Meet Tim Leeper
Starting January 2010, I will be riding my bicycle across the country. Starting at Spanish Landing Park in San Diego, California, I will put my rear wheel in the Pacific and peddle my bike until my front wheel is in the Atlantic in St. Augustine, Florida, near Anastasia State Park. At the same time I am asking for your help in trying to raise money to help prevent and bring awareness for breast cancer.
The idea for this trip was conceived when I had finished my last bike tour over half my life ago. The plans for this trip were set almost twenty years ago when our child was still in the womb – for this is when my wife first started her fight against breast cancer.
Patty was going to ride with me on the back of a tandem or be back-up support in a van. She was always worried if she would be in shape to ride with me. My wife lost her battle with breast cancer July 26th of 2001. I know now that she will be coming with me on this trip and I invite you to come along with me.
Pennies a mile is what I am asking for on my 3,200 mile ride across the country. Upon receipt of your donation, I will fill out one of my postcards with your name and address. It will be mailed back to you with a story of the day along my trip. With every postcard that I have will make my trip seem so much lighter knowing you will be part of it.
A kick-off party was held at the Community Hall on Mackinac Island on July 30, 2009, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. I featured art that I have painted and framed to sell and auction to also raise money for this cause. This year’s theme is Leeper’s Lilacs. All proceeds are 100% tax deductible with tax forms available upon request.
Please join us.
Three events have been held where Tim told his story and offered his art for sale; one on Mackinac Island, one in Petoskey, and the last one in Charlevoix. To date, Tim has raised $6,714 for the Pink Ribbon Ride. This is solely by the sale of his artwork and does not include the per mile pledges that will be collected when his trip is done.
Update
After 55 days on the road, Tim arrived safe and sound in St. Augustine, Florida. After all the pledges were in, the total amount raised topped $10,000! Tim is still raising money for the Pink Ribbon Ride. We commissioned an original painting which will be raffled off on Thursday, October 7, 2010, at the Tickled Pink event at Charlevoix Area Hospital, and he is still offering his beautiful and unique artwork for sale solely to benefit women in Charlevoix and Emmet County. Please visit Tim’s gallery of photos from his cross-country trip.
