[checkeredfun]

Hi,
Since I havn't really posted in the past, I guess I'll introduce myself. I am a student currently on my way to Portland for Chiropractic school. I've had my '04 MINI since August of '04 and have been driving it back and forth going to school in New Jersey. Some of you might have read a bit about me if you subscribe to MC2 Magazine. I'm in the July/Aug issue in the story about the MiniMania open house. This summer, I just joined my first MINI club, Redwood Empire Mini Enthusiasts, and I love being involved with the group.

Recently I came up with an idea for “Coopers for Cancer Research” when I came upon the LiveSTRONG Challenge in Portland, OR. The LiveSTRONG Challenge is a Walk/Run/Bike event to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation to go towards cancer research. My plan is to ride in the 40 mile bike event. Leading up to the event, participants do fundraising using a web page given to them by the LAF web site. The event is September 29th and 30th.
When thinking about how to raise money, I realized I just joined a MINI motoring club with over 250 members. And after being on my first run and meeting members, that I found to be such great people, I feel like there would be members interested in being involved in this event. Now I would also like to reach out to other mini/MINI owners. The full idea of Coopers for Cancer Research is that we can show that we are more than just drivers. Donations can be made at my website, which you can find by going to the miniology.com website where I my message has also been posted on the home page as "Coopergirl Bikes for Cancer Research." I have set a goal of $2,500 which I think we can definitely do, even with there being just a short time until the event. But if you think about it, it only takes a matter of minutes to go to the site and make your contribution to showing that Mini/MINI owners are really cool people that care about their community as much as their cars.

I believe this is annually held in Portland and depending on how it goes this year, I would like to do this again the next year. If this can grow to other people wanting to participate in the event from other MINI clubs, there can even be a team formed to walk, ride, or run together. Just think of how this can grow on our success this year with multiple clubs and even more MINI enthusiasts joining in. Hence the name.
So please join me and let’s show our support, let's unite, let's show that we are more than just drivers.

Thank you, Elena (aka checkeredfun, aka coopergirl37)

[yellowmininy]

Welcome to MINI2! Do you know about PDX Minis? PDX MINI

I haven't met the PDX folks yet, but have gotten to 'know' some of them through different message boards. You might find some folks willing to do this along with you.

[checkeredfun]

Thank you. I'm thinking of joining PDX once I get settled up there. I've heard a lot about them from some of the members in my club as well. And I was hoping that there might be some feedback from them because my club organizer recently sent a message to their club organizer that maybe he could put the word out to his club.

[checkeredfun]

It was a great event! I believe it raised somewhere around $2.6 million from all of the participants. I'd like to thank everyone who donated or supported in some way. It was a very rainy (typical Portland day...supposedly). But it really emphasised the "Challenge" part of the LiveStrong Challenge and it really did not put a damper on the day. Also, to hear Lance Armstrong speak and see him so close (I was in the front row), that was really special.