pavedwave longboarding

Shaine · Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 33 Location: TriCities, WA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmK6jGT-eYg&feature=related

pavedwave · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 1120 Location: seattle wa usa

I'd like to tie charity back into these again in the future. I find the fundraising effort alone is completely separate and takes dedicated time and pounding the pavement on top of the 'training' for the event itself. What I do know is you don't just skate and raise money, it takes some sales pitching and it helps to be networked, and it's near impossible to pitch for the cause AND skate an event simultaneously... need someone there at the event with brochures and explaining what's going on.

Also been thinking whether a different charity would be appropriate next time. I really do like supporting the fight against cancer with LIVESTRONG, it hits home on many levels. Ironically our last Ultraskate was held simultaneously with a huge Seattle-based bike ride for LIVESTRONG as well, but I didn't coordinate or organize a tie-in just because I felt our Ultraskate date was too tentative. Also been thinking about going with a more local organization and possibly helping the disabled, or autism community.

When we had Ken Barrett and his crew out there last year, they pulled off a really great drive for the homeless -- guys were skating around the lake more casually, taking canned food donations, then dropping them off at a few huge barrels we had set up over by the stadium parking lot. When we started posting signage about the "event", we got talked to by the Greenlake Gestapo about permits, but as long as we kept our drop-off station in the parking lot, they seemed okay with it.