AMAZING Raffle Item for Sunday's ROCK the RIDE & RUN for #LIVESTRONG #DWTS

Dance With me Dance Studios is one of the nation's leading ballroom dance studios and home to Tony Dovolani, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Val Chmerkovskiy who are dance professionals from ABC's Dancing with the Stars. The studio was founded in 2004 by Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Sasha Chmerkovskiy and Jhanna Volynets. Dance With Me recently opened doors in Stamford, Conn. and is proud to provide LIVESTRONG and the Lance Armstrong Foundation with a rare private coaching session with Tony Dovolani at its elegant new studio at 20 Summer Street in Stamford.

Other raffle items include services by the Travelling Bike Shop, sessions with SpinCycle in Pound Ridge, NY, Pound Ridge Pilates in Pound Ridge, NY, an item from Antiques & Tools and more!

The raffle will be held on Sunday, April 29 at the 3rd Annual ROCK the RIDE & RUN benefiting LIVESTRONG after the last walker comes in. Winners must be present to win or make arrangements to pick up their prize from me within 3 business days of the event (by Wednesday, May 2, 2012).

Tickets are available for a $5 donation for one ticket, $10 for 3 tickets and $20 for 7 tickets. You can donate the day of the ROCK the RIDE & RUN or you can make your donation online at laf.convio.net/goto/RicaRocksAustin2012. Please include the tag #DWTS to indicate that your donation is to be entered into the raffle.

Registration for the 3rd Annual ROCK the RIDE & RUN benefiting LIVESTRONG is still open! Every registration includes one complimentary raffle ticket!

LIVESTRONG FONDUE-Raiser at the Melting Pot next week!

LIVESTRONG FONDUE-Raiser, March 14, 2012 Take action to fight cancer by joining Team LIVESTRONG and the Melting Pot for a special FONDUE-Raiser on 3/14/2012. During the event, you will have the opportunity to meet Fairfield county's LIVESTRONG leader, Rica Mendes. Rica is not only raising money and awareness for the not-for-profit organization, she is also a gifted cyclist who is currently undergoing chemotherapy to fight off breast cancer.                                                Dine with us and you will enjoy a special four-course fondue feast for just $44.95 per person. A portion of the proceeds from each meal purchased ($10.00) will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Reservations are recommended and be sure to wear yellow to show your support! http://www.opentable.com/the-melting-pot-of-reservations-darien?rid=61915&restref=61915  The Melting Pot 14 Grove Street, Darien, CT 06820  203.656.4774

Registration now open for the 2012 ROCK the RIDE & RUN

Not sure that I'll have as much hair this year,
but I'll try!

We're still getting approvals on the courses, but registration is NOW OPEN for the 3rd Annual ROCK the RIDE & RUN!

Choose to ride your bike, run or walk to kick cancer with me, the kids and the community!

REGISTER NOW: www.active.com/5k-race/pound-ridge-ny/3rd-annual-rock-the-ride-and-run-benefiting-livestrong-2012

I'm also seeking volunteers and businesses to sponsor expenses like the insurance, t-shirts, etc! If you're interested, please contact me at rmendes.livestrong@gmail.com.

Chemo Round 3 Day 18: Embracing My Inner Sloth

Ah, yes, post-surgery/chemo couch potatohood has struck, and my waistline, ability to move, etc, has paid the price. I'm on the verge of becoming one of those people who has to be surgically removed from their sofa as their flesh has interwoven with the upholstery. Help me! Help me!

As always, feel free to donate to my fundraising efforts benefiting LIVESTRONG: http://laf.convio.net/goto/RicaRocksAustin2012

Start 2012 off on the right foot!

If there was one lesson I learned last year while organizing events, it was how important sponsors have been with expenses, promotion, etc. I am incredibly grateful to all of our sponsors from last year, and we are now looking for our 2012 sponsors!

Of course, our 2011 supporters are invited to participate again this year, but some of our events are getting bigger, and that means we need more assistance!

In order to ensure that the bulk of the registration fees for these events go to LIVESTRONG, we are not only looking for sponsors who will make a large donation to our Lance Armstrong Foundation Challenge account, but businesses that might be willing to cover some of the expenses like insurance, t-shirts, etc.

If you are an individual, but know of a company that might be interested in this opportunity, please direct them to this blog. Or, you can sponsor us in honor of a loved one or anonymously - however you feel comfortable!

Sponsorship Opportunities are as follows:

Title Sponsor for the Season - $3,000 Cash Donation
(1 sponsorship available)

• Title sponsorship. The (INSERT NAME) ROCK the RIDE & RUN Benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation and The (INSERT NAME) ROCK the RIDGE Benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation
• Logo on all printed materials including: t-shirt, handbills, course maps, registration forms
• Extra Large Logo with link on web site and welcome message on home page
• Recognition in all e-communications from January  to October
• Headline recognition in media and advertising (press releases, fact sheets, etc). Must be secured by January 31, 2011
• Prominent event day signage including
• 2 mentions per month from January to October on Facebook fan page
• Promotional item in goody bag
• Free registration for all employee participants from your organization at all events
• Vendor booth at event
• Announcement recognition
• Race day start speaking opportunity

Seasonal Platinum Sponsor - $1,000 Cash Donation

• Presenting sponsorship opportunity at all events
• Large Logo on printed materials including: t-shirt, handbills, course maps
• Large Logo with link on web site
• Recognition in six e-communications from January to October
• Company feature in one newsletter
• 1 mention per month from January to Oct on Facebook fan page
• Company included in media and advertising (press releases, fact sheets, etc). Must be secured by  January 31, 2011
• Opportunity for event day signage at vendor booth and victory party tent
• Vendor booth at all events
• Promotional item in goody bag
• Free registration for employee participants

Event Gold Sponsor - $750 or Pay for the Cost of Event T-Shirts

• Large Logo on printed materials including: t-shirt,  handbills, course maps
• Large Logo with link on web site in the 3 months leading up to the event
• Recognition in three e-communications regarding the event in the 3 months leading up to the event
• Three mentions on Facebook fan page in the 3 months leading up to the event
• Vendor booth at event
• Opportunity for event day signage at vendor booth and registration tent
• Promotional item in goody bag
• 5 Free registrations for employee participants

Event Silver Sponsor - $500/Pay for $500 of Expenses (Insurance, Port-a-Potties, etc)

• Medium Logo on printed materials including: t-shirt
• Medium Logo with link on web site in the 3 months leading up to the event
• 2 mentions in e-communications regarding the event in the 3 months leading up to the event
• 2 mention on Facebook fan page in the 3 months leading up to the event
• Vendor booth at event
• Opportunity for event day signage at vendor booth
• Promotional item in goody bag
• 5 Free registrations for employee participants

Event Bronze Sponsor - $250 or $250 In-Kind Donation towards Raffle

• Small Logo on printed materials including: t-shirt
• Small Logo with link on web site in the 3 months leading up to the event
• Vendor booth at event
• Opportunity for event day signage at vendor booth
• Promotional item in goody bag
• 3 Free registrations for employee participants

Event $100 Cash or $100 In-Kind Donation towards Raffle

• Extra Small Logo on printed materials including: t-shirt
• Extra Small Logo with link on web site in the 3 months leading up to the event
• Promotional item in goody bag
• Vendor booth at event

Event $75 Charitable Contribution

• Business Name on t-shirt
• Promotional item in goody bag

To become a sponsor, please contact us and let us know which sponsorship package you are interested in.

Help Me Get 100 Donations Benefiting LIVESTRONG for the Holidays

Before you put away that checkbook (actual or virtual) for the holidays, give a gift that will help impact 28 million worldwide living with cancer, in memory of those whose time ran out before they could beat the disease, and in honor of those actively in the fight, like me.

Dedicate your donation to someone you know and love, and I will hang a bib in their honor and send you a picture of that bib hanging in Austin.

 Any donation is welcome - big or small. 

My goal? To have 100 donations by the end of Christmas Day - 1 for every mile I've pledged to ride in Austin, TX in 2012. I have no idea if I'll be able to do it, but that's my goal.

Remember, even though the fundraising is for my 2012 efforts, your donation will be tax deductible for 2011!

 http://laf.convio.net/site/TR?px=1006281&fr_id=1182&pg=personal

This fundraising drive ends December 26, 2011 at Midnight!