Cyclin' For Life

12th Annual Cycle for Life to benefit the Tufts Medical Center Floating Children's Cancer Center

by Rob Zuraski, Director of Engineering and NPD

Woke up at 4am Sat. morning to heavy downpours on the South Shore of Boston , along with news on the web site that the 50 mile ride was cancelled and everyone would do the 25 mile for safety reasons. I was drenched to the bone just loading up the bike and getting in my truck. Luckily by the time I was driving through Boston to the North Shore where the ride was scheduled, the rain let up and held off for the whole event. It was great to see past Kryptonite crew members and all the other riders and volunteers inspired to raise funds for this event. Thanks also to all the volunteers and police that helped man the route and the donors that supported us.

The ride started out at Devereaux Beach in Marblehead and wound up a beautiful coastal route to Singing Beach and back. Even more inspiring than the scenic route were the people I met along the way...
One woman I met had a daughter who lost her battle with cancer several years ago. This woman was back riding to support the hospital. Another guy I met passing each other a few times along the way told me at the end of the ride that he was a cancer survivor and had a huge section removed from his abdomen. Can't forget to mention he was riding a mountain bike and I was on my road bike! Even had a couple of kids along the way collecting for another cause in front of a store cheering me on and informed me that I was in 10th place (even thought it wasn't really a race!)...

Most of the riders and volunteers that I met seemed to be directly affected by the work done by the Floating hospital (hospital workers, cancer survivors, friends and families of children touched by the wonderful program) and have inspired me to make this an annual event..
Our team: Fast Foodies raised $7,911. So far, the web site says $127,579 total was raised for the event, but they mentioned $150k tally at the end of the event - its still not to late to donate!
www.cycleforlife.com
www.floatinghospital.org
http://www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/

Special thanks to Peter and Ellen Zane, founding family members of Kryptonite who helped organize our team and the event.

Our Fast Foodies team consisted of previous/existing Kryptonite crew:
Peter Zane
Roby Holland
Rob Zuraski
Neil McDaid
Rosalie Garver
Eric Lightbody
Nadine Fallon
and a few other friends Peter recruited...

Talked To Masiguy

All morning I've wanted to ring the hospital in San Diego to talk with Tim Jackson, but had to contain myself until it was a reasonable time out there (we're three hours ahead). You don't get much sleep in a hospital, but you are there to rest and recover, right?

I waited (impatiently) until 8:45a their time and was lucky enough to talk with Tim! I'm sure it had no affect on him or his pain level, but I feel better. That sounds strange, I know, but we're truly good friends and it's been hard not being able to be there to see him, you know?

Anyway, the good news is that he's as coherent as Tim usually is (ha!). And, that's with the morphine goin', too. So, I'd say he's doing pretty darn well. His spirits are up and he's got a wonderful "nurse" with him. He's doing ok, all things considered.

You've heard it all before through Blue Squirrel and KK's wonderful updates, but he did say that he cracked his skull and thank goodness for helmets. He mentioned being thankful that racing requires helmets - that he'd have worn one anyway, but he is thankful they are mandatory for everyone. Take his lesson to heart and do not ride without a helmet!!!

He'll talk with the doctor today about his fractured knee. He expects to be in the hospital for at least another day or two - they mentioned wanting him to be stable before sending him home. Umm...yea...that would be a good idea!

I did mention all the blog/podcast/Facebook love that has been flying about...he feels it and appreciates it more than you'll know. Ok, you'll know because as soon as he gets his wits about him, gets home and can get on a computer you know he's going to blog this...and blog it...and blog it....it will be a long recovery for him and he'll need to keep busy. If I was a betting person, I'd say videos and podcasts, too. And won't that be wonderful?

Keep sending those good vibes. He can use them.

UPDATE: KK tells me, via Facebook, that Tim has learned his knee is fractured in 2 places and he'll need to stay off it for 12 weeks! Not sure how that works with the thumb....yikes!
His best friend has started both a fund for Tim via Paypal and a gift card campaign. We all love Masiguy...and right now he needs our help. If he's touched you through his blogging, arm flailing at a presentation (Interbike, at a shop), or at a race or event please donate. Every bit will help in his lengthy recovery. Gift cards to Trader Joe's, or pre-paid visas, or to the place that Tim loves (and is close to his house) Starbucks.
A special thanks to Tim's "marketing posse" of bloggers for jumping in with well wishes and getting the word out, too! Check a few of them out:
CK's Blog
Marketing Profs/Twitter
Drew McLellan

Update - Tim Jackson/Masiguy

Thanks to our friend KK, we have an official Tim Jackson sighting....I'm going to tell you...before you click...it ain't pretty. But, he's talking on the phone and, according to KK's report, he's eating (always a good sign)...

Here's a bit of KK's report....

He hit the boards at about 30 mph trying to avoid another rider. He was on a brand new bike, 24 laps into a 25 lap race... He sustained a concussion, a broken rib and nearly severed his right thumb clean off. At the moment he has a blood clot behind his left eye and three cracked vertebrae in his neck - hence the neck brace - which they say he'll have to live with for the next six weeks. We are waiting for the results of a cat scan to determine the condition of his right knee...

Tim, my good friend, you are in our thoughts and prayers....get well soon.

UPDATE: Blue Squirrel/Masibestfriend has pretty constant updates on his site. Here's a segment of his post from last night after leaving the hospital:
i saw a picture of his catlike helmet, and it was like a open calm shell, with the hinge at the front and back gone. the news about his right knee is not looking so good as of this evening, we are still waiting on the direct news from the doctor, but he had a CT scan and it showed that it was fractured, but that is all we know right now, other than it is completely swollen. they keep finding new road rash. one rib is fractured and one lung bruised, but not deflated and he is breathing fine. the right thumb is the real question mark along with the right kneecap. the surgery on the thumb to reattach it was a success, but it will take a few days to really find out. the thumb was not completely severed because of the accident, but it was not fully attached. the surgeon said that every looks towards a full recovery. in fact he is in good spirits and really appears to be on the road to recovery and should be out of the hospital by friday. as far as i can tell is that he should be fine. tim sends his regards to everyone and to thank everyone for their kind remarks and wishes.

KK tells me that Tim says he's still got a lot of bike riding in him so that tells me his spirits are good....or maybe it's the Morphine talking...hmmm...time will tell, but one thing is for sure...as soon as he is able, Tim will take us all along with him on his recovery...and, I'm sure, he'll document the first time he gets back on a bike.