Grand Slam for Zambia Update: Chris Horner, iPhone, GPS Prizes Edition
We’re down to the last ten days of the Grand Slam for Zambia — the project where we’re trying to raise enough money to buy 1,000 kids in Zambia bikes.
I’ve got some great new prizes to announce, but first, I want to talk just a little bit about what we’re hoping to accomplish.
When we give a bike to a kid in Zambia, we are changing that kid’s life — not just for the moment, but permanently. We’re making it so that kid doesn’t have to walk four hours to cover the ten-mile trip to school and back.
That means the kid gets to school quicker. And safer.
And that means the kid is more likely to stay in school. And graduate. And get a better job.
In short, when we give a bike to a kid in Zambia, we are drastically improving that person’s chances at having a good life.
So really, what we are trying to do is give 1000 kids a better life.
I love that.
Where We Stand
If you take a look at the donation page for this contest, you’ll see that we just crossed the $70,000 mark. We’re trying to get to $134,000, so we’re just over halfway there.
$70,000 is a lot of money. Enough to buy 522 bikes. That’s pretty impressive.
But we don’t want to buy 522 bikes. We want to buy 1000.
And since the contest ends August 27, we don’t have much time left.
So we’re going to throw some more prizes in the pot. You know, just to give you an extra little nudge.
New Prizes
Hey, have you ever heard of Chris Horner? Yeah, I hear he’s a pro cyclist or something. Well, a couple of days ago, he tweeted this:
And what did he want to throw into the pot? This:
So yes, a jersey autographed by Chris Horner is now officially one of the things you can win by donating in the Grand Slam for Zambia contest (Thanks tons, Chris!)
Oh, and here’s a little something some of you may have heard about at some point or another:
Yup, RadioShack has thrown a 16Gb White iPhone into the fabulous Grand Slam for Zambia pot o’ prizes. This is exactly the phone that The Hammer uses, by the way, so that adds an extra measure of awesomeness, if that’s possible.
Finally, courtesy of RadioShack, you can win a Garmin® nüvi® 1390T 4.3″ GPS, including lifetime map and live traffic updates.
Seriously, the prize list for this contest is getting out of control.
Prizes Already in the Pot
The thing is, there was already a fairly outrageous number of prizes you can win in the Grand Slam for Zambia contest. For details, you should read my original post on the contest, my first follow-up post on the contest, and Johan Bruyneel’s description of the contest, but here’s a quick summary:
- World Bicycle Relief Africa Trip: Given if we hit the 1000-bike milestone
- Trek Travel 2012 Tour de France Paris Trip: Given if we hit the 750-bike milestone
- Official 2003 Tour de France Yellow Podium Tunic Signed by Lance Armstrong: Given if we hit the 500-bike milestone (reached!)
- Team RadioShack Trek Madone Bike (Race Ridden): Given if we hit the 250-bike milestone (reached!)
- SRAM Red Pro Gruppo: Given if we hit the 100-bike milestone (reached!)
- Specialized BG S-Works Road Shoes, donated by Boa Technology
- An Entry Into the 2012 Breckenridge Epic Stage Race
- Smartwool: Socks, Armwarmers, or Kneewarmers (30 winners!)
- Honey Stinger Smorgasbord (two winners!)
- Club Ride Apparel (two winners!)
- HED Ardennes SL Wheels
- Giro Aeon Helmets (two winners!)
- Strider No Pedal Balance Bikes (two winners!)
- $50 Road ID Gift Certificates (20 winners!)
- Team Radioshack Merchandise and Signed Items (four winners!)
- World Bicycle Relief Apparel (three winners!)
Wow. I mean, wow. That’s a lot of prizes. And every single one of them is a great prize.
How the Contest Works
You can find the full version of the rules here, though if you have done my contests before you already understand how this one works. So if you want, just click on over and donate.
Anyway, here are the basics:
- Click here to go to the donation page.
- Donate any amount, but at least $5.00.
- For every $5.00 you donate, you get a chance at a prize.
- If you donate $134 — enough to buy a bike — you get a bonus 3 chances. (If you donate in multiples of $134, you get a bonus 3 chances for each 134 you donate).
- You have between now and August 27, Midnight (MT) to donate.
- We’ll notify the winners by email and phone.
Please, change a life by buying a bike for a kid in Zambia. Who knows — maybe you’ll win one of the increasingly huge number of incredible prizes being offered.
Comment by RodNeeds2Ride | 08.18.2011 | 10:07 am
This is awesome! Clicking the “Donate” button now…
Comment by Brandy | 08.18.2011 | 10:17 am
You do good work Fatty. Donating now.
-Brandy
Comment by Eva | 08.18.2011 | 10:22 am
Was just thinking today… “Fatty needs to write another post… and I’ll give another bike”… We both delivered!
This sticker is just too beautifully designed to not reflect a reality we have 10 more days to co-create… “1000 bikes – 1000 lifes changed”.
526 bikes funded this minute, another 474 to go… Yes, we can!
Comment by Haven-KT | 08.18.2011 | 10:49 am
Shoot, if I wait until tomorrow (payday!) I think I can donate enough for one bike…
Ok, that’ll be my plan.
I <3 Chris Horner!
Comment by Justin L | 08.18.2011 | 11:00 am
Holy crap, that’s alot of great prizes. I had paid for one bike, hoping to get some free cash to buy another by the end. Kids just started school again, so monies a little tight. Good job fatty, keep pushing i know you can get it to 1000 bikes!!
Comment by JOE | 08.18.2011 | 11:17 am
This is awesome – I am going to scrape some funds together to donate but can’t help but wonder if these bikes come with helmets?
Comment by yannb | 08.18.2011 | 11:58 am
another bike and change donated ($150)
Comment by chad | 08.18.2011 | 11:59 am
best bike I have bought yet!
Comment by rich | 08.18.2011 | 12:01 pm
the nice part about this contest is that it spanned 3 pay days….3 donations….
Nice job Fatty.
Thank you for the opportunity to do something good!
Comment by Mike/Kamala | 08.18.2011 | 12:12 pm
I’m already in for one bike. I might be in for another bike if you add Ironman Canada finishing karma to the prize list!
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 08.18.2011 | 12:17 pm
Wife#1 wants to know….are Chris Horner socks in the mix yet?
Comment by Doug (Way upstate NY) | 08.18.2011 | 12:18 pm
I’m in. One more bike down…..
Comment by Heidi | 08.18.2011 | 12:25 pm
Yippee, in for a second bike!
Comment by Jefferson | 08.18.2011 | 12:34 pm
Fresh out of college with a mountain of student debt and a crummy economy. Decided to skip lunch out one day this week and throw $10 in the pot. Wish I could do more, but I’m happy that I can help. Thanks for the opportunity to change my cheeseburger into something much larger than myself. Go Fatty!
Comment by Gumby | 08.18.2011 | 12:36 pm
I’ll donate when the Hammer posts her Leadville 100 experience…
Awesome! She’s writing it now. I hope to post it Monday. – FC
Comment by Dave T | 08.18.2011 | 12:38 pm
The prizes are great but the cause is even better so I will put in for a few more bikes. Let’s make this goal happen!
Comment by Christina | 08.18.2011 | 12:47 pm
I bought a bike with the hope of winning a trip to somewhere awesome, but after the Leadville reports, I want the Honey Stinger package. I might even have to check the budget and buy another bike.
Comment by 3ringcircus | 08.18.2011 | 4:03 pm
Fatty: You rock. 1 more bike donated.
You want more evidence of your influence? My kids usually roll their eyes about my cycling interest and the TdF, but were with me checking your progress last weekend for Leadville and just pitched in $1 (7 year old) and $5 x 2 (12 an 13 year old) for the Zambia bike. How cool is that!
That’s amazing and inspirational. You know, I haven’t bothered my own kids about this. I should. I will. – FC
Comment by Jenni | 08.18.2011 | 4:27 pm
First donation done, I will personally see to many more donations this weekend. I am going to be a World Bicycle Relief warrior.
Let’s DO this
YEAH!!!! – FC
Comment by DonQuix | 08.18.2011 | 4:29 pm
What a great cause in for another bike!
Comment by roan | 08.18.2011 | 4:34 pm
Fatty, go ahead and put the pedals back on The Hammer’s bikes. I can wait until Monday’s posting.
Donation of $150.00 for Zambia & stuff, done.
There have been several requests for The Hammer’s input (the womens’ view sorta but we all can learn something…heh ?) on these epic adventures. And such input may be better than pie.
Does The Hammer eat the egg whites and avocado special too ?
I just read her first draft; it’s great. I’m going to proof it and add some photos; it’ll go live early early Monday AM (I’m thinking Midnight Sunday night). And while it definitely has a different perspective, I don’t read it at all as a women-only story.
And yes, The Hammer eats the egg whites and avocados too. A big part of why the diet works is because we both really like them. It helps to have a partner in a diet. – FC
Comment by Sunny | 08.18.2011 | 5:09 pm
Your passion for your cause is an inspiration. I truly admire you and your wife and the great love and support you have for one another and yet respecting the memory of your late wife and fighting the cancer cause together. I respect and admire you more for that then the great writer/biker/comedian that you are. I’m donating again now.
Comment by Don | 08.18.2011 | 10:10 pm
One more bike done.
Comment by Yukirin Boy | 08.19.2011 | 5:02 am
one more bike
Comment by Susan | 08.19.2011 | 7:01 am
I’m not a serious bicyclist, but this is brilliant. I’m thrilled to donate one bike and wish I could donate more. I’ve passed the information along to others. Keep it up!
Comment by JOE | 08.19.2011 | 12:39 pm
I donated enough for two bikes. Does WBR provide helmets as well? I did not see this…
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 08.19.2011 | 1:39 pm
Hey Fatty! I see your friend Sari Anderson has a Honey Stinger Kit! Can we get a donation from her(signed), or a kit from Honey Stinger?
Comment by Terry | 08.19.2011 | 1:39 pm
When I donated I checked the box about company match, but it never asked for any additional information. Do you know if I have to take action, or is the organization doing it for me? It means one more bike for the total!
Comment by Wife#1 | 08.19.2011 | 2:04 pm
Fatty and gang… I am on the horns of a dilemma.
Due to the awesomeness of this community, I was recently able to procure something I really wanted for our personal collection at home, an Andy Schleck maillot jaune from this year’s TdF. Not signed, but still, earned after stage 18… what an epic day that was. Anyhoo, along with Lance and Horner (and Big Mig from the “olden days”), Andy is a total favorite of mine. I was so excited to get it, already planning the framing job and wishing I was in Colorado next week.
Then in this last week and a half, unexpectedly my mom fell ill and died. It’s been very surreal. Husband #1 (David in Marin) and I were musing that perhaps we should make a special donation to this event in her memory, and that maybe I should do something really special, like donate my 2011 Andy jersey as another prize for you to give away.
I’ve been mulling and mulling that idea, and when I was done I pondered it a bit more. Thinking about those kids in Zambia on their bikes and what an awesome fundraiser this is.
Alas, in the end, I just cannot bring myself to do it. I totally suck. I should do it, but I just can’t quite get myself there. I just love it so much. My mom would be scolding me for sure.
I am going to try to assuage the guilt by donating 4 more bikes in my mom’s memory, and I’ll do it under David’s name so his employer will match. And I know that doesn’t suck, but still.
I’m sorry. I am a shallow, selfish woman. All I can do to make myself feel better is take comfort in the awesomeness of my Schleck maillot jaune…. damn I just love this thing.
Side note: do we have any sense from the folks at WBR about donation matches so far? I am sure our family is not the only one that has applied for employer matches for these donations. If our total matches account for 7 more bikes (after the next donation), then maybe there is another bunch of them pending? Can we find out if their office has been getting matching gift forms to process for this event?
That’s all. I really hope in this last 10 days that there is serious kickass fundraising and we make the 1000 bike mark. I will keep reposting this to my own network as well. Go Team Fatty!
Comment by Tim | 08.19.2011 | 5:08 pm
Tried to donate but the form kept rejecting my credit card info. Anyway to use Paypal to donate?
Comment by AKChick | 08.19.2011 | 6:02 pm
Wish I could donate an entire bike. I think I donated $20 the first time and $25 this go round. I’m strapped because I’m making donations to so many other people and causes that I’m spread a little thin. :) Too bad I’m not independently wealthy! Oh well. I would LOVE to win Chris Horner’s jersey (LOVE LOVE LOVE him in a strictly platonic admire the man’s skills, determination, sense of humor and unorthodox diet). Realistically, I know that I won’t win anything, but I would do this even if there weren’t prizes up for grabs because it’s the right thing to do.
By the way, how do we sign up for TEAM FATTY AUSTIN??? I have Friday free the weekend of the event so am going to do some sightseeing, pick up my rental Ferrari aka Trek Madone 5.1 (wish I owned!), go for a ride and scout out the best places to buy pie. I think I have a full kitchen in the place I’m staying and I make a REALLY awesome apple pie, but I’m not going to have time to make one from scratch. I’ll have to buy one. We are going to have pie afterwards on Sunday right?? I will be so disappointed if I can’t meet some of the other TEAM FATTY fans and the Hammer. And maybe the IT guy. Oh, and maybe you too. ;-)
Comment by Jeremy | 08.19.2011 | 7:30 pm
Alright. You got me. One more bike to the pot.
Comment by MellowJonny | 08.19.2011 | 8:15 pm
reads post *heads to donate button*
It’s a shame there were no cantaloupes :) :) :)
Ps: I’m Jon
Comment by Steve | 08.19.2011 | 8:19 pm
I started a Team Fatty for the Austin LSC, since, well, Fatty didn’t. It’s there if you look in the Team listing.
Comment by KT | 08.19.2011 | 11:59 pm
I donated enough money for 1/2 of a bike with the intention of donating the other 1/2 after my next paycheck…and then I got laid off. However, it looks like I might have another job lined up. So if I do I will definitely donate more!
Also, I can’t wait to read The Hammer’s story! You have both inspired me to lose weight and sign up for my first century.
Comment by Valerie | 08.20.2011 | 12:33 am
Want to donate…but I don’t have a credit card! Is there any other way? Paypal?
Comment by Eva | 08.21.2011 | 2:09 am
@wife#1 – please be kinder to yourself! :-) You are anything but selfish – you are a most generous human being. Heartfelt sympathy for losing your mother so suddenly.
@TeamFatty – you rock!
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 08.21.2011 | 9:50 am
Hey Fatty! How bout some signed ‘Fatty’ jerseys in the pile? You know they’ll be coveted, and I know Wife#1 would hang it right next to her Maillot Jaune on Andy’s.
Comment by McDeb | 08.21.2011 | 12:29 pm
I’m so proud to participate in this. I think donating one bike today gave me the best donation-related feeling ever. Just something about this that is so cool. Good on ya!
Comment by Jenni | 08.21.2011 | 3:19 pm
Can we get a running total on the site?
I got Livestrong Chief Financial Officer Greg Lee to donate a bike today!
Comment by gogogo | 08.22.2011 | 9:09 pm
donated a pedal. or a saddle! every bit helps, right?
so fun to help out.
Comment by Linda | 08.23.2011 | 9:41 am
Just donated $134 for a bike! Glad to support this effort! Hope to see pictures of the kids riding the bikes.
Thank you Fatty!
Comment by Linda | 08.23.2011 | 9:53 am
Oh and BTW…I submitted the request to my company to match the $134 that I donated! So add another bike to the pile!