Hey there... Sorry so late in checking back with you from the run... Many people have asked if I have uploaded any pictures to the blog... Here are a few... I will add a few more in a day or so! I would like to find others from the run that have pictures too... as I am sure when you give a camera to 2 different people, you will get totally different views and shots from each camera!
We had a wonderful turn out that day and the rain backed off! I was so happy to see so many people come out to support our cause!
There are so many people that have breast cancer and don't talk about it... I am not sure if they are embarrassed about it, or not sure of what people will think of them... If they would only open up... there is so many people that I have met in just this last month that are survivors and supporters! Ones that I had no clue that they had breast cancer, but are 5-6 year survivors! I can only take my hat off to them, as they are true heroes in my eyes... it takes a very brave person to fight off the horrible cancer... these women (and some men) have the fight of & for their life! The ones that have opened up about it, each has given me some info on what has gone on in their fight! I am more than glad to listen to their stories... gives other inspiration for their fights ahead of them!
Thanks again for all the support that you give to the Breast Cancer event!
Take Care & God Bless you all~ Keep on Riding....
~~Angel Ride Girl~~


FIGHTING FOR A CURE!

SIGN UP!


THE SIGN AT SIGNUP! THANKS TO ALL THAT OPENED THEIR BUSINESS' FOR OUR CAUSE!

WE SAW ALL TYPES OF THINGS ON THE RUN! : )

BIKERS OF ALL KINDS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

ONLY PART OF THE CROWD!


FROZEN T-SHIRT CONTEST!

Day after the ride...

Wow!
Wow is all I can say about yesterday! The day started out with a few clouds, but at sign up for the Angel Ride, here came the rain! Not a little one, but much rain! We were so bummed that people wouldn't come... at 1st we had a couple bikers come to wish us well... they were on their way to another event in a different town... It was fun chatting with them tho! Always fun to meet new people!
Then all the sudden here come the people, a few at 1st then a whole bunch! WOW! 211 people total came to the ride! Even tho it was raining, they came! Bless their wet hearts! I told a few, "Breast Cancer doesn't take a day off for the rain" and they agreed! Then there were a few guys saying "Your going get wet....heehee" I looked at them and said see all these women in t-shirts... need I say more! They stopped teasing me & agreed that it wasn't all that bad! :)
I don't have my pictures uploaded yet. But I wanted to thank all of those people that came out in the rain to make this event an awesome one! ~ Oh the rain broke for the most part before noon... so it wasn't too bad on the road!
If it wasn't for them coming out in the rain to ride, We wouldn't have such a great event! I will let you all know later how much we made for the TRH Oncology!
This next Sat there is going to be a golf outing to make money for the Susan G Breast Cancer fund! My hubby & I will help them out for awhile, as they came out to help us! It is good to help others, as there maybe a time that you want someone to help you out...kinda like paying it forward!
I would also like to thanks all the ones that helped us out when things were getting hectic with the auction & selling shirts! People jumped in to help us... we were not expecting that! There were so many wonderful people there! Thanks! ^j^
Take Care~ And safe travels~ Angel Ride Girl

11 hours until the ride!

The minutes are ticking away until the ride! Wow less than 9 hours to go! Hope you have all your bikes cleaned & gassed up ready to go!
I just got a call tonight that there is going to be a band after the ride! Wow this is something extra to top the event off!
Come to the ride & if you are busy, stop down to Amigos after the ride to check out the auctions, the music & to meet up with your friends! Remember this is a great cause to help out with!
Take Care & hope to see you all tomorrow morning! ~ Angel Ride Girl

2009 Messenger article

Shirley Hanna displays a page from the calender produced as a fundraiser for the Angel Ride “To Save the Ta Tas” event on August 15.


Support of a good cause takes many roads.

This year, the third annual Angel Ride to Save the Ta Tas, scheduled Saturday, will take the roads less traveled, going as far as Carroll and Auburn before returning to Fort Dodge and a night filled with activities.

For the first time, the Angel Ride also includes a "local boy" calendar for sale along with T-shirts, bandannas and a wide range of items to be offered at auction after the fun run.

This is a motorcycle run, said organizer Shirley Hanna, but, "we'd like to see some classic cars come in, too."

All money raised will be donated to the Trinity Regional Medical Center oncology services to buy wigs and scarves for women fighting cancer and to pay for transportation to treatments.

"We need all the help that we can get to raise money for this cause," Hanna said. "Also to raise awareness in the fight."

More than $3,000 was raised during the first Angel Ride two years ago, and last year brought in more than $5,500. Hanna hopes for another large jump in donations.

The calendar idea came about, she said, "as a good way to bring in some of our greatest supporters, the men in our lives."

Twelve local men and a few boys "stepped up to the plate to help us out," she said.

Steve Jackowell is Mr. January; Jamie O'Brien, February; Buck Yoder, March; Dean Underberg, April; Ryan Reekers, May; Bill Barkley, June; Sgt. Ryne Barker with Kannon Graham, July; Loren Zuspann, August; Doug Smith, September; Duran Barlow, October; Brian Pflibsen, November; and Scott and Sam Mericle, December.

The calendar is the kind of thing Hanna hopes will draw attention to the project and money to the coffers. She said she hopes those who buy the calendars enjoy them as much as the committee did putting them together.

This Angel Ride coincides with the annual Dragonboat festival, which seems appropriate, Hanna said. It was her involvement with the Dragonboat festival and the Angels Abreast team that inspired her to set up the first motorcycle ride. Keeping the fundraiser going just seemed right. Still, she said, it's the volunteers who help with the project that keeps it running, Her sister, Lynda Lowery, is co-chairman.

Not counting the funds raised for the hospital's oncology unit, this Angel Ride is important simply because it keeps the fight against breast cancer in the forefront, Hanna said. It will be a pink ribbon day.


Fact Box

If you go:

WHAT: Third annual Angel Ride to Save the Ta Tas

WHEN: Registration between 9 and 11 a.m. Saturday. All riders expected back by 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Registration at Community Tap and Pizza. Ride will go to Tony's at Farnhamville, Heroes in Lanesboro, Harley Davidson at Carroll, Shotz in Auburn, Lynchs in Rockwell City and Juds at Knierim. The Angel Ride will end at Amigo's in Fort Dodge.

RIDE fee is $10 per person.

LOCAL-BOY CALENDARS promoting breast cancer awareness will sell for $15; T-shirts, $15; and bandannas, $3. T-shirts and bandannas for sale at Sun Market & Deli, Party Productions, Healthwise Concepts and Community Tap and Pizza. Calendars are available at Kimmy's Photography, Sun Market & Deli and Party Productions.


Contact Sandy Mickelson at (515) 573-2141 or smickelson@messengernews.net

The count down is here...

Tomorrow is the ride... Can't believe that it is here already... It is time to think if we have missed anything or what else needs to be done before the big event!
There are so many people out there that we want to thank for their support! Without the support from our family, friends, and God we couldn't of made it this far! And mainly from the support from the people that are willing to take their time out to come on this ride with us! We have worked hard at getting items for donations, preparing food for after the ride (75 lbs of burger!) Also to haul the items to the event! We have some bigger items this year!
I was asked last night, 'Do you think that you have 100 donation gifts?'. I told them "Yes I think we do plus"! Times have been tough this year, but with the event that we are working with, I do think that it hits home for allot of people!
When we were at Amigo's Wed night selling T-shirts we have I don't know how many people come up & let us know that they have fought breast cancer, their family has had it or they know someone with it... it was amazing & sent shivers up & down my spin...I can't imagine how they feel...
One special person that I want to thank I want to thank for all her help is Brooke Bickford & KKEZ! We had an interview at the radio station on Wed and she made us feel so comfortable & welcomed! And every day that I listen to the radio when she is on, she is talking about our ride & letting people know about the event! I am hoping with all this chat on the radio, signs up & everything that we have an awesome turn out!! Lets hope so anyway!
And one other person that I want to acknowledge is my sister! With out her vision about this ride 3 years ago we wouldn't be where we are today! There are days that we don't see eye to eye & days that we are grouchy at each other...but... without each other we would be lost! I keep after her & she after me... kinda each others support on those days that we don't want to get out of bed...
We have both worked hard at getting things going for this ride! Then we brought in another gal last year - Dawn Wesley... I was surprised that she wanted to help us this year! She worked her hinny off last year keeping things rolling for us, so that we could do the ride. We have put our full trust into Dawn, she is a one of a kind person, she is our precious rock to make sure that we are all on the right page! I know things would not run as smoothly without her. So Thank you Dawn for all you do! I know there are days that don't look good, but you are a true friend~ thank you!!
Well off to get more things done this morning... time is a ticking away! Need to get things ready to ride!
Hope to see you all tomorrow at the Angel Ride to Save the TaTas!
~Angel Ride Girl

An awesome guitar for the event!

Hi~ I just wanted to share with you all one of the donation items that I just got this week!
This is an awesome pink custom made guitar! It was made by Steve Gibson! When I went to his house to pick up the guitar, I had tears in my eyes as it was so awesome looking! It is a light pink sparkly finish! It has a breast cancer ribbon along with a motor cycle on the bottom that says "Ride for a Cure". This man does wonderful work! There is no words to tell him how much this guitar means to us to have it as an auction item for this Saturdays Angel Ride! Thank you doesn't seem enough... he has reached into his heart to help us out! Thank you Steve, you are an awesome person!
We also will have many other items up for auction on Sat! Signed football(s), Harley items, gift baskets & many other items, to many to list!
Make sure you are at Amigos here in Ft Dodge IA after the ride to see all the wonderful items we got from some great people!
Thanks~ Angel Ride Girl

Some of the people you meet along the way...

They always say that there is a reason that you meet certain people when you are on this earth! This is about a couple incredible ladies!
This is a picture of Kay Fleshman... I cannot say that I have met her face to face, but we have emailed (face book) and have chatted on the phone! She is a super nice person!
When I saw her picture of her PINK HAIR on Facebook, I dropped her a note to ask her if I could use her picture on my blog! This is the response that I got... "You may certainly use anything I have for any means of advertisement. Or for a friend that is struggling with breast cancer today. I figure that the reason God chose me for breast cancer and let me survive, is because I have a BIG mouth and will be a spokesperson for change! For now, just keep smiling and spreading the pink love!"
All I could do was smile... How many women could have such a good outlook as she has? With all the problems that she has been through for the last how many years?
I also have a friend named Deb S. I learned this year that on my birthday that she is a survivor of breast cancer for 9 years! I have known her for a few years now... she is also an awesome lady, she has been putting in her time & efforts to help us with this Angel Ride to Save the TaTas! Helping get donations, working with us & just being a great friend!
You may never know who has gone thru breast cancer, some women try to hide it, others are amazing & try to get the word out as much as possible, to get your mammograms yearly~ early detection is the only way to catch breast cancer before it spreads!
I think this makes it easier to work as many hours as we have on this Angel Ride to Save the TaTa's... To hear about these ladies stories, to see that they have fought a very hard battle and know that each and every day of their lives are very special to them and to everyone that knows them!
If you can, please try and make it to the ride on Saturday August 15th, 2009 at Community Pizza here in FD and it will end at Amigos also here in FD! We have some many wonderful donations, auction items and hoping for a wonderful day to meet new people! There will also be someone, after the ride, to be there to tell us how this money that we are raising has helped her thru her battle with breast cancer. It will be an awesome day to remember!
Hope to see you there... Safe travels~ Angel Ride girl

The Calendars are done!

Hey there!
Just a quick note to let you all know that the calendars for the Angel Ride are in! They are $15 per calendar! Again...all the money that is raised goes to help local breast cancer patients! They will be on sale at the run!
Thanks to all the guys that had took their time to get their pictures taken for this calendar! It goes to a great cause! The picture of the guy beside the calendar is Steve for the month of Jan!
~Angel Ride Girl

What's in a name?

WHAT IS IN A NAME? Many people ask that daily? All the way from why did you name you kid that? How did you get your nickname? Some are asking because they like it & some are almost making fun of what the names of things are...
You are probably asking yourself, why on this blog sight would I be asking "What's in a Name"? Well it has come to our attention thru the 'grape vine' that some people are offended by the name "Save the TaTa's" ... Also the "Dudes for Boobs", I have a picture of a guy on the blog that is wearing a "Dudes for Boobs" shirt! He had told me that his wife thought that some might be offended by the shirt, well when he showed up last year at the TaTa ride, some of the survivors of breast cancer asked him where he got his shirt as they wanted to buy one for their husbands! So, I would think if anyone, the survivors should be the ones that are upset with the names, not the everyday people!
I Google "Save the TaTas" and came up with pages of things... not only mine, but others from different states! The people that are not liking the TaTa name should try to Google it and see what all the things out there with the 'Save the TaTas' on it!
Breast Cancer is not a good thing... but what we are doing with this event is... We are not trying not to offend anyone with this ride, by the name, we are only thinking past the name about helping others with things that they may need... wigs, scarfs & funds for things that will help them get past this horrible thing in their life! This is not easy for them & God willing I will never have to deal with it, or anyone else that I care about...
So please people, look past the name, we were not the soul ones that came up with the name, some survivors helped pick out the name out... It is not about the name it is about the cause and helping others in need! You should be thinking to yourself "I am fighting for a cure/cause!"

Remember the date is coming up fast... August 15th, 2009 starting at Community Tap & Pizza in Ft Dodge, IA registration is 9-11 am Hope to see you all there! We got allot of really nice things for auction & wonderful prizes too! Tell all your friends too!


Ride Safe~ Angel Ride Girl

TA-TA Calendars! (just can't wait to get one!)

Wow! I just got word today that the calendars for the "Angel Ride to Save the TaTas" will be ready for sale the week of the ride! The calendars will cost $15. each! A 12 month calendar for 2010!
These calendars are of our local guys willing to take their picture for the cause, to help raise money for local breast cancer patients! I got to help choose some of the pictures that are being used of the guys for the calendars, and I will tell you now that it is well worth the $15.00!! I think that there is going to be an auction of one calendar that will be signed by all the guys that had their pictures taken! Remember it is for a good cause!
If this goes over good this year, we will be looking for guys to volunteer for next years calendar! Something to think about! If you know of a real guy that would be willing to help out next year for the calendar, let us know! Leave a comment on the blog & I will read it & get back to you!
We do have shirts for sale around Ft Dodge, IA! But there again if you are wanting a shirt to help support the cause contact us! We will have them the day of the ride too!
Got thinking about the ride today, it is 15 days until the ride... wow how time gets away from us.
We do have a good bunch of girls that are helping us trying to pull this event together... I keep telling them that it takes more than 1 or 2 people to pull an event like this together! And at the end of the day of the ride, it will make you feel good about yourself knowing that what we pulled together helped so many people!
Please pass the word around about the ride, I know that there is many things going on these days, but if you can't make the ride, try to stop down after the ride, we will have things going on then too! Auctions going on and calendars, bandannas & shirts to sell! Just plain getting together, meeting new people & having fun!
Take Care and ride safe... hope to see you on Aug 15th~

The path for the Aug 15th 2009 ride!

We are getting close to the count down for the Angel Ride to Save the TaTas! The ride will be held on August 15th, 2009!
This is not only for bikers, we are calling on anyone that wants to have fun! To have fun while raising money for a good cause! The cause is... helping local breast cancer patients with uninsured cost, such as wigs, scarfs, gas money to go to their doctors appointments and more!
On the morning of Saturday Aug 15th we will meet everyone at Community Tap (Ft Dodge, IA) at 9:00 am for registration! And hope to have the last ones on the road by 11:00 am.
There is a $10 a person fee,(100% of the money goes to the cause!) There will also be silent & live auctions that you will be able to see some of items at registration, but mainly after the ride! There will also be 50/50 chances at each stop too! More things are being planned!
The ride that we are planning should be a fun one! Different than other rides that we have been on, we are heading south & west! New places & new people to meet along the way!
We will start at Community Tap in Ft Dodge, take off and ride to Tony's in Farnhamville, then head off to Heroe's Bar & Grill in Lanesboro. From there we head on down south to Carroll's Harley Davidson shop! As we start to head back towards Ft Dodge, we stop at Shotz Bar in Auburn, then onto Lynch's in Rockwell City, there we stop at Jud's in Knierim. After that we head on back to Amigo's in Ft Dodge, where we all check back in & check out all the prizes that will be there plus more fun!
We have rode this ride a couple times, and these business are more than happy to welcome all the new people into their establishments! Such friendly people that we meet as we ride the roads to new places we have never been before! Sometimes it is well worth stopping in these towns that look like there is no one living there, because those are the places that make you feel like you're home!
We will be selling T-shirts, tank tops & bandannas the day of the ride! We have also been going to Bike Night at Amigo's here in Ft Dodge (on Wed) to sell the shirts prior to the ride! So if you are interested in a shirt(s) stop down to Amigo's Wed nights, or we will have them the day of the ride!
Oh! Something new we will be selling this year calendars! They will be 12 month calendars that local guys have taken their pictures for this calendar! It is going to be an awesome calendar for the cause! Will have more on that as time gets closer!
Keep checking back as I will be adding more things as time goes on! I hope to get to meet most of you that day! This event is something that is well worth heading to, it helps people that could be your family, neighbor, teachers or friends! Maybe you know someone that is fighting breast cancer, that is a great reason to join us that day!
For us that have been working on this event, at the end of the night of Aug 15th, seeing everyone that has shown up to this cause, it will fill our hearts with joy and usually our eyes with tears! Knowing that there is people out there that care about others! For people that they don't know, for people that they do know or ones that they have loved & passed on...Breast cancer hits many women & some men, we want to help as many people as we can, please come help us on Aug 15th, 2009!
~Thanks~ Angel Ride Girl

Donations for Aug 15th 2009 event!

You know it is getting time to get ready for the ANGEL RIDE TO SAVE THE TATA's! Aug 15th is just around the corner! This is our 3rd year for this event! Hope to meet a lot of you there...
This is a wonderful cause to help allot of people that we don't know, or it could be the person next to us... the end result is whats most important... to help those in need with uninsured expenses!!
Even tho we all are hitting on tough times, it is so amazing of the donations that we are getting in for this years ride! It seems breast cancer has touched everyone life in ways that we will never understand... I know I have met allot of new people this year that either they have had breast cancer or someone that they loved has died from it. Some in person & some through emails (and waiting to meet)...
This email is to show you some of the things that people have donated for the TaTa run on Aug 15th 2009! There is a set of woman & man's chaps & leather coat! 2 woman's leather vests & 2 helmets! 2 Adirondack Chairs, Harley shirts, clock & plaque! Along with breast cancer blankets, pillows, rugs & fishing pole! There is going to be a couple footballs signed and there is a special breast cancer guitar being made!! This is just a start!
SAVE THE DATE! August 15th, 2009! Hope to see you there! If you can't make it, tell your friends about it, we want this event to be one to look back with & smile, knowing how many people we have helped!

"2007 Angel Ride to Save the TaTa's"

Poker run to raise funds for uninsured services for breast cancer patients

By SANDY MICKELSON, Messenger staff writer

The only thing better than having fun is having fun for a cause.

So when motorcycles and cars leave City Square in Fort Dodge Saturday noon on the “Angel Ride to Save the Ta-Tas” poker run, big fun is expected, and breast cancer patients will be helped.

Organizer Shirley Reekers and her husband, Vaughn, of Fort Dodge, came up with the idea of a poker run when they were headed to Quarters in LuVerne for pizza. A poker run, for those who don’t know, is a road trip to predetermined places, where a stamping card will be marked before participants move on. At the end of the ride, each participant draws a playing card for each mark collected, and the best poker hand wins.

Reekers admits to brow-beating people to donate prizes, so there will be prizes for the winning hands. Then she laughed because her brow-beating tactics aren’t all that strong.

Members of the Dragon Boat team called Fighting Angels Abreast are helping Reekers collect prizes, too, and many team members will be on hand at 11 a.m. Saturday for the poker run registration or at check-in points along the route.

“We’re volunteers,” said group member Marilyn Meier. “We like to help out with awareness wherever we can. We believe in supporting women causes and injecting our ‘pink’ message into them. Poker runs are a fun way to get a good group of people together in support of a good cause and have a little fun at the same time.”

Money raised at the poker run will be donated to uninsured services for women in cancer treatment at Trinity Regional Medical Center Oncology Services — for wigs, scarves, transportation to to treatment and whatever else is needed.

“We don’t know how many people to expect,” Reekers said. “We’d love to see a good turnout — the more the merrier. People can go by motorcycle or car. We want everybody to feel they can participate. And, even if people can’t go on the ride, they can donate money to the cause in honor of somebody.”

She said anyone who wishes to donate may stop at the City Square between 11 a.m. and noon Saturday. Registration starts at 11 a.m., and the ride starts at noon.

Participants may go in any direction they want, with the goal of stopping at seven locations before pulling up at the finish at Amigo’s in Fort Dodge. Route maps and poker stamping cards will be given out at registration. Towns on the run are Humboldt, LuVerne, Goldfield, Clarion, Eagle Grove and Webster City, in addition to the two Fort Dodge stops.

The cost of the ride is $10 per person or $15 for a couple. Those registering as couples each get a stamping card to be marked and each will end up with a poker hand.

Reekers, who rides a Yamaha 650 V-Star purchased in April, said she’s been riding with her husband for six years but likes having her own bike.

“It’s been a great way to meet people,” she said. “The motorcycle people we’ve met are really good about helping out for a cause. It’s pretty awesome to see that many bikes.”

Live ^ Ride ^ United

Our first real benefit ride that we rode on was the United Way Ride 2008!
We had so much fun & met so many new people. That is the one thing that we have enjoyed since we started riding...all the other riders are nice to you, no one is out to be better than the next guy...you are all equal out there on the road... Other people should follow that code in their daily lives! To treat others as they would themselves! You look at others in another way too!
The open road is always amazing! Having the sun shine down on you. I notice when we ride that it is almost like seeing the world in a different way! A much better way! Things look so much brighter & beautiful! The smells as you go down the road good or bad are so much nicer too! Weird thinking- if you don't ride, try it sometime & see what I am trying to say...especially in the spring time, all the flowers that are blooming!
The pictures that I have included are some of the pictures from our United Way Run! We had to take pictures along the way for points at the end of the trip! Yes~ we even had to ride a mechanical bull! It was fun & an adventure but, I think I will stick to motorcycles! They don't kick you off as fast!
This ride was at the time that the local towns, that we rode thru, had flooding in the areas, so you can see water standing around! Not real good for them, but it did dry up! It didn't effect our ride at all!
Enjoy riding! Try to ride on benefit rides to help others, as you never know who you might meet! It might even be a fellow blogger!
Take Care & Ride Safe!!




RIDING THE BULL!

WELCOME TO THE TOWN SIGNS!

A PICTURE ON THE BAR'S WALL! COOL!

ANOTHER WELCOME TO PICTURE!

YES, EVEN A PICTURE WITH A POLICE OFFICER- Did that 1st thing!!

Ride date is set!

Good Morning~
We set the date for the Angel Ride to Save the TaTas! It will be August 15th here in Ft Dodge, Iowa! I hope that you can mark your calendars to attend this Fun Run! It is a good cause to earn money for those fighting breast cancer!
It is also good way to get together to meet new friends and ride for the day!

Everyone relaxing after the ride

Prizes to give away!

Before the ride

Dudes for boobs

2008 handing over the money