| p>Starting this May, Dan will awaken at 6:30 a.m., grab | | | | for the next several months. If you want to get |
| his bike and throw on his helmet for a ride that | | | | involved, here are some non-profits with national |
| stretches beyond city limits. Amazing willpower is not | | | | sporting events you should check out: |
| the only thing that keeps this 44 year old man waking | | | | Team in Training: The Leukemia & Lymphoma |
| up in the wee hours of the morning to peddle on | | | | Society's Team In Training® is the world's largest |
| pavement regardless of heavy winds, damp weather | | | | endurance sports training program. The program |
| and even spring showers. It is the group of 200 people | | | | provides training to run or walk marathons and half |
| who are there waiting for him, each one of them out | | | | marathons or participate in triathlons and century |
| there for the very same and special reason. | | | | (100-mile) bike rides. |
| "I am riding for a cause," says Dan the fitness | | | | Relay For Life: Relay For Life is a fun-filled overnight |
| enthusiast who like millions of Americans has combined | | | | event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise |
| exercise with philanthropy and now run, bike or swim | | | | money for research and programs of your American |
| to do good for others. "It is more than just a great | | | | Cancer Society. During the event, teams of people |
| way to stay in shape. Knowing that there are people | | | | gather at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns |
| waiting with the same intentions as me, to raise money | | | | walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep at |
| and awareness for a cause when others are not so | | | | least one team member on the track at all times. |
| fortunate, is what keeps me going back week after | | | | Walk Now for Autism: Walk Now is Cure Autism |
| week." | | | | Now's grassroots fundraising and awareness initiative, |
| Training and fundraising with a group makes it easier to | | | | uniting thousands of parents, children and families in a |
| reach more than just your fitness goals. Many | | | | fun, friendly, empowering environment. The Walk is a |
| individuals, like Dan, do it just to be part of something | | | | 5K (just over 3 miles) with lots of water, food and fun |
| bigger than themselves. Along with that comes the | | | | along the route. |
| camaraderie and bonding shared with fellow | | | | Race for the Cure: The Komen Race for the Cure |
| do-gooders. "As a single person, it has been a great | | | | Series raises significant funds and awareness for the |
| way to feel connected, especially on weekends when | | | | fight against breast cancer, celebrates breast cancer |
| most of my friends are out spending "special time" | | | | survivorship and honors those who have lost their |
| with their partners or caring for their children," says | | | | battle with the disease. |
| Dan. | | | | Tour de Cure: American Diabetes Association's Tour |
| And now, with web based technologies such as | | | | de Cure: a series of fund-raising cycling events held in |
| ActiveTeamFundraising.com, teams can be created, | | | | 40 states nationwide. The Tour is a ride, not a race, |
| performance tracked and monies collected and | | | | with routes designed for everyone from the |
| monitored via the Internet. An added bonus is that | | | | occasional rider to the experienced cyclist. Whether |
| many of the programs offer assistance from coaches, | | | | participants ride 10 miles or 100 miles*, they will travel a |
| physical therapists and nutritionists along the way. | | | | route supported from start to finish with rest stops, |
| With the weather getting nicer and nicer each day, | | | | food to fuel the journey and fans to cheer them on! |
| charity for fitness events are happening everywhere | | | | |