Register for Pacific Coast 2008! | Sponsor a Big Rider 2008! | Rider's Login 2008

15 days
960 miles
Seattle to San Francisco
September 13 - 27, 2008

What more can you say, than it's everything a bike ride should be. Beautiful, challenging and in the end wonderfully rewarding. Everyday is different. Everyday is special in some way. Beautiful coastal headlands of the Oregon Coast, remote small towns in Northern California, majestic redwoods, rugged, rocky coastlines and two great cycling towns at either end - Seattle and San Francisco: it's all here. Add to that, The Cause: raising funds for research, education and advocacy to fight lung disease and clean the air we breathe and you have the adventure of a lifetime.

Challenge

There is enough challenge to make it interesting. But it is very doable for a relatively experienced cyclist. Training through the summer will make it even more fun. An average day is 75 miles. The longest day is 88 miles. But there is plenty of daylight and no hurry. The entire route is a designated and signed bike route and is ridden by hundreds of cyclists each year.

The Cause

The funds raised by participants of the Big Ride Pacific Coast go to help people everywhere breathe easier. They fund research to find new ways of preventing and curing lung diseases such as lung cancer, emphysema, asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. They fund educational programs that teach children how to manage their asthma and live full, productive lives and give children the information they need to make healthy choices about smoking. They fund advocacy efforts to clean the air we all breathe.

The Rewards

It is hard to top the Pacific Coastline for natural beauty: Magnificent rocky seashore, pristine beaches, coastal mountain ranges, towering redwoods, historic towns and the Golden Gate Bridge. Not to mention incredible wildlife. Where else can you see whales right from the seat of your bike?

Find the Pacific Coast on your own terms and renew yourself. Help others breathe easier. For all the right reasons.

The Ride

The American Lung Association® of Washington's Big Ride Pacific Coast is produced and staffed by former Big Riders who have the touring experience and route knowledge to make your ride truly special. Each day, for 15 days, we will take care of your basic needs as you will become part of the Big Ride family. You'll team up to help cook breakfast and have a blast doing it!

• 2 meals a day on riding days
• Daily rest stops with support and refreshments
• Complete daily maps
• Hot showers, washing facilities
• Transportation for your gear
• Emergency mechanical support
• A caring and professional staff

You bring your own tent, air mattress and sleeping bag, bike gear and clothing. We'll take care of the rest.

Once you register

As soon as we receive your registration, we will send you a Rider package and other materials to help you get started. We are here to answer your questions and help you get ready for this extraordinary adventure. You will be assigned an experienced volunteer Big Ride Buddy who can act as a mentor, advisor and liaison to the Big Ride. You will receive periodic newsletters with updates and advice, including articles by past Big Riders. We want the opportunity to get to know you and build the support, camaraderie and compassion of the Big Ride community.

Fundraising support

Raising $2,500 is an ambitious project and may seem overwhelming at first. Remember, the money you raise will benefit the American Lung Association® of Washington. We will give you the same expert advice and assistance that we've provided to hundreds of participants involved in our cycling events every year. To assist you in your fundraising efforts, you will receive:

• Rider Support Form that encourages your donors to make large gifts of $100 to $1,000 and more.
• On-line access to many successful fund raising strategies including samples letters and proven ideas that work
• Your own personal web page where donors can make online contributions to your fundraising.

To register for the Big Ride

Register online or contact us at the Lung Association (800-732-9339) for a paper registration form. Complete and mail the enclosed registration form along with your $150 registration fee. You can also phone or fax in your registration with credit card payment. Your Rider package will be mailed to you as soon as we receive your registration. You have now begun the adventure!

American Lung Association of Washington

All proceeds from the event will go directly to the American Lung Association® of Washington. Growing faster than almost any other major illness, lung disease, including asthma, emphysema and lung cancer, is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Breathing problems are the number one cause of death in infants. In addition, lung cancer has become the number one cancer killer in America, both in men and women.

The American Lung Association® of Washington fights lung disease through education, community service, advocacy and research. Founded in 1904, it is the oldest voluntary health agency in the United States. The American Lung Association® of Washington works to help those who suffer from lung disease today, and to stop the spread of lung disease tomorrow.

Important: Our ambitious goal is to raise over $100,000 to help people with lung disease breathe easier. At least 50% of the contributions go directly to American Lung Association® of Washington programs - a very high level of return for this type of event. As Riders strive to make the goal a reality, we will make every effort to minimize administrative and fundraising costs. Help us make that happen by registering today.

When you can't breathe, nothing else matters.

Big Decisions Take Courage

If you choose to register, do it right away. As Goethe said, "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."

Make "some day" today!

Ride Big. Do good.