Donations and help are very welcome!!

So many people I'm talking to are asking how they can help.

Well, if you would like to make a donation please go here to my Ride to Conquer Cancer online donation form.  Leave your name there and I'll know you've donated.  While you are there you can take a look at my personal page to see where my inspiration for participating in the ride to conquer cancer comes from.

If you would like to help in other ways after reading the previous post, please contact me via email or telephone or simply via the comments section at the bottom of this blog (don't know why, but by clicking on the "No Comments" link you should then be able to comment)

You may also wish to get a few people together to pool a donation.  Perhaps a workgroup, your family, a circle of friends.

I'm thinking of the following suggested sponsorship levels

• bronze min. 5 cents per hole. this will get you your name on an "honour board" of this blog ($18-$35) or if you wish to be anonymous, I'll come up with a mildly amusing pseudonym.
• silver 10 cents per hole. the above, plus a signed memento golf ball that was used during the challenge, chat to me via an online or teleconference session after one of the days and ask questions, and you might even be included in any video doco that I might create. ($36-$99) 
• gold all of the above, plus framed certificate of appreciation and a completed scorecard from one of the rounds, plus join me for a free bbq either Wednesday night (for Melb based) or Friday night (Ballarat based) $100 (or more if you wish).
• Equipment sponsors will be classed same as those above according to the value of their donation, and they'll also enjoy some product placement advertising wherever possible.

Or, you can just donate what you want.

Please put your thinking caps on.  I would be happy to hear any great ideas to help along the way.

My plan that some may call slightly crazy

My name is Matt Whykes.  I am raising funds for the Peter Mac Ride to Conquer Cancer in Melbourne (which is a 200km two day bicycle ride In October that I'll be participating in).  Long story short is that cancer has touched my life like it has probably touched most people's lives, and I'd like to see a cure!!

As a part of my fundraising efforts, I am doing something just as much if not more adventurous (or some might say crazy).  Five days of golf, four rounds a day straight, solo during mid-May 2013.  I estimate with walking the holes as well as walking for stray shots and walking between greens and tees it will be close to the 200km's that I have to cover for the ride.

I'm seeking support for green fees/invitation to play Melbourne/Peninsula member clubs (to more easily promote my activities and maximise local donations), with priority given to me on the course to complete my rounds in a timely fashion. I am only one golfer, and if all other golfers are aware of my presence on the day it shouldn't cause much disturbance.

Seeing that I will be playing golf in the same location all day (to cut down travel between clubs), I'm hoping I can play at some clubs that have more than 18 holes to create a bit of variety on the day.

I'm targeting the final day to be spread around the three courses in the Ballarat region (Ballarat, Midlands, Mt. Xavier) as travel between them all is reasonably minimal.

All golf will be played in Stableford format to reduce delays. I'll play off a nominal handicap of 13 - my last official handicap a while ago was 11.

I'm currently training by walking as much as I can, as well as cycling and soon to start golf-specific stretches and strength exercises.  I'll also need to actually play some golf, and perhaps change the way I play (ie. get to the ball and hit it fairly quickly, make my swing as compact and productive as possible) to conserve energy and minimise time not walking.

I'm also seeking sponsorship or assistance for:

• Accommodation on the Sunday/Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday in short distance to golf
• Cabcharge/coverage for taxi fares around peninsula courses
• An "action cam" for recording everything (I'd like to produce a doco around the whole experience)
• Golf balls/tees/gloves/clothing
• Massage/podiatary services (think I'll REALLY be needing this!!)

If anybody reading this has contacts in any of these industries I would greatly appreciate any assistance.  I'll be posting information soon on how you can donate to my Ride to Conquer Cancer fund, and how I will also be keeping everyone up to date on not only my lead up but during my golf rounds and on completion of the days.

Ideas or feedback via the comments section would also be appreciated.