CU Podcast #16: Talking Pelotonia with Tom Lennox
In this week’s ColumbusUnderground.com Podcast, we sit down with Tom Lennox, the executive director of the new Pelotonia Bike Tour event that benefits cancer research efforts at the OSU James Cancer Hospital. We discuss different ways for people to participate, where the tour route will take you, and how Lance Armstrong has gotten involved.
You can use the player below to listen to the podcast, click here to download an mp3, click here to subscribe via iTunes, or click here to subscribe to the rss feed.
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Related Tags: Audio • biking • cancer research • Events • fundraisers • interviews • lance armstrong • pelotonia • podcast • tom lennox
May 7th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I’ve heard the rumor that if you don’t raise the minimum $1,000 you have to pay the difference. Anyone know if this is true?
[update]
From the website -
“Each rider must pay a non-refundable $100 registration fee that does not count toward his or her fundraising minimum. If for any reason a rider is unable to reach his or her fundraising minimum, this credit card will be charged for the remaining portion of his or her fundraising commitment. All registered riders may begin fundraising immediately and will have until October 31st, 2009 to reach their goal”
Good thing contributions are tax deductible.
May 7th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Very interesting. I think this is a great effort, and there is no doubt that the James is a worthy outlet at OSU. I hope this first year goes really well.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Do we have any CU’ers who are participating in the ride? Tom was trying to talk me into it, but I’d need some pretty heavy training to get back into riding shape in time for it. ;)
May 7th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Well outta my price range, as much as I would love to be a part of something like this.
May 7th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
They are doing stages… 50/90/180 mile routes. Not that I can even do 10 miles.
May 12th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
When this was first in the news around March, I announced here that I had signed up to do the 180mi. Hard to find anything old here though even for Walker, huh?
Same thing as last year - I will throw another big food (lots!) and drink (lots - wine older than than you, etc) party for everyone who contributes a certain threshold amount. Last year I think I raised 3K for the Pan-Ohio Hope Ride with the majority from these donations. Details later when I get all the summer/fall plans lined up and work out a good mechanism for contributions.
A.
May 12th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Oh yes, I forgot that you mentioned that. A thousand apologies for offending a sensitive cyclist! :P
May 12th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Isn’t ’sensitive’ and ‘cyclist’ redundant?
A.
May 12th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
I’m sorry that I forgot that you said that you were participating.
May 12th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
If you don’t want to ride, make it up by volunteering.
Not snark - a genuine challenge for any to get involved in whatever way they can.
A.
May 14th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
MB: You *can* do 10 miles. Until a month ago, I had never been on a road bike, only my Huffy BMX from elementary school. Ha ha. It had been 15 years at least…
So I bought an entry-level bike and on a nice Saturday in late April, a friend and I rode from Worthington past campus on the Olentangy bike path and back again.
We logged nearly 20 miles round trip. It was EASY.
There’s also a 25-mile route now for Pelotonia.
May 30th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I would like to ride on Pelotonia and attempt to raise money for The James. I am unable to commit to a minimum $1,100 financial obligation, which is what Pelotonia requires. Pelotonia also requires that obligation be secured with a credit card.
I have incurable stage IV cancer. I have been told to put my affairs in order. One of the most important things to do when putting your affairs in order is to not commit to future financial obligations.
I requested a hardship waiver from Pelotonia so that I could ride in the event while attempting to raise money for The James. My request for a hardship waiver was emphatically denied. Pelotonia told me they cannot let just anyone ride, they cannot let riders sneak in the back door, and they only want persons who have the financial ability to personally guarantee minimum donations of $1,000. Since I am not able to personally guarantee donations of $1,000 plus an entry fee of $100, I will not be permitted to go on this ride.
This position seems harsh, elitist, exclusionary and inflexible. I have no idea how much money I could have raised. Perhaps $100,000 - perhaps $100. Since I am prohibited from riding because I am unable to personally guarantee a minimum of $1,100, we will never know.
I am very disappointed with Pelotonia’s position. It appears to me there is a ghastly lack of compassion, kindness, understanding and empathy on their part.
I wish nothing but the best of luck to all those riders with financial means and good health. I wish I could share the ride with you.
May 30th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
You might check out the “Virtual Rider” opportunity they have. Don’t know if it’s the same requirements.
I don’t know how common those types of obligations are amongst charity events like this. I can understand their desire to raise as much as they can. But if politics is any indication, sometimes those little amounts can be just as good. Imagine the money that could be raised if it was much more open. You might attract 50-100 cyclists that otherwise would be shut out. if they bring in even 200-300 from family and friends pledging you have an additional $20,000 easily.
I’ll see what’s shaping up for work over the summer and then check out the volunteer page. I have all my CPR and First Aid certs through work, which looks like it may be a plus for them.
May 31st, 2009 at 8:19 am
Virtual riders are not able to ride. I agree with you that sometimes those little amounts can be just as good, and pointed that out to the Director of Operations for Pelotonia. She informed me that Pelotonia was unwilling to open the ride up to riders unable to commit to a minimum $1,000 donation because they did not want ‘just anyone to ride’, and did not want to attract persons of lesser means. They only want persons who are fully committed to raising money. This person also informed me that their business model doesn’t work that way.
May 31st, 2009 at 8:22 am
I understand they can’t ride, just a suggestion if you still wanted to be a part of it.
Maybe try writing Lance?
May 31st, 2009 at 9:15 am
I would assume by them not wanting “just anyone to ride” they’re not trying to dodge people of lesser means (as you put it) but instead trying to not have a lot of people in it who are just wanting to ride in it for fun. The point is to raise money for cancer research, so I can understand them wanting to keep the focus on that.
If you listen to the podcast (linked up at the top) Tom Lennox (the ED of Pelotonia) specifically said that they don’t expect anyone to just cut a check for $1000 to ride, and instead recommend that people hold fundraisers with friends and family, bake sales, dinner parties, or whatever other creative ideas they could come up with to raise the funds. You wouldn’t have to pay a dime out of your own pocket if you can find 20 people to donate $50, or 50 peple to donate $20. That really doesn’t sound like an impossible goal for someone who is committed to ride and committed to raising funds for a good cause.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:22 am
No, it doesn’t sound impossible. But in all my years I have never experienced another charity doing something like this. Walk/Swim for Diabetes? Race for the Cure? The ALS/Lou Gherig’s walks?
I got the form filled out online last night to volunteer. Maybe next year I’ll see if I can put something together.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:53 am
The Pan-Mass Challenge is very similar event, with even higher fundraising minimum requirements: http://www.pmc.org/articles.asp?ArticleID=67
May 31st, 2009 at 11:57 am
To: lifeontwowheels - I tried writing to Lance. The Lance Armstrong Foundation screens everything. They were unwilling to assist.
To: walker - I listened to the podcast. Yes, they want to keep the focus on fund raising. No, they don’t expect everyone to just cut a check. But, they do expect riders to secure $1,100 with a credit card. Getting 20 people to donate $50 or 50 people to donate $20 is not the point. Persons like me are unable to make ANY financial commitments, however small. I cannot and am unable to guarantee anything. Right now I’m shopping for my own coffin. It seems to me a great deal of good will could be generated with a hardship waiver for persons in my condition. I told the fine folks at Pelotonia I was reasonably confident I could raise $1,000 but could NOT guarantee it. They offered to assist me in raising the money but would not waive the requirement that I GUARANTEE a minimum. The way the donations work - riders must guarantee a minimum of $1,100 - the entrance fee of $100 plus the $1,000 fund raising goal. Riders have until October 31st to raise the $1,000. If I go on the ride on August 28th and am deceased on September 30th without raising the full $1,000, presumably my estate is on the hook for my obligation. I suppose my widow would have to pay. The point is, I am in no position to GUARANTEE anything except my near death. It’s very disappointing.
May 31st, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I’m sorry to hear all of that. Let us know if you have any sort of alternative plan or ways that people can help you out with this.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Walker, thank you for your concern and understanding. At this point I don’t think there is anything else to do. You sound like a very caring and kind person. Warmest regards.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:09 pm
weatherstone,
PM me.
I am riding. I understand your predicament. I also understand where they are coming from. I think we might be able to come up with a solution. We might be able to pledge support for you into mine.
A.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Addendum : I have also sent communication to Lance.
At minimum, I will gladly cede my place to you to ride in my stead and the responsibility for the fund-raising will be mine. I think we can come up to something more though.
A.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Excellent! Keep us all posted with how this goes! Would love to help spread the word and help out. :D
May 31st, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Wow Andrew, how generous. I am touched reading that.