| Author | Message | ||
     Prior |
Friday, March 12, 2004 - 07:22 pm, I posted this on Badweb to get a tickle, a feel, for where a crazy idea I had might go: The Ride Across America- 8000 Miles and 3 Weeks on a Buell  Well, it's not actually a tale yet, but one in the making. I recently had a very good friend, Matt, diagnosed with anaplastic astrocytoma,a pretty serious form of cancer which developed in the left lobe of his brain. The tumor was surgically removed, and he has started radiation and chemo therapy. The prognosis and survivability of this particular type of cancer is not very good, 20% at 5 years. After getting advice from a lot of guys on this site (http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/4062/45543.html?1078407160), I've put together what I consider an epic journey, from southern California to St. John's Newfoundland to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The overall mileage for the trip is around 8000 miles once the trip is completed. The American Cancer Society is very enthusiastic about the trip, and is going to be helping out with literature, publicity and some general coordination of the trip. My fraternity brothers will be helping with fund raising, as well as helping out with some of the logistics about the trip. Fund raising is going to be done through pledges based on mileage from CA to Newfoundland, which is 5000 miles, or on straight pledges. We will also be making T-shirts later in the spring with the above logo. It is my goal, through this trip, is to raise $5000 for the American Cancer Society in my friend's name. I believe this trip will be something that will change my life, both through the people I will meet along the way and the purpose of the trip. I hope to meet as many Buellers along the way as possible, and ride with them if possible. If any of you might be along the route and would have an extra couch to crash on, I'd appreciate that as well. The Ride Across North America raised a little over $5000 for the American Cancer Society, which is just awesome for a crazy idea and a trip that for many reasons, could have fallen completely apart- a trip that would not have happened with out the help of Badweb. Fast forward three years and Badweb and Sacborg have stepped up again, this time to help out Matt and his family. Kristi is still working on doing some tallying and we have a few auctions that are about to end and you guys and girls have made me proud. Last night Badweatherbikers contribution to Matt's Trust Fund was over $10,000, a number I never thought to be attainable, but I underestimated you all (sorry!). It goes to show how great of a community we have and just how much heart is within those connected through Buells, motorcycles and life. So we've decided to throttle back on this event and kick it back up when another worthy cause comes along. We've done great, and you should all be proud. Memorial day is a time for remembering, and that's what I'll be doing. I made a pact with Mitch not to divulge any specifics of what Matt's trust fund was aiming towards, it's none of our business and is something totally personal to Matt. I can say that the efforts of Badweb have made a very significant impact towards defraying Matt's medical costs he incurred over the past few years. My hope is that there is a big check on the way for the American Cancer Society too when all is said and done. We'll know that down the road. A million thanks to everyone who participated in this endeavor; whether it be sending in a donation, auctioning something, bidding, buying a patch, sending prayers and well wishes and just for being Badweb. Special thanks to those who have been doing a lot of behind the scenes work to make all of this possible and those who have gone above and beyond... you know who you are. And Blake, thank you for giving us all the opportunity to be here, get to know each other and share in life's triumphs and joys, but also the trials and sorrows in life. So the finale- I wish I had some cool thing to throw up for auction to raise a few more bucks, but I am just about plumb out of Buell stuff! So, I'll talk about life. I wrote the last chapter in my Ride Across North America journal two weeks ago, after returning from carrying my friend to his last resting place on earth. The trip was very special and closed a chapter in life that has forever changed me and affected countless others. That chapter will be reopened sometime later in another life. I was digging around and found I had posted a picture of the very first RANE patch on May 22, 2004, 3 years and one day later, I had the very first Matt Ware Ride With Me Patch. It's crazy how much life can change in 3 years. The last 3 years of my life have had some exciting events, and some sad ones- graduating from college, starting a challenging career but, most of all, going on a motorcycle trip for one of my best friends that would bring me to meet some of the best and coolest people I know and set my life on a different course and feeling the pain of losing my friend. Matt has taught me a lot about living life- work hard, play hard, keep your head up when things get tough and enjoy the ride. Even when facing the uncertain, be thankful for all you have and the love of your friends and family. Badweb has reaffirmed my belief in kindheartedness of people- reaching out to help others in need, taking a kid under wing to help out with planning a trip and sending, literally, hundreds of emails to the Wares praying for their sun, celebrating in Matt's triumphs of a clean MRI and being cancer free and sharing the pain of hospice and sorrow of his passing. It just floors me. You guys are a one in a million, and I am so glad to know you all and can't wait to meet as many of you as I can. I'm so glad you all got to share Matt's life in his short time on this earth, and I hope he's impacted you in some way. People are brought to this earth to serve a purpose. I think Matt's was to show people strength and courage. So, live each day to it's fullest, help those in need, dream your dreams and make them come true. Love life. I know I do. God Bless you all. Alex There’s a place of quiet stillness ‘tween the light and shadows reach Where the hurting and the hopeless seek everlasting peace Words of men and songs of angels whisper comfort bittersweet Mending grief and life eternal where joy and sorrow meet There is a place where hope remains In crowns of thorns and crimson stains And tears that fall on Jesus’ feet Where joy and sorrow meet There’s a place the lost surrender and the weary will retreat Full of grace and mercy tender in times of unbelief For the wounded there is healing, strength is given to the weak Broken hearts find love redeeming where joy and sorrow meet There’s a place of thirst and hunger where the roots of faith grow deep And there is rain and rolling thunder when the road is rough and steep There is hope in desperation there is victory in defeat At the cross of restoration where joy and sorrow meet | ||
| Ulywife |
Alex - Thank you for introducing Matt to all of us on BadWeB. Our thoughts and prayers are still with Mitch and Lori, Matt's brothers and friends. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Alex, thank you: for your words, for your friendship, for introducing all of us to Matt and his family - we are all richer as a result. i think for once i'm not gonna write a book. i'm emotionally exhausted, and i'm not sure what i could say about what we've all done here that i haven't said a dozen times before. so...thank you EVERYBODY involved in any way, shape or form with the fundraisers. you know who you are, you know what you've accomplished, and you know why you feel so good about it. THANK YOU! i appreciate Blake allowing us to use the power of BadWeB for this most worthy of causes, and i appreciate Vik and Chop allowing me to do the same over on SacBORG. Matt Ware, you're a hero. ride in peace. FB&D | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
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| Oldog |
Thank You Alex.. | ||
| Blake |
Thank YOU Alex for all your effort and time in sharing with us all Matt's powerful and inspirational story. Friends like you are so much more rare than you probably imagine. God bless.  | ||
| Firemanjim |
I am continually impressed with the character the folks on these boards display. I threw out a challenge and never expected the amazing amount of responses. The folks that stepped up and spearheaded all of this did an amazing job. Jerry, thanks for being the spokeperson that catalyzed the whole shebang. Ulywife,what an amazing job keeping all of this stuff straight. Truly impressive.I could name names forever and still manage to forget someone so-- A huge thanks to everyone for the awesome job!! | ||
| Diablobrian |
Badweb is like that, people come here for info on their bike, and then discover that the other people riding them are, for the most part, more like a family than any other motorcycle club I've had the pleasure of (being allowed to continue to)associating with.  Buell riders are what I like to call "folks" that's a little better than friends, because you can count on "folks" when the chips are (way)down, and the term "fair weather friend" exists for a reason (trust me)  . It's also very close to being family, except you get to choose "folks", family you're stuck with (good or bad) and you can't change the genetics, but you can change which "folks" you choose to associate with. There are folks on here that I would trust with everything and anything. But that's my take on things. YMMV} |
