Home Runs for HOW 100

This weekend I am excited to combine my two greatest passions in life to raise money for breast cancer research. Those passions are baseball, and of course cycling.

I am asking all my friends to support me and donate to Hope on Wheels 100, Women Cycling for a Cure. The HOW 100 is a one day annual bicycling event for women only to raise money for breast cancer research. This year it takes place on Saturday, September 6th in Leipers Fork. Many miles include the amazing Natchez Trace Parkway as well as the beautiful countryside of the local community. If you are a woman and love riding your bike then you owe it to yourself to attend. Show up and be part of the "World's Largest Chick Ride!"

How am I combining baseball and cycling you wonder?

This Saturday, August 23rd I have entered a home run hitting contest called The Legacy Home Run Derby. The contest takes place here in Nashville at the baseball fields at Warner Park, which is at the intersection of Old Hickory Blvd and Vaughn Rd. across from Steeplechase. This home run contest is part of a charity event held to raise funds for Lovie's Legacy, a local animal shelter.

How am I raising money?

I am asking everybody I know to donate money for every home run I end up hitting in the derby. For example, you can donate $1, $2 or $5 for every home run I actually hit. Multiply the total number of home runs I hit by the amount you're willing to donate for each swing resulting in a bomb. It's simple and easy to commit at least $1 per home run, come on!

At the final criterium race on Wednesday I asked everyone there to sign up and commit. So far I have commitments that value each home run at $18 a piece! That is not enough. I need more money and commitment from you to raise that amount higher, and as it rises my motivation to hit home runs goes up! Imagine if I get enough people to raise the swing value to $50, $75 or even $100. Wow, now that would have me pretty excited to raise money for HOW 100.

Plus, there's an overall payout to the top three contestants. Hey, another podium to strive towards! The winner bags a whopping $225 while second is $50 and third $25. Any money I win in the overall will go towards HOW 100 as well. This is all about raising money because I'll hit home runs for free any day.

What is a home run derby?

If you've ever watched the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby then you have an idea how this will work. Each batter will get five outs during their at-bat. An out is any swing or hit that does not result in a home run. I don't know how many rounds they are having yet, but I do know it's going to be a machine pitching. They will keep going until there is a podium finish. I am able to use either a wood bat or aluminum bat. I'll have both with me and go with what feels best. For an event like this an aluminum bat makes the most sense, but once you've played with wood you have a hard time going back.

How can you sign up, commit and donate?

I realize this is short notice, but there's plenty of time to just say, "yes, I'll give you $1 for each home run." I want to hear from you no later than early Saturday morning before the derby.

The best way is to email me at info@nashvillecyclist.com with your name, phone number and dollar commitment. After the event is over I will report the results on the website, and email you how much you donated to HOW 100. I will likely ask you to mail a check to NashvilleCyclist.com, and then I will present Sarah Moore with the total contribution. Sara is the rider I chose to sponsor in the HOW 100 since she and others have annually set up a table at our crit series to raise money.

You are reading this now and thinking, "this is a great idea." I know you are, so go ahead and click on my email address and provide me the info! Trust me, I am challenging myself by signing up, showing up and taking my hacks. I challenge you to get behind me on this to see what we can accomplish.

Can he hit home runs?

Oh yes.

I wouldn't enter a contest like this if it weren't familiar to me, but I am going out on a limb here. I have not swung a bat in a game since my last spring training with the Braves in 1995. However, for the first time this past spring I picked up a bat several times, went to Cumberland's indoor batting facility, and hit off the tee quite a bit. Foretelling of this day possibly? I don't know, but those swings felt good as I had no trouble making consistent solid contact. Hitting off a live arm or off a machine is completely different. Timing and muscle memory are critical aspects of hitting a baseball, so that will surely not be easy. Though I do have batting practice planned for the days leading up to the derby. See the ball, hit the ball.

How will you know the results?

Good or bad I will own up and let everyone know what happened. I might hit just one, but then again I could hit 20 or more! My plan is to win. If you hit home runs you don't just show up and hope. You go to win. I will report back on either my wild success or my big disappointment. Hopefully I will be able to arrange a meeting with Sarah Moore to present our total donation. Understand that my success is our success is HOW 100's success.

Sign Up!

Email me at info@nashvillecyclist.com with your name, phone number and dollar commitment.