OK, I’m game. Especially since this is never going to work so I’ll play along.
$1000 gets him a slightly used P2K, $2000 gets him a slightly used P3
the slowtwitcher who raises the most money for this undeserving cause will get his/her choice of Cervelo apparel (top+bottom or a one-piece, cycling or tri).
Mr. Tibbs cannot raise money for himself, no soft money, no posting of nude pictures to entice donations.
Before any product is handed over to Mr. Tibbs, he has to agree to a restraining order that will keep him at least a few miles away from me.
I’ve create a website where people can make donations to help Mr. Tibbs. I’ll be updating the website (hopefully on a daily basis) to let people know where we are on the fundraising. If you make a donation and prefer to remain anonymous, please let me know. Follow the link below to make your donation:
What if we donate money to a more worthwhile cause like a local charity or something but enter it as ‘in honor of Mr. Tibbs’…does that count?
I just have a hard time helping someone else mooch and then get a free bike when I bust my ass and save for all of my toys…
If you don’t like it, don’t donate. Mr. Tibbs not only is part of Slowtwitch as a community, if you knew his story - you may be more willing to open your wallet as well. I could (as a red blooded right wing republican) give a shit less about your typical charity. I know that my money spent on a bike for Mr. Tibbs will make at least one life better…and if that person is Mr. Tibbs that is all that much better. Tibbs and I are both members of the "“IMAWSNITT” (IronMan Athletes With Severe Neurological Issues Tri Team). Tell you what, you get smacked in the face with mortality and the feel the fear of god first hand as you shake uncontrollably in fear getting a shit diagnosis…then go out and try to train, work, live and love the way you did prior to that. If you really want to donate to a local charity “in honor” of Mr. Tibbs, have at it…I have sent my money to a person with honor, to a person who I think deserves to have the best, and I am proud to be part of that.
‘if you knew his story - you may be more willing to open your wallet as well’
…I’ve read his posts for the past year. I don’t doubt he has overcome a lot and has a pretty good story…and I’m not asking you to give to a charity that you don’t care about…just like I don’t think this is necessarily worthwhile over more deserving ‘charities.’ And do you really think that buying a person a bike will make a life better?
I’d be way more likely to pray for him, his family, his health and his financial security…(I can only imagine the rage going through the rest of the readers right now)…but I just don’t see a new (used) bike will make a life better.
Or, I’d even be more likely to toss in $20 for his kids college fund…but a bike - to ‘make a life better’ ?..that’s ridiculous. I tell you, and the rest of the readers what, put up a blog where I can donate to his kids education (perhaps a 529 fund) - and I’ll donate.
’ And do you really think that buying a person a bike will make a life better?
Yes, I do. When I was 14-15 living in foster homes a man named Lon Haldeman (who you may have heard of…he lives near both of us in Sharron Wi.) Lon let me ride a road bike of his as I was in foster homes and could not afford one on my own, and with lack of parents - my options were minimal. Yes, that bike did make my life better. And today, I have the financial ability to purchase any bike I want…why is it that I ride drea, bikes with Record? Because they make me happy knowing that for one thing, at one time at one place…I have the best something that I can get. Maybe it is superficial, but, it makes me feel good.
Damn you and your timing Hid…I was going to do this. I knew I should have done it before I went to bed…crud. Oh well, as soon as I can get that link to come up…I’m in too. Was that $1000 in CAN or US funds? We’re gonna do this come hell or high water…if for nothing else to get gerard and paul to show their mettle.
But I can tell you that exercise saved my life. Literally. It helped me overcome serious and life threatening physical and mental issues that were overwhelming me. At 23, I was a high school dropout who knew nothing but despair and saw no future for myself. I had very serious Asthma and was overweight, on my way to alcoholism and drug addiction. I became convinced that I would die if I didn’t do something: I skulked into the back of an aerobics studio in oversized sweats and never looked back. It was a long hard journey to mental and physical health. Without the discovery of exercise I would not have made it. Period. Exercise was a way to pick up a corner of the chaos that was my life. Exercise was how grace showed up for me.
I finished college at thirty, got married, had a son, went to grad school. Now I can take care of myself and my son, contribute to society and my time and money to several worthy causes. I work with people in recovery and have learned that grace shows up in many ways. I try not to judge how grace shows up, ever.
I’m happy to contribute to Mr. Tibbs if it’s what he needs. I’m even more anxious to contribute to MRS. Tibbs, though…
…doesn’t Tibbs have a Giant TCR or something comparable to that?
My opinion isn’t anything but I’d like to donate money - just to something that can actually improve a life…hence, my suggestion to donate to an education fund.
You may not agree with this but many of us appreciate where he has been and would like to help him get where he wants to go.
At least he is better than that girl from NYC that overdosed on Credit cards and then started a blog of sorts and had people send her money. She managed to pay off her $20,000 or so in credit card debt in just a few months…
You never know how something like this can affect a person. It’s not just a bike. I think the bike is pretty meaningless. Rather it’s the lengths to which friends (and yes, I believe we’re all friends here) will go to help another person. Most of us have never met Tibbs before, but we have gotten to know him on this message board. He has opened up his heart and his life to us. He’s never tried to portray himself as anything but who he is. I think that is very evident in his posts. He has battled through quite a bit over the last year, and his struggles have not gone unnoticed on this forum. I’m not saying anyone should feel sorry for him – I’m sure he doesn’t want that kind of sympathy, either. But every once in a while, people get the opportunity to do something for someone else, a random act of kindness for which they ask nothing in return. This is one of those times. It doesn’t take much time or effort to donate, and if you don’t want to, you don’t have to. But don’t antagonize those who see this as a chance to help a friend. There is so much negative stuff going on around our communities and our world. Helping Tibbs get a bike is something positive, something that could quite possibly make a huge difference in his life. If you don’t want to participate, so be it. But don’t trash those who do.
I’m relatively new to this forum, and I am curious - if you / Mr. Tibbs doesn’t mind sharing. Several posts have indicated that he has gone through some rough experiences, and has shared them on this board. I’m wondering if you wouldn’t mind reiterating some of this for a newcommer.
Who’s Mr. Tibbs? I have no idea. But what I do know is that his posts KICK ASS and have made me chuckle many a time. I’m in for $10. If this thing comes through I will take pride in being able to help a brother out! - E
Amen to that…too many people are too wrapped up in their own little Ironworlds anymore. Besides…as another condition to helping him out I wanna take a spin on the bike when he gets it;-) Given the demographic of this sport I’m sure more than a few of us are doing well enough that giving up a couple of bucks to help ‘one of us’ isn’t a lot to ask. What are we looking at here anyway $25 is about 5% of an Ironman entry fee. You telling me you can’t come up with that? Then go your merry tri way and I hope like hell that you get smoked by some unknown riding a used P2K/P3 with Spinergy wheels at some race in the near future…you’d have asked for it.