Day Fifteen: Feeding Time (Food Van Duty)

I maintain a love-hate relationship with van duty. On one hand it's nice to have a day off the bike and it's fun to go around and collect donations for the team. On the other hand sometimes you just want to be out there on the road with the team cycling the route. Plus, getting food donations can be very frustrating--it's a lot of pressure to have to find food for 27 people, people who will be very hungry and very mad if there isn't lunch.

So far it's been going well. All van riders have done a great job of securing meals for lunch (and dinner when necessary). Today was no different, though it was off to a shaky start. My co-pilot Molly and I received a lot of what we like to call the "corporate card." It goes something like this: You ask to speak to the manager, introduce yourself, your co-pilot, the organization and present the official letter head to then hear "I'm sorry, but we can't do anything at the store level, you'll have to apply through our corporate office." This is, in fact, usually a lie. Walmart, Target, Giant, Weis, McDonalds, Tacobell, Subway, Dominos, Papa Johns, Chipotle and so many other chains have already donated to us. Now it sometimes depends on the owner of a particular location, but in general, managers have some pull for small donations without having to go through a corporate office. This information, of course, makes it all the more frustrating to hear a manager attempt to pull the corporate card. Fortunately, we have learned to not be so easy for taking no as an answer. Sometimes all the manager requires is a little more persuasion.

I recognize that some people may not be so fond of the idea of a group of students scrounging around for free food, however this is essential to 4K for Cancer operations. Food donations from generous, kind-hearted people from across the nation allow for low overhead costs. Imagine for a moment that the 4K had to pay for all food and lodging along the route. The cost would be astronomical and no funds would be left for the cancer patients. By securing food and lodging for free, the 4K for Cancer can send the maximum amount of money raised to programs and operations that directly impact cancer patients.

In fact, as a whole we have raised nearly $500,000 (we are only $40,000 shy of this goal, which would make us the most successful cross-country cycling fundraiser in existence). This is an exciting time for all connected to the 4K mission--we have a chance to make history and have  a greater impact on lives across America. I think that's something worth donating and cycling for.

To those who have donated--whether you have donated time, money, food, shelter or even showers, THANK YOU. The 4K for Cancer could not exist effectively without your loyalty and support. It is astounding to see the good of the world united on one front, fighting for a cause deemed worthwhile. Every day of this trip I am reminded of how remarkable people are, and how generosity and kindness are not dead in the world. Days on the 4K teach me to hold on to hope because the human potential is truly infinite.

"Hope springs eternal" -Alexander Pope

The view as the team entered Toledo, OH--our YMCA home for the night.

James

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Today's ultimately successful efforts were dedicated to Luis DeSousa Pereira, the father of a donor. I will hopefully be posting more about Luis and his life in the near future.