Just read that Lance Armstrong will be driving the pace car for this years Indianapolis 500.  The race takes place on May 28th.  Thought that was interesting and would share.  Its strange to think that he’ll probably be going the same speed in that pace car, as he has gone on his bike on some of the descents in the Tour de France.  I bet it feels somewhat better to be inside and on four wheels than on two wheels an inch wide on a bike.

It looks like the Hewlitt Packard Corporation is again teaming up with the Lance Armstrong Foundation.  Some of you may know about the Livestrong PC that has been out for the past couple years.   A portion of all sales of this PC go to the LAF.

This year HP and the LAF have announced the 25,000 Strong Campaign.  The goal is to collect 25,000 pictures that show each person living strong.  For each picture HP will donate $1 to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.  The goal is to raise $25,000 for the foundation.  So please take a moment and to upload a photo and support this effort: The 25,000 Strong Campaign.

Today I met with my CPA to go over my taxes and I asked him about a rumor I had heard while at the Ride For The Roses this past year. What I had heard was that the travel expenses to go and participate in the Ride for the Roses, and this year the Livestrong Challenge, could be claimed as a charitable donation on your taxes.

When I proposed this question to my CPA he asked the details of my ride and the foundation. He advised me that since i spent less in travel than I had raised by participating in the ride that I could claim the expenses of my trip as a charitable donation. His rationale was that if the IRS questioned my claim I could point out that had I not participated in the Ride for the Roses the Lance Armstrong Foundation would not have received the donations that were made in support of my ride for the foundation. My donation to the LAF was going and participating in the event just as my supporters donations were deductible that were given in support of my ride.

He advised that this deduction should not be an extravagant one and should be limited only to the travel, hotel, and rental car expenses. Food, beverages, etc. should be left out of the deduction. In his view though this would be a valid charitable deduction and I claimed it as such per his advice.

This is something to consider if you are travelling to participate in your Livestrong Challenge. Save your reciepts and see what your tax advisor says, but Im planning on claiming the deduction for 2006 per the advice I was given.

Last night I wrote my first item request for a silent auction I am attempting to put together. Some of you will recall that I mentioned in a previous blog entry that if there is a local sports franchise it’s quite possible that the organization will be willing to donate items for auction in support of your charity. When i was writing this letter, I found that there was not a lot of examples of this type of letter. Hence I decided to share my letter to the Carolina Hurricanes to raise money for my Livestrong Challenge ride.

Date here

Grae Desmond
Address and Phone Here

Dear Carolina Hurricanes Organization:

Each year the Lance Armstrong Foundation (www.livestrong.org) helps to support cancer patients, survivors, family members, and provides funding to various research initiatives in the fight against cancer. To raise both money and awareness for this foundation and all the valuable work it undertakes the LAF is holding five Livestrong Challenges this year in various cities around the nation.

In October of last year I, Grae Desmond, participated in the Ride For The Roses in Austin Texas. This was my first ever cycling event and I undertook the 100 mile ride duration. This was both the hardest and most rewarding challenge I have ever undertaken yet pales in comparison to the struggles those affected by cancer face daily.

This year I am endeavoring to give back as much as I have gained through my participation in the Lance Armstrong Foundation by raising as much funds as possible in support of my ride. This year I will again attempt to cycle 100 miles in Austin Texas in the Livestrong Challenge Series.

I am writing in the hopes that the Carolina Hurricanes could possibly donate some signed items from the team members that I may auction to raise money for this foundation and my ride in support of it. Any items, such as a captain’s signed puck or others, would be greatly appreciated and help so much in reaching my fund raising goals set for this year. Any items would be auctioned in a silent auction to be held at a future date. My hopes are to organize a night, such as for the Stanley Cup Playoffs or Tour De France coverage, at a local restaurant where those in attendance can bid on these items. One hundred percent of the proceeds from these items would go directly to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Thank you very much for taking my request into consideration and I look forward to your response. If there are any suggestions that you could provide for my fund raising efforts, they would be greatly appreciated as well and help me to reach the fund raising levels I hope to attain.

Thank You

Grae Desmond

P.S. More information about my ride can be found at my fund raising web page here:
http://www.livestrongchallenge.org/06TX/grae

Some more info on the Challenge has become available.  Those that are participating in the 10K run or the 5K Run/Walk portion of the Livestrong Challenge will be required to pay a registration fee of $50 and in addition must raise $50 in donations for their efforts. The fundraising requirements for riders will remain the same as before, which is $500.

Also for riders, runners, and walkers of the Livestrong Challenge Nike 10//2 training will be provided. This is a 10 week training series that will meet twice a week in each of the Livestrong Challenge city prior to the event.  The schedule is a play on the Lance Armstrong 10//2 campaign. This training program would be very cool and I’d suggest it if you live in the Challenge city’s. I unfortunately dont live near an event city so will miss out on this aspect of the Livestrong Challenge.