The first batch of the Women & Bikes (TM) calendars have arrived and are ready to ship to those that pre-ordered and to sell at Gran Fondo this weekend in South Carolina.  I cannot thank all of those that participated enough!  This project was meant to be fun AND raise money for cancer research.  This was my second year participating in the Challenge to Conquer Cancer Ride to Austin and it makes me even more passionate about doing all I can to raise money to fight this disease with big boxing gloves on!!  This year we met so many people on the way to Austin that are currently battling cancer or just lost a loved one to it.  We listened to their stories and added the In Memory or In Honor of magnets to let them know we are doing our part in the fight.  The photography community just lost an amazing woman and mother to ovarian cancer.  Jen Burgess Thompson was very open about all she went through and managed to fight it beautifully.   Her fight only lasted one short year.  To many, it seemed like a lifetime.  Our thoughts are with her family and young boys.  Here is the link to the blog she created during that time.  Also, here is THE most beautiful tribute to Jen…she touched SO many!  HERE.

Shortly after the calendar preview was shared on Twitter, Sarah Plasky, the owner and creator of Aquavation contacted me and was interested in doing her part in raising money.  Sarah loved the calendars and wanted to put the photos on her water bottles and a portion of the sales would go to The Challenge to Conquer Cancer.  She also created a storefront just for the Challenge to Conquer Cancer logo and various designs around that.  Sarah’s husband will be riding in Gran Fondo this weekend and she will be here with big bags of bottles to sell!

There are so many ideas brewing in my head about where to take this and how it can help continue to raise money.  But in the meantime, I just wanted to thank EVERYONE!!

Thank you to Pedal Chic for providing some of the gorgeous bikes and clothing.

Thank you to Katie Cotton of Cotton Rouge Makeup & Hair for making each and every one of these girls look even more amazing.

Thank you to Todd Williams for bringing out the big lights, reflectors and fans!!

Nate Grahek of Sticky Albums for creating the most AH-mazing app for photographers so we can share photos via smart phones and iPads with ease and they look great.  Nate thought that Sticky Albums could be used as a fundraising tool and he was right.  So everyone that purchases a printed copy gets a full digital set of images as well!!  He also did a blog post about this very thing.  Thank you Nate!

And another thank you to Copy Craft printers!!  I have to extend a huge thank you for keeping the cost down to help us be able to provide even more money to The Challenge to Conquer Cancer and for getting them here fast AND making them look great too!

So come on out to Gran Fondo this weekend….we would love to see you!  If you would like to purchase your 18-month calendar you may do so HERE.  The donation is $25.

To purchase a Challenge to Conquer Cancer water bottle click HERE.

To purchase a Women & Bikes (TM) water bottle click HERE.  They can be designed with just the photo or with the art & photo.

They arrived —-

Have a great day everyone!!