Hello all,
As many of you know, I have been training for the Seattle to Portland (STP) bike ride which will take place on the weekend of July 15-16, 2023, and is 206 miles long….wait! did I say 206 miles??…yes, 206 miles
While this goal seems very ambitious for a new biker like me, I have been training relentlessly since early March with Team Asha to achieve this goal. This involved rides of increasing complexity on every weekend while exploring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Rain, or shine we biked in varying temperatures. As a new biker, it was challenging for me to get accustomed with my new bike and ride for longer miles. I was often known as the “Over Enthusiastic” biker in spite of being one of the slowest bikers, falling several times with my new cleats, and losing my way several times.
Why Am I doing this?
Training for the long rides has not only improved my biking skills but also help ingrain some important core values. Waking up early and showing up on all bike rides, completing the rides no matter how challenging it was, biking with a team and looking out for each other; etc. All of this made me more disciplined, resilient, and determined in everything I do. With a completely packed schedule at work, thinking of going for long bike rides seemed like a never achievable goal. But constant support from my family (my husband and son were the biggest cheer leaders), friends, and colleagues has got me this far! And to top it all, I made long fasting friends along the way.
Bigger Goal
My bigger goal for the STP ride is to raise funds and awareness for the charitable organization ‘Asha for Education’. This organization began as an effort to provide basic education to underprivileged children throughout India. Asha is helping local communities combat the perils of illiteracy, poverty, and exploitation by providing them with tools and means of empowerment.
I am personally passionate about anything associated with children and education. And Asha for Education has consistently secured a 100% rating on Charity Navigator, a well-established database that evaluates non-profit organizations on the basis of transparency, accountability and financial parameters.
How can you help? You can help by contributing towards my modest fundraising goal amount for Asha for Education. Every dollar you donate will go a long way in making a huge positive impact on the lives of underprivileged children. No amount is big or small, it is the thought that matters. Further, certain employers such as Microsoft also match every dollar that we contribute.
Click here to learn more about the projects supported by the Asha Seattle chapter, all over India!
Thank you for your time and your donation!!
Note that Asha is a registered 501(c) organization, and all donations are tax-deductible.