go back to the oncologist on Wednesday for Neulasta and probably a unit of platelets. He made it through the busy Tour de France viewing event and fundraising apparently without infection or virus. The frequent handwashing and cleaning with Purell possibly helped.

Check out the Dutch TV coverage of Austin’s reactions to Lance Armstrong (click on “Austin is trots op Lance Armstrong” for the video). The reporter is a Dutch man stationed on Washington, DC, who travels around the US covering interesting stories. They came to Austin for a couple of days to catch Lance Fever.

It’s this simple: The Tour Watch 2005 event at Central Market North is the best Tour de France viewing party in Austin, TX. It’s true. My new friend Stephen says so. He visited every single Tour watching party at least once at says this one is the best.

Every once in a while, I like to tell the story from the beginning. It helps me figure out what the highlights are. It gives me a chance to cry and as I have said before, that release is empowering. It also gives me a chance to tell the story to new visitors to this blog. I expect some new people these days with the Tour Watch 2005 event in full swing and my brother says they will be discussing this blog on WGN Radio tonight. Plus, with all the illegal fireworks popping off in my neighborhood, I am not really ready to sleep now anyway.

Rumor mills can generate interesting fictions, blended with enough fact to feel true. Let’s cut the finish and then tell the story. Lance is not going to be in Austin on Sunday. Linda Armstrong Kelly is not going to be to Austin Sunday. However, if you get yourself to Tour Watch 2005 at Central Market on 4001 N. Lamar Blvd. in Austin Sunday morning, you will have the opprtunity to sign a big yellow thank you card that will be delivered to Lance.

Spencer’s fundraising total for the Ride for the Roses went over $10,000 today. In fitting fashion, it was a donation from his Grandfather, Frank Brimmer, also known as “Mayor Grandpa” since he is Mayor of Independence, IA. Frank’s wife (Rachel’s mother, Spencer’s grandmother), Diane Brimmer, passed away on December 13, 2004, from metastasized breast cancer. Last year on the Ride for the Roses I wore an “In Honor of…” bib tag for her. This year, Spencer and I will both be wearing “In Memory of…” bib tags for her.

My favorite coffee shop near my house is It’s a Grind – Plaza Volente (at 11521 N. FM 620, #940; Austin, TX in Plaza Volente at the intersection of Anderson Mill and 620) and the owners have generously put together a raffle to support the LAF….

There was a small problem with the Lance Armstrong Foundation web site recently. Some online donations were not properly credited to Peloton Members. We’ve already identified one donor who gave online over the weekend to Spencer’s account, but the donation did not appear. The LAF has worked with Kintera and the problem appears to be fixed. If you donated money in the last week or two and we did not send you a thank you email, please contact me at rifter05 at robsartin dot com and give me your first and last name. I will forward the list to the LAF so they can work to properly credit your donation to Spencer’s account. Thank you for your kind support.