Thanks to You, This was the Best July Ever
Yesterday, on their Facebook page, World Bicycle Relief put a photo up:
How much hyperbole was that? None. None hyperbole is how much hyperbole that statement was.
Because last month, World Bicycle Relief raised enough money to buy 1500 bikes for children, volunteer health care workers, and entrepreneurs in Africa. That’s a lot of bikes, which translates into a lot of people who are now going to have the means to stay — and succeed — in school. The means to take care of their neighbors in need. The means to launch and grow their businesses and take care of their families.
The Team Fatty Factor
World Bicycle Relief has never had such a successful fundraising July, and Trek needs to get about a million high-fives for their part of it. They pledged a dollar-for-dollar fundraising match during the month, up to $90,000. They also promised a Madone Series 7 Project One bike frame, an amazing fundraising incentive.
ENVE Composites also deserves massive credit for their participation, because I didn’t even have to approach them to help. They came to me, simply saying they wanted to help.
And SRAM, by donating top-of-the-line components, turned this from a prize for a nice beginning of a bike into a complete, true dream bike.
But more than anything else, I want to express gratitude for my readers — Team Fatty — for your outrageous generosity. I think a good case can be made that it’s you who made this World Bicycle Relief’s “Best July Ever.”
If you don’t mind, I’d like to explain why.
In July, World Bicycle Relief received enough donations to buy 1500 bikes. At $134 per bike, that means WBR pulled in approximately $201,000 in individual contributions in July.
Of that $201,000, Team Fatty raised $39,774. And of course, Trek donated their maximum of $90,000. When you take out those two numbers, the remaining donations come to $71,226. Without Team Fatty’s donations, in other words, the total amount raised would have come to $71,226.
Which means Trek wouldn’t have hit its matching ceiling, and instead would have matched that amount. So the total would have been around $142,452.
Which is — make no mistake — still a great number. But without you, WBR would be talking right now about having raised enough to buy 1063 bikes, instead of 1500.
So, whether you pre-ordered a 2014 Fat Cyclist jersey, or whether you donated money directly, thank you.
Thank you for being part of the most ridiculous, most generous group of people on the Internet.
You — along with a lot of teammates you’ve never met — have just made around 500 people’s lives immeasurably better.
I am the luckiest blogger in the world to have you as my readers and teammates.
And as my friends.
PS: The winner of the bike has been sent an email. I’ll post more once I hear back from him (yes, a male).
Comment by New Zealand Ev | 08.1.2013 | 11:21 am
Fatty thanks for the opportunity to be a part of this amazing group and team. You set up the forum and put things in motion that provide us all with the opportunity to make a difference. Thanks for all you do!!!! I really, really appreciate it.
Comment by rich | 08.1.2013 | 11:23 am
Hey Fatty,
Just a heads up, I checked my email and the notification hasn’t come through yet. I know I won, so you better re-send the email to me…just to be safe you know…
Comment by Tom in Albany | 08.1.2013 | 11:24 am
I even checked my 10 years sleeping AOL account. Sadly, I’ve got no Trek! So what? Great event and a great cause. We’re all winners!
Comment by Susie H | 08.1.2013 | 11:39 am
I would like to officially change my first name to James, my last initial to R., and I will be moving to PA posthaste!
Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 08.1.2013 | 11:58 am
Nothing else to say!
Comment by NYCCarlos | 08.1.2013 | 12:19 pm
:( so sad :( no win again.
:) so happy :) lots of good money raised!!!!
Comment by MLB | 08.1.2013 | 12:43 pm
I must say it is such a wonderful feeling reading this post and knowing that I/we have made such a huge impact on peoples lives with so small, relatively speaking, of a donation. The dissapointment of reading the post script and realizing I didnt win a new bike only lasted a few seconds. The joy of helping these peoples future prospects far out weighs the feeling that winning that wonderful bike would have brought.Thank you Fatty, Trek, Enve, Sram, and WBR for the opportunity, and hope there will be more such opportunities in the future.
Comment by alan | 08.1.2013 | 12:51 pm
Fatty I just wanted to thank you as well. Without you I would not have even had a chance to think about such a dream bike. You gave an opportunity for all of us to have a chance, to hope. Priceless!!
Comment by Brian in VA | 08.1.2013 | 1:12 pm
Congrats to Team Fatty! It’s an honor to be a member.
Comment by JRay | 08.1.2013 | 1:23 pm
Awesome job!! Awesome win!
I am sure I will love the jersey almost as much as the new ride…
Awwww whomikidding…We are all jealous of the the winner tempered with the TOTAL satisfaction of knowing this was all for good.
Comment by Chilly Willy | 08.1.2013 | 1:31 pm
My first reaction was: Sad me, didn’t win again.
But then I mentally smacked myself upside the head and readjusted my brain.
I won! First, I get an awesome new jersey. And second, I get to be part of an awesome group who helped out an awesome charity. So high fives all around. Except for James R. James gets my glare of jealousy.
Comment by Christina | 08.1.2013 | 2:02 pm
Can I at least drown my sorrows in a package of energy bars and drink from The Feed?
Thanks for introducing me to such a great organization to begin with. When I did my add-on fundraising in May for 100 MoN it was buoyed by the great staff they have there at WBR. I never would have known about them without Grand Slam.
Thanks also for the Plus3Network thing a year or so ago. My kudos go to WBR as well and I have to say it’s truly an accomplishment to try to get to the top of the leaderboard in the Team Fatty clubhouse. There’s a bunch of beasts in that sucker.
Thanks, Elden, for being the captain of the best team I’ve never met.
Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 08.1.2013 | 2:06 pm
@Christina
LiveSTRONG Davis 2014 come meet the team, maybe even NYCCarlos, and have some PIE!
Comment by cyclingjimbo | 08.1.2013 | 2:07 pm
I figured when I made my donation that it would be money going to a good cause; I rarely win anything in contests like this, and I didn’t really expect to win this time either.
Imagine my surprise when I opened my email a little while ago and read Fatty’ message notifying me that I am the lucky guy. For the record, I am James only for the government and credit card folks – for everyone else I go by Jim – and now I am having trouble coping with the realization that I have this really great bike coming my way.
Fatty, I have internet access, but my email seems to be all bollixed up for the time being. I left a land line number in your voice mail.
What a great cause; what great causes Fatty supports. I am happy to be part of it all, win or lose, and even happier with Fatty’s recent email. Bottom line, though, is that when we work together to support these great causes, we are all winners.
Comment by Mukrider | 08.1.2013 | 2:45 pm
Dang, I was sure it was going to be me. I mean I’ve donated several times and what do I have to show for it? I mean other than the GoPro. And the big box of Honey Stinger stuff. Oh, and the Levi’s Gran Fondo kit which is on it’s way. I mean really, what does a guy have to do to win something aroung here ;)
Seriously, I love how successful the Team Fatty fundraisers and will gladly keep feeding the machine.
Congrats Jim! Enjoy!!
Comment by Wife#1 | 08.1.2013 | 3:25 pm
CONGRATS JIM! Woohoo!!!!
Please share what you end up ordering in all it’s sexy bike porn detail.
Once you are able to get up off the floor anyway. ;-)
Comment by rich | 08.1.2013 | 4:12 pm
Congrats Jim…As wife#1 said, please share when you’ve decided on the color scheme for the build…
Comment by Heidi | 08.1.2013 | 5:06 pm
Best wishes to Jim on his big win! So happy to be a part of the WBR fundraisers. Thanks, Fatty, for all you do.
Comment by AKChick55 | 08.1.2013 | 6:41 pm
YAY! Congratulations to Jim!!! Can’t wait to see photos! You must join
Team Fatty for Davis 2014 (I will be the only Team Fatty Member without a jersey cause I couldn’t afford one this year, but that’s okay I’ll be easy to find in team photos).
Congratulations to World Bicycle Relief! Such awesome news for them! I can’t wait to read about all the people who get bikes (guest blog by WBR!).
Thank you. Trek! Thank you Enve! Thank you SRAM (someday, I will have top of line SRAM for my cross!)! Thank you Feed Zone!!! Finally, thank you Fatty for once again finding an amazing cause (yes, I know this isn’t the first or last time we will support WBR and I can’t wait to see what you dream up next). Thank you for keeping up your blog even though you’re busy and giving us the opportunity to do GOOD! Thank you for being our fearless, sometimes silly and somewhat humble *wink* leader. I’m so honored to be considered a part of the Fatty family. I met my cycling “soulmate” through Fatty (Wife#1!!!) and a whole bunch of other cool people. Can’t eat for Davis next year!
My first thought upon seeing I didn’t win was, darn. Then, thank god because how would I pay taxes on that prize! Seriously! Whew! As others feel, I still win (and no taxes) because 1500 people will get bikes!!! Little ripples turn into big waves. :)
I’m going to celebrate by going and riding my favorite torture hill, Potter Hill. Allez my friends!
Comment by AKChick55 | 08.1.2013 | 6:42 pm
Wait, I will be wearing a Fatty jersey, just not the new one.
Comment by AKChick55 | 08.1.2013 | 6:46 pm
Well dang it. I need to proofread better – that should be wait not eat Davis. It’s really hard to proofread on your phone.
Comment by Jerry Pringle | 08.1.2013 | 9:12 pm
Congrats Jim! And thanks Fatty and everyone else who donated. Looking forward to seeing how the bike turns out! So proud to be a small part of it all!
Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 08.1.2013 | 9:26 pm
I can’t think of anyone who embodies the spirit and enthusiasm of Team Fatty better than AKChick. I hope one day she WINS BIG ’cause that will be the most outrageous Guest Post EVER!!!!!
So looking forward to seeing her next year in Davis. I think we should also let CyclingJimbo, and Katie Boling lead us out…at least 30 or 40 feet till the Fatty Train takes off at warp speed, though I’m confident that Jim will make his new ride proud, and be able to hold on for another 30 or 40 feet!
And about that new bike Jim. Consider ordering that thing in a 62cm frame size ’cause I have a WBR Stumpy ( aka, Tax Penalty) that would LOVE to become an ‘exchange student’ in Pennsylvannia, at least part of the year. Though they might protest about frame size, I believe the Chapek Brothers would also be willing to work an ‘exchange’ arrangement with you.
Set your Strava link up for us so we can see how our bike is doing.
Again Congratulations and we await your story….no pressure.
Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 08.1.2013 | 9:34 pm
Darn!
With this momentous WIN! I think we now need to call you Mr. Jim
I forgot to mention that I thought the Twin6 design team was already on the task of the Team Fatty PB & D (pies, brats, and doughnuts) graphic package for the new ride. Give it some thought Mr. Jim A little Black, some Orange, brats/pie…. It would truly be a bike to salivate over.
Comment by Nancy_in_MN | 08.2.2013 | 5:08 am
Does anyone wonder how many dream bikes Jim has designed on the Trek Project One design site since yesterday morning? @Wife#1 knows that when you design a bike there, you can put it in your virtual bike rack. Kinda fun!
And, since it’s Friday,
Thank You!
Thank You, Fatty,
Thank You Trek Bicycles,
Thank You to World Bicycle Relief
We’ve all had way too much fun
Dreaming of dream bikes
And thinking of lives
Changed by a
BICYCLE!
Thank you!
Comment by Chris | 08.2.2013 | 5:54 am
I bought bike 1203 of the 1500. Hope they like it
Comment by Christina | 08.2.2013 | 7:31 am
I think maybe, just maybe, 2014 will be the year I ride Davis, rather than just send money to Davis.
Shut up. Just shut up. You had me at pie. You had me at pie.
Comment by daddystyle | 08.2.2013 | 7:38 am
smiling
Comment by Mark | 08.2.2013 | 7:40 am
This is the 4th bike my wife and I have given (5 with the Trek match). One of our favorite donations and look forward to more in the future. Thanks Fatty.
Comment by Cyclingjimbo | 08.2.2013 | 8:06 am
Here’s some food for thought –
Our kids are grown and gone, and we all pretty much have everything we need. So, at Christmas time we make a donation to WBR or some other worthy cause instead of buying gifts (except for the grandkids). The donation goes in the family name and everyone gets a nice card from us telling them what we have done. It’s a win-win way to use our money, and everyone feels really good about it.
Comment by Nancy_in_MN | 08.2.2013 | 11:12 am
Oops! I failed to mention a few important players in my 5:08am comment (Pointing out the time in a self serving attempt at having an excuse for the omission.
Thank You Enve!
Thank You SRAM!
Thank You Feed Zone!
Adding these three to the list of amazing partners in this campaign further illustrates how remarkable the bicycle industry is on the whole. These companies truly stepped up!
Comment by M | 08.4.2013 | 2:26 pm
Not sure if you read your comments but I will give it a chance…this morning on a bike ride for our county parks called Tour de Peninsula in San Mateo CA, I overheard a rider talking to his buddies…he said, “I rode a hundred miles on this road one day a few months ago.” I thought to myself, that is silly- this road is not that long. Then he said, I road back and forth nine times for a ride called 100 Mile to No Where. So you have fans everywhere!
Happy Sunday!
Comment by M | 08.4.2013 | 2:27 pm
RODE- oops!