attn: RIDERS- some changes

After long, hard thought we're making a few changes, and kind of "upping the ante" for the ride this year. Some of these decisions were just plain necessary due to how much we've grown, some, we hope, will pay off by making b2p a better ride.

There will be a registration fee of $35 for riders. (Compared to other rides, and especially considering the amazing support our volunteers give, I think you'll agree it is still a bargain.) This money will go directly to offset the costs of the packages you'll be getting in the mail, and other support we will need that costs money. This also continues to assure that 100% of your sponsorship dollars can continue to go to research.

The minimum donation for each rider is being raised to $250. We're trying to raise the bar here, and get riders to pull together to raise our totals. The average contribution for each rider last year was $700, so we're hoping this is not a strain... To help you meet this, using the registration fees, we are going to be able to produce some more, and better fundraising support.

We are going to ask riders to help us by logging their contributions. This year, with changes at the FND, it falls on us to send out thank-you notes to every sponsor. We need your help, and will be supplying an online form for logging each donation you get. This should be pretty simple and fast for you, and by no means will it be a requirement... but it will be a HUGE help to us.

All checks now must be made out to "B2P" or "Boston2Portland". We will be writing one lump-sum check to the FND after all the donations are in. This is just tax/non-profit details... but make sure you're telling your sponsors.

As we grow, we are starting to face some of the organization challenges that other rides face, and have to make some tough decisions... I hope you understand. Above all, my highest priority is to keep all the things that make b2p special, and unlike any other ride. We change every year, but somehow the ride always has the same special feeling... all of us pulling together to beat this disease.

For complete information, check the Rider Pages... there you will find all the updates and changes, as well as all the resources you need. (The rider pages will be updated by June 1)

Any riders who have already signed up: As an "early registration" bonus, we will, at your request, waive these new policies... but this will apply to any rider signups after June 1st.

Thanks!

Ted