BIKE-A-THON SUCCESS!

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the 22nd Annual Bike-A-Thon on Sunday June 7th, 2009!!

The updated total from June 7th's efforts is now over $102,000!!!

And there are still pledges to come in! A huge thanks for the grassroots fundraising efforts of over 300 of YOU rider heroes, and the thousands of YOU who sponsored them. People are sticking together, helping each other out, and staying strong in these challenging economic times. Thank you for supporting BNB's local youth programs and international development projects. We are all still buzzing from the overwhelming amount of superstar energy that was the BIKE-A-THON & GREEN ROOTS FESTIVAL!

PHOTOS

See photos from Jasmine Laietmark
And photos from Robin Halperin
...and we'd love to get copies of any photos that YOU took on June 7, if you'd like to share!

TOP FUNDRAISING RIDERS

JON MCCURDY ... RAISING THE HANDLEBAR
Jon brought in $4,985.01 on the day of the ride! This is the fourth year in a row that Jon has emerged victorious as top fundraiser. (Though it is really Bikes Not Bombs that wins, my friends.) Each year, Jon goes the extra mile to encourage others to ride in the event and to get excited about raising money. Thanks again Jon, for being such a great friend and neighbor - and for affecting so many people, here in Boston and around the world.


ESTHER CERVANTES
from team Bikes Over Baghdad
Brought in $2,640 on the day of the ride. You may know Esther (and JP, see below) as lead organizer of the Bike-A-Thon training ride series of the last two years... or perhaps you know her from her consistent volunteering at events and with the BNB youth programs.

Ritchie and Esther turning in money to Sean Madsen, registrar.

Esther has seen BNB through much transformation during her five years on the Board of Directors; the last two of which she served as Chair. She's about to move to San Francisco with top fundraiser #4, John Paul.

RICHARD GIORDANO
Ritchie, stoic bike commuter, master of the near 70 mile route, and old-school Bikes Not Bombs hero from way back in the day, brought in $2,237 on the day of the ride. Great work Ritchie!

JOHN PAUL FERGUSON
from team Bikes Over Baghdad
Brought in $2,200.50 on the day of the ride. With about a month as a PhD under his jersey, the Doc has done some stellar fundraising, once again. An all-around champion: he was on the construction crew for building the BNB Hub, organized the training rides, is a regular at packing shipping containers full of donated bicycles. Soon moving to SF to teach at Stanford... Congrats!

JIM CAMPEN
from team C'Port Cyclists
Brought in $2,135 on the day of the ride. A DECADE OF leading fundraising for BNB BIKE-A-THONS.... He's a local legend, rolling on a tandem bicycle with Phyllis! He can tell you how far Bikes Not Bombs has come in the last 10+ years. I can tell you that kind of organizational growth is possible because of his consistent and strong efforts.

Kim and Diego ready to ride

PS: Last year, Jim's fundraising won him a weekend at Back Country Excursions, but because he knew he would be unable to use it, he re-donated it to BNB. We were able to raffle it off, bringing in another $730.00. Thanks again, JIM!

BOB SHULMAN
Brought in $2,000 on the day of the ride. This is Bob's sixth Bike-A-Thon. He's been a strong supporter of BNB's local youth work and international development work ever since hooking up with BNB at an anti-war bike ride in 2003. This was his top Bike-A-Thon fundraising yet! Nice work, Bob!

GREG GRUENER
Brought in $1,655 on the day of the ride. Gruener is a household name by now: in 1998, six year old Greg rode his first BNB Bike-A-Thon and stunned us by coming in as the top fundraiser. And he's been back every year since. Greg and his father Chris are strong BNB supporters year-round. Greg, congrats on your high school graduation!

TOP TEAMS

Bikes Over Baghdad - Esther Cervantes, John Paul Ferguson, Paulie Pena, Will Hutchinson, Hillary Mull, & Aron Boros
C'port Cyclists - Jim Campen, Phyllis Ewen, H.Susan Freireich, Jeff Petrucelly, Steve Miller
Girls in Action - BNB youth program, now in session
Red Sun Press - Also an event sponsor & our local printhouse
Sweaty Saddles - OOOooooosh, good work!
Nichols - Go Alice & Verna! - 2nd year riding
Bike Rides for Ordinary People - check their website and join their rides.
Wugga Salad - Rooftop BBQ paid off, and of course the best dressed ...
Social Justice Academy - Much LOVE!
Worcester Earn-A-Bike - Much LOVE!

YOUNGEST RIDER

...And the youngest rider (riding solo on a bike):
Gabriel Onthank - At NINE years old, and his first Bike-A-Thon, Gabriel rode the 25 miler!

MATCHING DONATION

Supporter Stan Chen once again has matched the funds raised by BNB youth. Stan is a former volunteer (now out of state) who appreciates these teens raising money to support their own programs. Thanks Stan for your steadfast support through the years!

STAY IN TOUCH

Please send us any comments, feedback, suggestions you have on the events. We would love to hear from you!
In case anyone is wondering, you can feel free to keep up the fundraising as long as you like :)
Riders, we will send your sponsors their membership and receipts, and we will put their contributions to work right away. Please point your sponsors to this page and thank them - it took each and every one of them to make this happen.

Some of you who pre-registered may have raised some money but weren't able to ride on Sunday. Many of your sponsors would be happy to have their donations support BNB even without you physically doing the ride. An alternative is to tell your sponsors, "I couldn't ride on Sunday, so instead I'll be volunteering my time next weekend to load the shipment for South Africa, and/or on some Wednesday volunteer nights to get more bikes ready to go overseas, and thanks you for your sponsorship of my work for BNB, matching my time with your donations!" If you only feel comfortable turning in the money and/or collecting the pledges in connection to an actual bike ride, then we can get you a copy of the 15, 25, or 62 miler route - and we might even be able to put you in touch with other people wanting to do a make-up ride who could go with you.

Thanks to all of you for being there or contributing from afar...