Please donate to this cause!

Many of you who read my blog know my friend Amy Froebel. Her sister's name is Betsy Udal and she's doing an amazing bike ride soon to benefit The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp (founded by Paul Newman in 1988.) I don't have much money to give at this point, but even I gave a little... so there's no excuse for the rest of you :) This is the best thing I can think of to spend my money on.

You can read Betsy's email below (which brought tears to my eyes) and then you can decide for yourselves. No pressure :)

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Hello All-
This is obviously a mass email to most everyone in my email address book, so if I have already talked to you about the bike ride I am doing, please disregard this email.

Over Memorial Day weekend, I am going to ride my bike 135 miles to raise money for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp's Hospital Outreach program. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is a camp in Ashford, CT that was started by Paul Newman in 1988 and serves children with serious illnesses. Their Hospital Outreach Program brings camp to the hospital for the kids that are too sick to leave and attend the facility in Ashford.



I did this bike ride in 2007 with my mom and Matt. It is hard and long with a lot of ups and downs, but they set the ride up to be that way to mimic what a sick child feels. Saturday is the first day of the ride, and we will ride 85 hilly, CT miles. The ride ends on Saturday at the camp, where we get to spend the night. I remember in 2007 feeling exhauseted and sore the last 5 miles, as we had to pedal uphill to reach the resting spot. But when you reach camp, you feel completely different. You are greeted by friendly faces, and the mood there is positive and exciting. It is magical. It is exactly what a sick child experiences when they have a chance to attend this camp. They become just a child that is sick instead of a sick person that is a child. It is amazing.

Day 2 goes from Ashford to Mystic, CT. It is 50 miles, and while is it less hilly then day 1, your body aches and all you can think about it the finish line. But along the way at some of the rest stops you get to meet some kids with some very seriousl illnesses, and suddenly 50 miles doesn't seem so bad.

I am sending you this email because I have personally committed to raise $1,000 by May, 100% of which goes directly to the Hospital Outreach Program. So far I am at $250. I have a long way to go, but I often remind myself that most things in life are easier than being an ill child.

I know times are tough for a lot of people and that many of you already give to other charities and programs, so I understand if this is not one of them. But if you are able to give, please consider donating to my ride. No amount is too small; it is all appreciated greatly.

Please click on the link below to make a donation.

Regards,
Betsy Udal

http://www.teamholeinthewall.org/Page.aspx?pid=474&frsid=1796