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Date: 21.03.2007
From: Paul

Subject: Help me help others

I have a special opportunity this year to help out the Arthritis foundation and could use some help. Let me tell you how this started.

Last year a friend of mine invited me to bicycle from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It was a charity event and although I had to decline the ride I contributed a modest amount to his cause. Over the past year I've had a lot of time to think about the ride and figured what a great way to combine my love of cycling and help others at the same time. When I registered for the ride I read up on Arthritis to get better informed. I was surprised at the number of people that make it through their daily life suffering from this illness. What really had an impact on me was the amount of children that suffer from this illness and how it affects their childhood. My perspective on the ride change after watching the Camp Esperanza video posted on the Arthritis home page. If you have a chance, take a look - http://www.californiacoastclassic.org and click on View the Camp Esperanza Video link.

My initial fear upon registering for the ride wasn't riding 500 miles but my apprehension about asking people to contribute to the foundation. All this has changed since I viewed the Camp Esperanza video and I am focused on asking everyone I know, and many that I don't know, to help.
According to the California Coast Classic web page this is what the ride is all about Why: As an Arthritis Foundation Amgen California Coast Classic Bicycle Tour rider your primary responsibility is to join hundreds of others from across the state who are raising money to help support research to find the cure for and prevention of arthritis as well as improve the quality of life for those affected by arthritis. http://www.californiacoastclassic.org -> click About at top of the page.
For me it is about overcoming some serious health problems, giving back to the community and using my abilities to help others.
If you can contribute to the cause, even if it's just a prayer for a successful journey, that helps too. To contribute go to -
http://www.californiacoastclassic.org
Select Make online donation
Area Orange County
Sponsor Participant left side
Rider Paul Defeo

Or follow this ridiculously long link -
https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=217386&lis=1&kntae217386=04DE566F1D8D434CA2148554CCDBB7BF&supId=146078309

As I mentioned earlier I am not comfortable asking for donations and I hope I haven't offended anyone by asking for a contribution but this is a cause I feel strongly about as I hope you do also.

Thanks for your time and an extra Thanks if you were able to contribute -

Paul
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