Lots of people have expressed interest or talked to me about the ride and challenge. Here are how three people have responded so far:

My brother chose to write a check to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Besides being where I work, they are an organization set up to serve people living with HIV or at risk of HIV in the metropolitan Chicago area. AFC employees like to condense the mission of our organization into an "elevator speach" based on our initials: Adovcacy, Fundraising, and Coordination. We glue together other HIV service organizations, and advocates in our area so that together we can make an even bigger impact, and hopefully eliminate HIV. http://www.aidschicago.org.

Nancy, a friend from church, received another interesting fundraising appeal from her Alma Matter, Northwestern. A group will be sleeping outside at their rock for 35 nights. They have a goal of raising the new Illinois Minimum Wage of $7.50 an hour for each hour they are out there. Their efforts will raise awareness and donations for Connections for the Homeless, an agency that works with a variety of communities in northeast Cook County through direct services and education to prevent and reduce homelessness among individuals and families. Nancy hopes to spend a night out with them. http://www.cfthinc.org/

Donnise, a coworker, has decided that every time she has a little extra money or gets paid she will set it aside. After a bit, she will add up what she collected and send it to an agency working with Domestic Violence.

On my journey, I went for a 64 mile ride last weekend, and hope to get another one in today since it looks sunny outside. I just wish it was a tad warmer!

Ready to take the challenge? There is a little comment link, just click it and tell me what you are going to do!