Charity Donations for Xianti's Friend

[Xianti]

Are you feeling generous? I hope so. Here's a message from a good friend of mine, Al aka Fred Starr.

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HI Everyone,

I'm writing to you all to ask you for your support. I've recently decided to take part in the 2008 AIDS LifeCycle ride. It's a 7 day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles totaling 545 miles and it benefits the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic which provides free and low-cost care services to those who otherwise could not afford treatment. Over the last year I've been really thinking about changing careers, although I've enjoyed my time as a graphic designer over the last 7 plus years, I feel as though I'm being called in a different direction. I'm definitely looking to do something positive, something that can make a difference. I've been thinking about jumping into the non-profit arena, I think there are different things that I may be able to do in this field where I can utilize my talents. Now obviously changing careers doesn't just happen over night, so I thought maybe I can start off small perhaps by volunteering for an organization. Then I found out about this ride through my girlfriend. Theresa and her sister Annie signed up for it a few weeks back and really sparked my interest. My first reaction was "wow, that's a lot of miles!" "can I actually do this?" I've participated in rides in the past but never anything like this. As some of you know I had knee surgery in the summer of 2006 to repair a torn tendon, as you can imagine this was also in the forefront of my mind. Then it just kind of hit me, "this is what you've been looking for, something positive, something that will do some good for people that have much tougher obstacles that they have to deal with on a daily basis." Is it going to be challenging? Absolutely! I feel that this is the beginning of the change I've been looking for. I'm very fortunate, I have a wonderful family, a HUGE extended family in all of my great friends, and I'm healthy.

In order to participate in this ride I must raise at least $2500. If you would be willing to contribute to that goal, your support would be greatly appreciated. I have my own rider page at www.aidslifecycle.org/5801 where I will be writing blogs and posting pictures so that I can share my experience with you. You can also make a donation on my page with a credit card if you choose to. You can also complete the attached PDF and include a check (payable to AIDS/LifeCycle and including my name and number, 5801) or credit card information and send it to the address or fax number on the form. Of course these donations are tax deductible.

Please feel free to check out the website at www.aidslifecycle.org for more information.

Thank you all very much for your consideration. Here's to making a change, one mile at a time!

Al

[Xianti]

By the way, guys. He didn't ask me to post this here. The FTR community has pulled together for various charities before, so I thought we could do the same for my buddy on his first foray in his new philanthropic goals.

Thanks!

[DaNutsInYoEye]

Date of Donation: Dec. 09, 2007 5:11PM PST
Cyclist Name: Al Cota (#5801)
Amount: One-time donation of $50.00

[euphoricism]

Why dont you take some of the sexy profit you make off of FTR and get donating? Show us the way and stuff ;]

[bigred]

Why dont you take some of the sexy profit you make off of FTR and get donating? Show us the way and stuff ;]

I'm sure he is if he's posting this...

[Xianti]

Obviously, I've already donated. I'm not sure why the donation total isn't updating. Maybe he has to check in and confirm or something.

[Miffed22001]

Someone PM me the link so i can pick it up at work (for some odd reason i cant read post here from work but can read me PMs???? and ill donate

[Miffed22001]

Xianti, ship the guy $50 and gimme your Stars SN, i cant pay from the UK and i cut my mastercard up after my g/f blew 2k

[Xianti]

Xianti, ship the guy $50 and gimme your Stars SN, i cant pay from the UK and i cut my mastercard up after my g/f blew 2k

Confirmation Number : VPEA1E55005D
Date of Donation: Dec. 09, 2007 5:50PM PST
Cyclist Name: Al Cota (#5801)
Amount: One-time donation of $50.00
Donor Name: Mr. John Kwon

My Stars sn is The Xianti. Post a message of support for him if you'd like him to know it was on your behalf.

Thanks, Miffed.

[Miffed22001]

shipped

[biondino]

Happy to help.

[bigred]

Hello bigred07,


We have transferred $50.00 from your account to 'The Xianti' as per your request.

Good luck to you both.


Regards,

PokerStars Cashier

[TheFaucet]

I don't get it, why do I have to pay this guy to ride his bicycle

[Xianti]

Hello bigred07,
We have transferred $50.00 from your account to 'The Xianti' as per your request.

Confirmation Number : VPCA1E58BF2A
Date of Donation: Dec. 10, 2007 12:14PM PST
Cyclist Name: Al Cota (#5801)
Amount: One-time donation of $50.00
Donor Name: Mr. John Kwon


Thanks, bigred. You guys are awesome!

[fred starr]

Thanks to Xianti and those in the FTR Community for helping out with this great cause. It's a wonderful commodity when we can take a moment and help others however we can. The G&L Center and the Goodman clinic offer great service to the community and it is with honor, courage, and determination that I do my part by taking part in this 7 day bike ride to help out. I want to thank you all for offering such generous donations.

Here's to making a difference!
fred satrr

[gabe]

sent u some on stars xman

[Xianti]

hahaha... all you guys don't have credit or debit cards?

It's cool, though. Any way you can help out!

[Xianti]

sent u some on stars xman

Got it. Nice! Thanks.

Confirmation Number : VTGA1E2D2471
Date of Donation: Dec. 10, 2007 3:04PM PST
Cyclist Name: Al Cota (#5801)
Amount: One-time donation of $xxx.xx
Donor Name: Mr. John Kwon

I x'ed out the dollar amount, since you didn't mention it publicly.

[bode]

its $999.99 obv. gabe is ballin THAT hard.

[zook]

Date of Donation: Dec. 11, 2007 9:31PM PST
Cyclist Name: Al Cota (#5801)
Amount: One-time donation of $50.00

[Xianti]

You guys rock! Thank you... ALL of you! My friend is blown away by your generosity.

[fred starr]

HUGE thanks to all of you FTR folks that have donated to this great cause. It's so awesome to see the total on my rider page keep going up because of all the generous FTR people! I sincerely appreciate the support, it means a great deal to me, and ultimately we're all coming together to help others and that's what's most important. I'm going to try and help myself to some of Xianti's chip stack tonight at Casino Redondo to keep the fundraising going!!

Here's to making a difference, be it one mile, or one chip at a time!
Thank You FTR Community!!

fred starr

[fred starr]

Happy Holidays FTR folks! I hope everyone had a nice Christmas with loved ones and lots of food!
I had a nice break with family, kind of put training on hold for a bit since there was tons of food, wine and baked goods to tend to! But now it's back to training grind. I just wanted to say thank you for the continued support that FTR has shown in supporting this ride that I'm participating in. I've been very blessed this holiday season and hopefully we can continue forward in helping those that are less fortunate.
Once again, thanks to Xianti for starting this post, and big shouts and thanks to the FTR folks that have donated to the cause!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

[gabe]

sounds good fred

[Xianti]

Prospero ano nuevo, Padre!!

[bigred]

Good luck man

[mrhappy333]

can I ask how much FTR has raised?

[fred starr]

Just a quick update on the fundraising efforts. I'm almost at $1000, and to date FTR folks have donated about half my total. That's pretty damn cool!!
My minimum goal is $2500 so I still have a ways to go. I've been training pretty good the last couple of weeks, so I'm slowly chipping away at it.

Just wanted to send big thank you shouts to the FTR peeps that have donated to the cause!

Hopefully with a few more trips to Casino Redondo I can take more of Xianti's chip stack for the fundraising efforts of course!!

Happy '08 Everybody!!

[Xianti]

My friend here now has just over a couple of months to raise $2500 to ride in this charity event, and he's not quite halfway there. It's for a great cause and this is his first time doing such a thing. Please help him out by giving what you can. It's tax-deductible.

[will641]

okay ill send some money. can i send it to The Xianti on stars?

[Xianti]

okay ill send some money. can i send it to The Xianti on stars?

Sure.

This goes to anyone: If you don't want to use your own credit card or are too lazy to fill out the form on the site, I'd be happy to do it for you. Send me the amount on PokerStars and I'll donate that amount on your behalf. Al knows that the monies are coming from the FTR community. Be sure to post here that you're sending me money on Stars for this so I know what it's for. Please note, however, that you won't get the tax deduction receipt if you do it this way.

The Xianti on PokerStars is correct.

[will641]

okay just transferred it x-man.

[Xianti]

okay just transferred it x-man.

Awesome, will. Thanks!

Confirmation Number : VTHA2A91EEE6
Date of Donation: Mar. 25, 2008 7:55AM PST
Cyclist Name: Al Cota (#5801)
Amount: One-time donation of $xx.xx
Donor Name: Mr. John Kwon

[fred starr]

Good Peoples of FTR!!

Happy Hump Day! Just wanted to throw out a quick update.

First off I want to say thanks to Xianti and FTR for donating to the cause. Xianti has been gracious enough to start this thread and volunteering his admin services to make it easier for everyone to donate.

So the ride is getting closer, just about 2 months away. I've been talking with a lot of previous riders getting tips and advice. One rider said "It's not the riding that's hard, it's the getting up at 5 am and getting on your bike when it's cold as hell to get going." Ah the joy! I have thoughts running through my head, like, "wow, I'm a really going to be able to make this happen?" I keep coming back to the same answer.... Ultimately it's not about me, I'm the healthy, fortunate lucky one that can get out and do things when I please. There are a ton of people that are living with HIV or AIDS that aren't healthy, and are having problems, and can't get out to do things, and that's why I'm doing this, to do my small part to help the next man!

I'll be riding an average of 80 miles a day and it'll be tough, but hey my being out of breath, sore legs, sore body, will go away, people living with this horrible disease, their problems don't go away, they just get worse.

Here's to the next two months of preparation, here's to more donations, here's to making a difference in the lives of others!

Thank you FTR for your continued support!
Fred Starr