Email (rant) to RideDCC regarding its ridiculous fundraising requirements...

Yeah, you knew it was coming.  Didn't take long, huh?  I couldn't help myself.  Here ya go...


To Whom It May Concern,

I was very interested in the Dolphins Cycling Challenge.  As a member of a local cycling club and cycling blogger, I am looking forward to my first full century and thought I would do it at your event.  However, upon going to your registration page and seeing the costs involved, I can not participate.  I am not talking about the $150 entry fee.  I am more than willing to pay that cost.  I am referring to the minimum $1,000 fundraising for the century ride.  I am blown away by this amount.  I did a metric century ride a few months ago and raised more than $400.  Considering the current economic conditions in our country, I was pretty happy with that.  What is personally frustrating is that my father received medical services from the UM Cancer Center and I would like to participate to help raise awareness for this facility and the work done there.  However, the price of fundraising is way too steep for me, my family and friends.  I am disappointed that I will not participate in this event.  I am not writing to ask for anything.  Rather, I want you to understand that the nature of this type of fundraising requirement excludes many cyclists from being a part of your cause.  And I think that's a shame.