Big September Charity Ride

[WhiteSundays]

I want to get the longboarding community together in Kingston to show everyone what we can do. I've been pulling over other longboarders around town for a month or two now, and everyone I've asked so far digs the idea.

Over the summer I'm going to organise a charity ride for September. I want to raise money, but mostly awareness for the White Ribbon campaign (http://www.whiteribbon.ca/). I think it'd be fantastic to get everyone together and ride through and out of town in one big posse. I work for Marketing & Communications at Queen's U, and I ought to be able to talk the uni into some form of 'sponsoring' us, even if it's just using their name to get in the  papers and on TV or radio.. whatever attention we can raise.

At the moment, the route I'm considering is Kingston to Gananoque, but I haven't skated it, and it's been a dogs age since I drove it, so I'm totally open to using another route.

Who's in ?

[sythe64]

Im in, let me know if theres anything i can do/help with

[6mt15]

Sounds fun!!!

[seagreen]

sure. i'm down. i might still purple, depending on dates.

[WhiteSundays]

I contacted the White Ribbon Campaign, and the fellow was pretty excited to hear about the idea. Turns out the guy I talked to is actually from Kingston ! They gave me some forms to sign, which I'll be returning and we'll go from there.

Every longboarder and skateboarder I've chased down and pulled over (9 or 10 guys) in the past few weeks has been totally down with the idea, so there's a lot of interest in the community as well as on these boards.

Apparently the skate from Kingston to Gananoque only takes 3 hours tops. I reckon if call a drink break / picnic halfway we could call it a 4 hour chunk of time ? What days of the week would work for people... I'm a working stiff, so I'm favouring a Saturday so I've got Sunday to recover..

This will happen. Tell your friends. 

[sythe64]

Im feeling a Saturday as well, i to work monday - friday

keep this thread updated!!

Looking forward to it

Cheers

[Chicken]

You guys should come to the Board Meeting. 300+ riders, 8th year.

[seagreen]

I'm a working stiff, so I'm favouring a Saturday so I've got Sunday to recover.

saturday for me, as well. weekends are for playing skateboards!

Tell your friends. 

i shall do so. i can get about 4 more interested, i think.

[Fresh_Boards_and_Apparel]

Hello everyone!

First off, we just want to say that this a great idea for charity and that we sincerely hope that the ride is a success. Here's hoping for good weather! Those of us at Fresh Boards and Apparel extend our support as we would love to be involved.

If anyone involved would like to discuss plans for the charity ride, or if you just want to reach us, you can check out our Facebook group or email us at fresh(dot)longboards@gmail(dot)com

Fresh Boards and Apparel is a partnership between four Queen's University students and is based in Ajax, ON.

[WhiteSundays]

I hear the Board Meeting is usually the 2nd weekend in September. I ..er.. kind of fly to Australia after that weekend, so would anyone object to setting a Sept 8th date? That's the first Saturday in September... does anyone know if classes at Queen's will have started by then ? Because I reckon there are a whole lot more boarders who'll be back after the summer who'd want in.

I've now pulled over 25-30 people who have all reacted really positively. I'm going to get an events page up on the web some time this week. I can start a Facebook event too if everyone digs the 8th of Sept ?

Also, I think we could actually do a second event as a warm up. I ran into a dude on Tuesday and we were both sheepishly admitting to each other that we really should have helmets on.... I think we could do a "Helmet Clinic" somewhere like Canadian Tire or Sport Chek in mid August ? Call the store ahead of time and see if we can arrange a discount for a bulk buy if they get a guy to come in and give a good short talk on how to pick well. Then get everyone to go for a skate afterwards as a warm up. Anyone know when Sep's reopens ?

[HUBB]

I'm Definately in for this ride!!!!
I was working for Sepps this past winter. I just sent them an email to see if there's anything they can do to help out for a bulk helmet order. I'm in need of one myself. Keep ya posted. I'm stoked about this!!!!!!!! 

[sythe64]

hey dates galore....

the board meeting is September 13th (if people are going let me know im gonna tag along)
classes start September 14th
orientation week (frosh week) starts September 6th

I wonder if we could get this ride advertised as part of frosh week. Or like get a big group of people to ride around on move-in day (6th) with signs and hand out flyers to the wee froshies.

WhiteSundays did you ever get in contact with Queens and ask if they were willing to put their name on it, and help get it in the papers/on the news.

And have you talked to the cops about it? If we just do it and are on some major roads they might try and shut it down (which would blow)

I might also suggest getting something up on Silverfish and the Toronto Longboarders forums

If you need/want me to help organize let me know, im glad to do it

Cheers

[nockits]

Sounds great! 
I'll be back in Kingston by the beginning of Sept. Hopefully I won't have my supplemental exam on the day we ride.

[WhiteSundays]

Righto, so I say we call it Saturday September 5th. Any objections ? Last chance .... ?

A ride around Queen's is a fantastic idea, I think. I actually work for Marketing & Communications at Queen's, so we should have some resources here I can use. I did speak to my boss about it, but she started on about cost to the department and all that... so I don't think I quite made myself clear that all we really want is a 'Queen's blessing' and use of their media contacts. I'll have another word to her again soon.Luckily, her son just started longboarding, so she should have a softer heart now. hehe !

I'll be giving the cops a call later this week to seek permission/inform them about the ride/ask if they want to provide a follow car. If they've got a problem with it, we'll see if we can find a city councilor to endorse the event. Come to think of it... anyone know any city councilors ?

I'm hoping to work up some flyers this week and get a page on my blog, then we'll have an internet place to point people to and physical paper to hand to people and put up around town. Does anyone have any leads on a sandwich board ? I'd love to do a once a week skate in Market Square because the few times I've gone there to practice on that sexy flat pavement people keep stopping to watch (even though I'm pretty crap). It'd be great to be able to put a sign up for people to read about the event...

I also spoke to the fellow at the white ribbon campaign a while ago, but I need to give him a call and let him know how far along the event is now, because it was a whiiiiile ago I last spoke to him.

I'm effin STOKED !  

[nockits]

i'm so in! my supplemental is on the 9th.
im pumped! 
gettin' a cruiser to follow would be a great idea, and grab people's attention!