Is it just me, or is it hard to believe it's been about three weeks since we lined up for four amazing days of riding at the 2007 Skinny Tire Festival?! The memories are still so fresh, from riding in snow for the first time atop the Island in the Sky Friday to the truly epic scenery of the Arches National Park on Monday, and everything in between... Let me start off by first saying once again: THANK YOU! for all of your hard work and amazing fundraising as SKINNY once again came strong for the Lance Armstrong Foundation to the tune of over $201,000 - an amazing, amazing effort by one and all.
Chris, picture second from right, with TEAM CCC members Kacey and Chris States, Phyllis O'Grady and Bob Sega.
I hope I was able to convey to you that the tenets of good stewardship regarding all funds received at the LAF is a big priority. We often talk around the office about "little Suzy and her $20" - i.e. if we can't look a little girl in the eye and feel good about how we're spending the hard-earned money she's donated, then we're just not doing our job. And I feel that we are, and the impact we're making is just beginning even though we're 10 years down the road. We've transitioned quite a bit since the Spring of 1997. First a urological cancer fighter, then the hub for the practical issues in and around the disease - cancer survivorship - and now a new facet: once again striving to make cancer a national priority as this disease directly affects 1 of every 2 men and 1 of every 3 women in the US in their lifetime. It's a big deal, and we're here for you and yours.
I hope you feel good about how the LAF is positioned from a budgetary perspective: in 2006, 6.5% for Administrative costs, 15.5% dedicated to Fundraising, and 78% to our Programs. To put that in perspective, it means that for every $1 we spend to raise funds equates to $4 dollars right into the fight against cancer! And those programs range from our free SurvivorCare counseling service for all patients, family and friends, thousands of free LIVESTRONG Notebooks distributed to help organize the cancer experience, myriad cancer educational topics and stories at livestrong.org and an amazing research grant program that has donated millions of dollars over the years to fight the good fight on the front lines. I encourage you to visit www.livestrong.org and click on the Cancer Support and Grants & Programs buttons and read more about where we - you - are making a difference!
Once again, on behalf of Lance, Mitch Stoller our CEO, and Doug Ulman our President: Thank you riders of the 2007 Skinny Tire Festival! For me it was an amazing personal experience and I can truly say that the rider who started SKINNY was the not the same as the one that finished on Monday. You are a part of something very special and you should be very proud, and I look forward to riding with you again in the very near future. Carpe diem!
- Chris Brewer, 10-year testicular cancer survivor, Grassroots Events Coordinator, the Lance Armstrong Foundation
LIVESTRONG!
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Lance Armstrong Foundation
www.livestrong.org
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Skinny Tire Festival 
