Please support Tom as he “battles” the elements and rough terrain in support of AFSN!

CHARITY RIDE HISTORY:

When I did my first ride in the fall of 2006, I made the statement that I was going to try to step up the challenge each year.  My first year was a bike ride across Michigan in a single day.  What was to be 145 miles turned into almost 195 miles due to a wrong turn!  Year 2 I traveled to the North Georgia Mountains for a 100 mile race that had 12,000 feet of total elevation gain.  In the fall of 2008 I biked 1/2 way around lake Michigan or 540 miles over 5 days.

MY 2010 RIDE:
This year I am moving off the road and into the beautiful woods of Michigan.  On June 19, I will “compete” in Michigan’s only 100 mile mountain bike race, the Lumberjack.  The Lumberjack is part of the National Ultra Endurance (“NUE”) mountain bike series.  The race is held in Manistee National Forest and consists of 1 mile of pavement to start the race and then 99 miles of single track rough Michigan terrain with more than 9,000 total feet of elevation gain.  Although I have twice done 180+ miles in a single day on my road bike, I have considerable reservations about my ability to finish this race.  The Lumberjack is limited to 300 riders who come from all over the U.S. to compete in the race.  Over the past 2 years, 59% of these riders finished the race and 41% did not finish.  Given the rough terrain, it is certainly possible to have a bike breakdown over the 100 miles but more likely to have a rider breakdown.  I will definitely have my work cut out for me, however, it is to raise funds for a great cause which is described below.

MY GOAL

My goal is to finish the entire 100 miles (likely 10-12 hours) and to raise $10,000 for Adoptive Family Support Network (“AFSN”).  To reach this goal, I welcome all sizes of personal and corporate pledges.

HOW TO MAKE A PLEDGE
As in the past, you are welcome to send a check made payable to Adoptive Family Support Network directly to me at the address below or for a more convenient way to pledge, please go to the AFSN website, http://afsn.org/ to support my charity bike ride.  AFSN will have info on its website sometime this week to allow pledges for my bike ride.

Thank you in advance for your generous support of AFSN.

Best Personal Regards,

Tom

Register Now

After Registering you will be forwarded to our payPal site where you can submit payment.  You can also send payment to us at:  AFSN, 233 E. Fulton Ste. 108, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

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AFSN’s 2010 West Michigan Premier of Heart Gallery was a night to remember.

Two AFSN families shared stories of how their families opened their hearts to waiting children and how the support AFSN provides helped them build and nurture their forever family.

Adoptive Family Support Network  (AFSN) is the gardener of adoption in our community.  We support, and nurture parents and children as they grow together into a strong, healthy family.  Proceeds from this event will ensure that when these children find their forever families, AFSN will be there to help them tend their garden.
The following family and businesses sponsored our event and we are forever grateful for their support:

Platinum Heart Sponsor
Kim Phillipi & Marvonne Burggraaf, The Vander Laan Family Foundation
Gold Heart Sponsors
Bethany Christian Services , Comerica Bank, Paul & Jodi Koning, John & Kathy Zuiderveen
Silver Heart Sponsors
Ron & Jan Apol, Bultsma Friends & Family, Herman Miller Foundation, Tim & Tammy Morris
Tim & Kris Newhouse
Bronze Heart Sponsors
All Around Town ~ personal concierge & business svc., Drew &Kathleen Brach
D.A. Blodgett & St. John’s—Home and Hope since 1887, Exhibit Designs Consultants
Jim & Stephene Diepstra, Grand River Grocery, Lakeshore Attachment Alliance
Sandi Frost Parrish, Mike &Michelle Van Dyke, Lewis &Norma Van Kuiken
Thank you also for the all the donations received from our many friends and supporters