Happy Monday Velo Valero!

I could not resist just taking a quick minute to let you all know how honored I was to be your team captain this weekend! You are some of the most amazing people I know! Despite the 20 mph head wind and 100+ degree heat, you were all out there pedaling your hearts out and showing your Velo Valero pride. I have never been so proud!!! Thank you so much for your outstanding teamwork, camaraderie and caring for one another, and commitment to MS! I will never forget the vision of the sea of teal and white Valero jerseys and the sound of those 260+ whistles blowing at the starting line. What a rush!!! I loved it! Even though we were number 3 in the chute, I felt like we were clearly the #1 team out there.

Thanks million!

I have received so many nice e-mails today thanking me for the work that was done, and while I sincerely appreciate your kind words, I just wanted you to know that there are many other people who contributed to the success of the ride. I am going to attempt to name a few here, but I am sure I will unintentionally leave out. My apologies up front if I forget anyone!!!

My Board of Directors and the Valero Volunteers are at the top of the "thank you" List…..Peter Ray spent multiple hours creating and managing our website and all of the surveys and data collection processes that we used. Stan Lear managed our New Rider program all year long and coordinated all of the apparel distribution, John Tenison and David Balcer organized all of our training rides, routes and maps, Zora Bilicich was our chief creative officer, designing all of our signs, posters, jerseys and shorts, etc. She and the Valero graphics department helped with all of our promotional items throughout the year. Jamie Paniszczyn organized all of our bake sales and tirelessly set up and managed the massage therapy area out at the tent. Char Cushman took all of your survey responses and organized the massage therapy schedule as well as organized the schedule for the transportation from Corpus Christi to SA. Sue Ouimette tirelessly made our refreshing raspas as well as served food! Thanks so much! What a treat! Phoebe and Phil were are shuttle drivers as well as helpers on the food line and transport of supplies and many other things. Ron and Mark were are wonderful luggage truck volunteers! Thanks for making our loads a little lighter….Antonio Perez was a Valero Volunteer who coordinated the Bike Parking lot in Beeville. Thanks so much Antonio! To our tireless SAG support vehicle drivers Bill Weber and Kirk Hewitt…you are both lifesavers..thanks for combing the highway for hours and picking up our riders and taking them to a cool and safe place! Eddie Gamez from Three Rivers secured all of the tables and chairs for the tent. Thanks for making our tent a comfortable place to eat and visit. Chef Fausto and his crew (Chris, Luis, Larry, and Richard) were our awesome caterers! How do even begin to say thanks to them for getting up at 3 am to cook that marvelous barbeque, continue cooking in that incredible heat and then starting the process all over again at 3 am the next day as they prepared our yummy breakfast. There is a lot of work behind the cooking of a meal for 260 people! Thanks so much for keeping us well nourished! Last but not least, I need to say a huge thanks to Sammy Nieto who coordinated all of our volunteers efforts from ordering food, to organizing volunteers, to coordinating transportation trucks and shuttles, and a million other things. This event would absolutely not be what it is, with out Sammy and his volunteers. We are extremely blessed to have their support! Thank you so much for enduring the heat and working long hours to serve us! Your endless energy and willingness to do anything and everything to make our weekend enjoyable was so appreciated! Thank you for your gift of time!

Status of Fundraising Efforts

Last week I informed you that we were in second place for total fundraising dollars to date. Although the ride is now behind us, we have suffered the pain, I mean had the fun, we still have a few more weeks of fundraising left. My hope is that despite temporarily being in 2nd place, we will move back to first place, and regain our position as Top Fundraising team for the MS 150. I glanced at our team roster this morning as we still have around 50 riders that have $0 next to their names. I ask that all of you please mail your money in as soon as possible. You can either send it to the SA offices or Houston offices.

As Velo Valero team members you were afforded many special perks and all star treatment from ride start to finish. All we ask in return is that you please meet your commitment to the minimum fundraising amount. I would greatly appreciate everyone's help in working toward this goal of having 100% of our fundraising moneys turned in by the end of October.

Top Dog Fundraisers

For those of you who have already turned your monies in…THANK YOU!!! I appreciate your commitment to both the fun and the cause! A special note of recognition to our TOP TWENTY Fundraisers to date:

Get Well Wishes…..

Everyone has been asking me about the volunteer medic who was hit by the car near the second break point on Sunday. The good news is that he is expected to make a full recovery. The sad news is, he is likely going to be in the hospital for a while as he was hit pretty hard….He suffered multiple injuries including a concussion. If you wish to send him "get well" wishes, cards and letters can be sent to: Jimmy Gibbons, Spohn Memorial Hospital Room 422, 2606 Hospital Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78405.

One of our other team members, Greg Michaels, was hit from behind by a cyclist. Greg also made a trip to the hospital and unfortunately broke his collar bone and tail bone. I spoke with him last night and he is feeling a little sore, but the painkillers were helping him stay in his "happy place." If you want to send him any get well wished, I would be happy to forward them on to him. We certainly wish him a speedy and full recovery!!! Take good care Greg!

Lost and Found

We have several lost and found items that we collected over the weekend. If you lost anything please let me know. I have a pair of XL Valero shorts, a pair of sunglasses and a phone charger sitting in my office. There are several other items in our security area.

See you all next year!