Hi Everyone, This year has been interesting to say the least and i have not had the time to plan and do a trip for Make A Wish. But that sure as heck doesn't mean i'm done. I am going to do a trip this Spring. I haven't determined where yet, my initial thoughts were Liverpool to Paris (of course with the help of a few boats). This is still a possibility but i am looking for suggestions if any of you have ideas. Somewhere is Europe preferably. Between 400 and 500 miles depending on the terrain.

My last trip in Europe was one of the best experiences of my life and I can't wait to get back over there and ride to raise money for children with life threatening diseases.

Where to go ??  (yes, the below guy does resemble me)

2013 Ride Route

Hello, It's several months off but I believe i have decided on a route for my 2013 "Riding for Wishes" bike ride. I loved Paris so much i would like to end my ride there. After thinking about which paths to take to get into Paris I decided i would come from the UK. I will start in Liverpool, travel south to London, ride to New Haven UK, take the ferry to Dieppe, and ride from Dieppe to Paris. Based on initial calculations its approximately 500 miles. I will plan to complete the ride in 6 or 7 days.

Seems like a good route, i've never been in the English countryside and would like to see it. Liverpool ? Heck, maybe i'll see some Beatles, Flock of Seagulls, or Echo and the Bunnymen memorabilia.

Hopefully through your donations we can do just as well, if not better, than we did for Make a Wish of CT. in 2012. I look forward to planning the trip over the next several months and will be posting as the June date gets closer.

Dave

Celebrating Wishes Ball

The wonderful folks at Make a Wish of Connecticut have invited me to attend the Celebrating Wishes Ball at Greenwich Country Club on November 3rd. Its a great cause and this event raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for Make a Wish each year. There will be a silent auction which will include vacations, sports memorabilia, yankees batting practice, and the best thing on the list, a tour of the NYSE Trading floor with me ( it may fetch 5 bucks but heck, its for a good cause).

David Cone, Chris Russo, one of the gangsters from The Soprano's, Michael Kaye, and others will be in attendance. Should be a fantastic night.

Check out the website if you are interested in attending

http://cloud.bidpal.net/Portal/bpe14250/main/home.html

Hmmmm... Where should i go now ?

Yes, i have already started to think about where to ride next year. I've decide to end my ride in Paris but have not decided where to start my ride. I am open to suggestions but please keep it around 500 miles! i'm old !

I am also doing the 100 mile MS ride in New York on Oct 21. I will blog more info later.

The Wishes

All, The final tally is in on the donations raised for Make a Wish. $34,000 was donated by friends, family, and colleagues. The company matched all donations over $100 and our generous CEO made a personal donation which got us to the 4 wish mark. Over 100 people donated, some of them complete strangers who read articles about my ride in Traders Magazine or other periodicals and generously donated.

Within the next month we will get Make a Wish and some wish families together to grant the wishes and to talk a little bit about the importance of Make a Wish and organizations like it.

It was an incredibly moving experience for me in many ways and i am extremely happy that we will be able to grant 4 wishes to children with life threatening diseases.

Thank you again to everyone who helped me along the way !

P.S. I will continue to blog on this site and will be posting after the wishes are granted and throughout the year as i plan my next ride.

   

This is Not the End

One of the things i did when i was in Paris was go to Jim Morrison's grave in the Pere Lachaise cemetery. As a Doors fan i had to go. I stole the title of the post from something that was written by a fan near his grave. "This is not the end". I'll do another ride next year, i am already researching where. I also have some work to do with Make A Wish to the remaining donations to the foundation and we need to determine which children will get their wishes from the money we raised. There will be a reception in July at the exchange with Make a Wish employees and families.

I recently received an email from Kate Mara's mother. Kate and her family came in to ring the NYSE opening bell back in December. I included her email here as she eloquently explains the parallels that i have attempted to explain several times and may not have gotten across.

Dear Dave :
I understand that you have begun your exciting and challenging journey on behalf of Make-A-Wish.  Our family was so honored to have met you last December.  Your generosity and commitment to helping others were truly inspiring.  As I think about your journey, I think about how it bears some similarities to the journey we faced as a family when our daughter Kate was diagnosed with cancer.  Like you, we found ourselves in unfamiliar, sometimes scary, territory. Like you, we needed courage and determination to see it through, and like you, we knew what we were fighting for was worth every bit of the effort.  Our thoughts are with you, and our gratitude for all you do for children like our Kate. 

Godspeed ...
Lesley Mara, mom of wish child Katherine


I spoke a little bit after the bell ringing in Paris. Not a great speaker but here's the link 

https://exchanges.nyx.com/en/nyse-euronext-paris/dave-weiss-rang-opening-bell-celebrate-make-wish-after-his-bike-ride

here are some more pictures from the ride and Paris after the ride.

The Louvre

With Yves Blanc (Editor in Chief of Le Cycle magazine)

The Opera

The Seine

Cool Street on the Left bank

Notre Dame

View of Paris

Relaxation 

Eiffel at night from my window

Paris Cafe

Hi All, what an incredible ride it was. I saw things i've never seen before, rode through beautiful small villages and towns, pedaled when i felt like stopping, tried to speak french when i have no idea how to speak french, tried to look like i belonged when i obviously didn't, etc.. What all the days pedaling and all the miles traveled on my bike add up to are wishes granted to 4 sick children. And that means a lot to me. I appreciate everyones generous donations and support. 

The first four days of this ride were the most grueling i have ever experienced. The gear on the bike combined with the wind and rain got me. I had friends and family helping me via email and text with their support and it helped. I persevered and made it to Paris. I helmet cam'ed my ride into paris, it should be interesting footage, i will share it when i get it prepared. 

This ride parallels what Make a Wish children go through everyday. Pain, uncertainty, perseverance, drive, determination, and isolation. Also the love, compassion, kindness, and dedication. I certainly cannot compare a bike ride to the battle these children face everyday but i try to feel some of what they feel on these rides. They teach adults like us to keep going, keep pedaling if you will. You'll get there. Some of these children don't win their battles but not for lack of extreme determination and will. I think about the children who didn't get through their battles while i'm riding as well, and i pray for them and their families. 

Right now i am in the courtyard of a hotel in Paris and i have just realized i don't have to pedal tomorrow! I just had dinner at a nice cafe and i will do the bell ringing ceremony at the exchange tomorrow followed by interviews with a few French Bicycling magazines and a daily paper. Hopefully these interviews get more attention on European Make a Wish organizations. Then i will spend the weekend in Paris and head home. 

Thanks again to everyone who donated, sponsored, and helped me coordinate this ride. I'm back for more next year. Not sure where yet. Maybe a ride through Siberia ?

Adele and Kate, I love you both very much.

Some photos from today   

The bike in Chantilly before ride

Reminded me of Beavis, one of my favorite characters

Eiffel Tower from my hotel window

Fountain in the courtyard where i am blogging from now. The dude looks like several guys i know.