We Think Mark Can

Support Mark's 500-mile ride from SF to LA while helping homeless youth

Mark Dwight
Donor, 7 years

Support Mark's Campaign!

Donate





The total I've raised pays for:
  • 10 years of support
  • and 2 housing assistance
  • and 1 school application

Donations

NameAmountLocationDate
Ellen Goldberg, Friend$15New York, NY01/11/2010
Hey Mark! I am a friend of Rob's from NYC for almost thirty years. I love your colorful photo and detailed/heartfelt page. I will check back soon and donate more. You can do it!!
Christopher Fenster, Friend, Co-worker$100San Francisco, CA01/11/2010
PAUL NAVABPOUR, Friend$50SANTA CRUZ, CA01/11/2010
Mark, Best of luck on your ride, and call us when going through Santa Cruz so we can cheer you on! -Paul
Macy McGinness, Friend$100Mill Valley, CA01/12/2010
Bud Colligan, Friend$500Menlo Park, CA01/12/2010
Great job Mark!
Richard Warner, Friend$100Portland, OR01/12/2010
Great way to raise some money for a worthy group. Stay dry and enjoy the ride! Rick
William Shipley, Friend$500San Francisco, CA01/12/2010
You couldn't pay me enough to pedal 500 miles.
Kara Nichols, Friend$25San Francisco, CA01/12/2010
Go, Mark!
Kellie McElhaney$500Oakland, CA01/12/2010
Good luck, good work, good weather, good ride- may you enjoy all of it!
Donald Fraser$50Saint Helena , CA01/12/2010
Samuel Levin, Friend$61Mill Valley, CA01/12/2010
Mark is my uber cool, sustainably, eco friendly bag building associate
Kati Jackson, constant nagger and employee$30San Francisco, CA01/13/2010
this time we want a postcard from every place you stop on the way to LA!
Anonymous, Friend$100sf, CA01/15/2010
James and Kathy Hackett$75Grand Rapids, MI01/20/2010
Maria Eitel, Friend$100Seattle, WA01/21/2010
Spencer Dwight, Family - Coolest Kid$100Palo Alto, CA01/21/2010
Eduardo Rallo, Friend$100San Francisco, CA01/21/2010
Kate Jorgensen, Friend$500San Francisco, CO01/21/2010
Good lLuck Mark! Best, David Jacquin
John Malnor, Friend$25Grand Rapids, MI01/22/2010
Mark - love the idea, and your passion for it. You are setting a great example - I wish you a safe trip!
Herbert Dwight, Father$250Healdsburg, CA01/22/2010
William Dwight, Bro$101Palo Alto, CA01/23/2010
Good luck old man! Had to give $1 more than my nephew, but can't match pops. (Man, you gotta ratchet down that kid's allowance!)
Sara Butorac, Friend$20San Francisco, CA01/23/2010
Derek Granath, Friend$50Los Altos, CA01/24/2010
Good luck, Mark! May the wind be at your back and the hills pointing down - at least half the way! Derek
Thursday Carreon, Friend$100Seattle, WA01/25/2010
Thanks for the reminder on the special work Crossroads does every night and for making it so easy to give. Sending you good weather juju! Buena suerte, Marco!
Teddy Zmrhal, Friend$50La Honda, CA01/25/2010
Best of luck man, have an AWESOME ride! Teddy
David Baker, Friend$100San Francisco, CA01/26/2010
Always wanted to go to TED, and what a great way to get there! Best, db
Andre Woolery, Friend$50Menlo Park, CA01/26/2010
Good luck Mark! It'll be a smooth downhill ride once you get outside of San Francisco ;) Best, Andre
Tom Miner, Friend$250Danville, CA01/26/2010
Mark-Mike Deadder, Friend$100san francisco, CA01/27/2010
The Deadder Brothers wish for the sun to be on your face, and the wind at your back !
James Phillips, Friend$50Redwood City, CA01/27/2010
You going to wear a helmet this time? Let me know if you want to borrow a flip in underwater case.
Lee Gregory$100San Francisco, CA01/27/2010
Rob Chang, Friend$100Los Altos, CA01/28/2010
Great cause! Have a great ride and fun time @ TED!
Paula Norris, Big Fan from Cleveland, Ohio USA$30Cleveland, OH01/28/2010
Good Luck!!!!
Caitlin Bristol, Friend$15San Francisco, CA01/28/2010
Good luck! Can't wait to hear all about! This ride is totally ecofabulous :)
Patrick Cadam, Friend$50San Francisco, CA01/28/2010
This is great. You get to raise money for a cause you love, doing something you love. Does life get any better?
David Becker, Friend$100San Francisco, CA01/28/2010
Best of luck, Mark!
Sarah Wilkinson, Friend$10Glencoe, IL01/28/2010
Good luck!
Emilie Cowan, Friend$30Lafayette, CA01/28/2010
Ur such a fabulous inspiration! such a symbol for performance, sustainability and human will going hand in hand ;)
KENNETH EDDINGS, TED Friend$200Sunnyvale, CA01/29/2010
See you in Long Beach! Fair weather wishes to you.
Thomas P Rielly, Friend$100New York, NY01/29/2010
Can't wait to see you!
keir beadling, Friend$50san francisco, CA01/29/2010
have a great ride!
Deema Jubran, Friend$25Menlo Park, CA01/29/2010
Liam Thornton, Friend$500Portland, OR01/29/2010
Great idea and great cause! Enjoy the ride and have fun at TED.
jack fischer, Friend$50san francisco, CA01/29/2010
have an excellent ride! thank you for doing this..... jack and valerie
Cynthia Gair, From your friends at REDF$100San Francisco, CA01/29/2010
Keep up the great work in the community, Mark!
Christopher Long$200San Francisco, CA01/29/2010
Pedal Man Pedal! From your friends at DCL Productions
Kevin Gilbert, Friend$100Annapolis, MD01/29/2010
Dan Nguyen-Tan, Friend$30San Francisco, CA01/29/2010
Go Mark Go!
Jeffrey J. McElhaney, Friend$100Washington, CA01/29/2010
Great that you are doing this. Don't envy you...or your t'aint. ;-) Be safe. Have fun. Think of the kids.
Alexandra Sangmeister, Friend$25San Francisco, CA01/29/2010
Good Luck:) May the roads rise to meet you. May the wind be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; or I hope it doesn't pour down cold rain:)
Zem Joaquin, Friend$50Corte Madera, CA01/30/2010
Go Mark Go! You are an ecofabulous hero!
Ronda Carnegie, Friend$50Calabasas, CA01/30/2010
Nadine Weil, Friend$100San Francisco, CA01/30/2010
David Hornik, Friend$100Palo Alto, CA01/31/2010
I don't think that I could have done this ride for my 20th birthday. Have a great ride and I'll see you in Long Beach.
Jordan Ayan, Friend and Fellow TEDster$250Lisle, IL01/31/2010
Congrats and Happy Birthday - Sounds like a great cause. See you in a week! Jordan
Daniel Kraft, Friend$25Stanford, CA01/31/2010
Go Mark!
Jason Johnson, Friend$100San Francisco, CA02/01/2010
Lisa Taylor, Friend$25San Francisco, CA02/01/2010
Here's to crossing the $7K mark. And the finish line at TED!
Mark Dwight, Me$25San Francisco, CA02/01/2010
Push to $7K match. Thanks Lisa!
Ryan Mickle, Friend$20San Francisco, CA02/01/2010
Good luck on your ride, Mark.
Mark Dwight, Me again$20San Francisco, CA02/01/2010
Push to $7K match. Thanks Ryan!
Brett Bullington, Friend$50Palo Alto, CA02/01/2010
Have a great trip and see you at TED
Anonymous, Friend$30San Francisco, CA02/01/2010
Ali Dwight, Family$100Palo Alto, CA02/02/2010
I LOVE YOU
troy bunnell, Friend$20san jose, CA02/02/2010
Leigh Lehman, Friend$50San Francisco, CA02/02/2010
Have a great ride!
Colin Wiel, Friend$100Sioux Falls, SD02/03/2010
See you at TED!
loring sagan, Friend$50San Francisco, CA02/03/2010
I wish I was going with you Mark. Be safe.
Julie Huck, Friend$10Missoula, MT02/03/2010
Ride a few miles with Adventure Cycling in mind!
kiki shelton, Friend$100cary, NC02/04/2010
ride hard - ride fast
Jon Callaghan, Friend$100Palo Alto, CA02/04/2010
Have a great ride Mark!!!!!
Mark Dwight, Me$11San Francisco, CA02/04/2010
Here's my lunch money from Wednesday (Day 1)
Louis Hong, Friend$20Fremont, CA02/04/2010
Jodie Ostrovsky, Friend$50Portland, OR02/05/2010
Hi Mark, Happy to help. It will be great to see you next week. I volunteer for a similar organization in Portland (Outside In). Enjoy your ride and stay safe. Jodie
Gigi Brisson, Friend$1,000Seattle, WA02/05/2010
Sitting here delayed at SEA-TAC airport due to the weather in the Bay area. Wandered to FB. Saw your entries. Can't think of a better way to use the extra time than to donate to your cause. Turning a negative into a positive. Hope the weather doesn't make it down to you. See you at TED. Many hugs.
Jeffrey Miller, Fan$50Washington, DC02/05/2010
I can't wait for a peak at the panniers. The pressure is on! Rickshaw Panniers not only will have to be oh so utilitarian but even more stylish! And what a good guy. Wishing you strong tailwinds!
James Phillips, Friend$20Redwood City, CA02/06/2010
Kicking in another little bit to motivate you in the rain.
Jim Maiella, Fan and Rickshaw Aficionado$50Centeport, NY02/06/2010
OK, the rain finally got me... wishing you the best and following along through the Tweets. Glad for the chance to extend my Rickshaw cheerleading to this awesome journey. Good luck Mark. Jim
Erin Hughes, Friend$100Penn Hills, PA02/06/2010
Keep your head high, and think of the kids this is going to help. Thank you for every drop of sweat you donate to the cause. Eryn!
Renee Blodgett, Friend$25San Francisco, CA02/06/2010
What a great idea Mark. Hoping the sun beats down on you with a smile. See you on the other end and am looking forward to giving you a high five.
Christopher Poss, Friend$50Baltic, CT02/07/2010
Way to go Mark! Almost to Long Beach. I'll be looking for you at TED to say hello!
Bruce Heavin, Friend$1,000Ventura, CA02/07/2010
Through rain, sleet, or snow. Oh wait.. That's the postal motto. If you don't stop in Santa Barbara I will see you in Long Beach for TED. Have a good ride Mark. Hopefully the clouds will part for your last leg of your ride.
Chiang Lun Jwo, Friend$500Taipei, CA02/08/2010
Dear Mark, You are so great. Have a nice riding. Charles
Carlisle Haworth, Supporter$25San Francisco, CA02/08/2010
I hope this arrives about the time you arrive in Long Beach. Good work!
Spencer Dwight, Family$50Palo Alto, CA02/09/2010
Congratulations on completing your ride to LA Dad! Love, Spencer, Ali, Harrison & Regan
steve varon, Friend$88new york, NY03/01/2010
I new you could
Western Textile & Mfg. Co.$200San Francisco, CA03/08/2010

Goal

Hi. I'm riding my bicycle 525 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles to attend the annual TED conference (www.ted.com). I will complete the journey five days. I'm departing from the center of the Golden Gate Bridge at sunrise on Wednesday, February 3. My goal is to raise at least $5,000 for ATC. I encourage you to make any level of contribution, but if 10 people pledge $500 each -- less han $1 per mile -- I will achieve my fund raising goal. And, of course, I'll be delighted if we raise even more!

Anyone (and everyone) who donates $1000 will receive a personal tour of my company, Rickshaw Bagworks (www.rickshawbags.com) -- where we make cool messenger bags right here in San Francisco -- and we'll make a custom messenger bag for you during your visit.

Donate $5000 and I'll host a bag making party for you and 5 of your friends and/or work associates. It makes a unique and fun team-building event for your office or workgroup.

I chose this goal because

I'm an avid cyclist, and an advocate of bicycling as eco-friendly, healthy alternative transportation. In addition to ATC, I'm a dedicated supporter of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (www.sfbike.org). I ride my bicycle to work almost everyday here in San Francisco.

I have completed two previous long-haul rides. My first was in October 2001, when I rode 1200 miles in 12 days from Astoria, Oregon to Fort Benton, Montana, along a stretch of the Lewis & Clark Trail. My second ride was this same ride from SF to LA last February, also to attend the TED conference. My ride last year was during an incredible week of clear sunny weather in February. The route along Highway 1 -- also called the Great Highway -- was breathtaking, and I resolved to do it again this year. I'm hoping for the same fabulous weather conditions, but I will ride rain or shine.

I'm helping because

I've been an ATC supporter for seven years, and I think the work these folks do is very important. And, it's tough work! I have four children myself, ages 11, 13, 15 and 17. My kids are the same ages as some of the kids ATC seeks to help -- and some of these kids have young children of their own. It breaks my heart to think about the circumstances that lead these kids to homelessness, and the conditions and situations they find themselves in on the street. While there are a number of organizations here in SF that seek to assist homeless youth, ATC runs a unique program that reaches-out to kids that fall outside these other programs.

I have the utmost respect for Rob Gitin's dedication and humanity, and I'm using my ride to engage a group of friends and associates to raise awareness for ATC, and to make a financial contribution to this important organization.

About At The Crossroads

ATC walks the streets of San Francisco, reaching out to homeless youth and young adults on their turf. We work with young people who others have given up on, who would not get help without us. Since we started 10 years ago, we have worked with more than 5,000 youth, helping them build outstanding lives.

Updates

Greetings from Long Beach! I'm safe and sound, if not a little saddle-sore. I rode 80 miles today from Oxnard, and the total mileage from SF was 519 miles. It took 6 days, and I'm ready for a little break from riding. I want to thank everyone for your donations and encouragement. I really enjoyed this campaign, and together we raised more than ten thousand dollars! That's fabulous! I'm already thinking about my next campaign idea. Stay tuned...

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Day 3: Greetings from Cambria. I've got 243 miles on the odometer so far -- about halfway to LA. Yesterday afternoon and this morning I battled rain and headwinds, so my pace has been a little slow. It will take me an extra day, but it's a great ride. We're up to $8,573 + $500 on the way from an overseas friend -- so just over $9K, and on our way to $10K! Tell your friends to join in. And, you can follow my ride on Twitter (markdwight) and Facebook. I'm off to get some dinner to refuel for another day in the saddle. Ciao!

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12:30 am Wednesday 2/3/2010: I'm ready to roll. $7,128 so far (plus another $500 on the way from an overseas friend). Our new Rickshaw prototype panniers will make their maiden voyage tomorrow. Stay tuned for spy photos and Twitter updates (markdwight). G'nite!

jon callaghan wrote:

have a great ride tomorrow mark!!! will be following (and will be jealous!).

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I'm busy packing my bicycle for the ride, starting tomorrow morning at sunrise from the center of the Golden Gate Bridge -- rain or shine. My good friend Sam will be there to make a short video. We've raised over $7K, and I just received a commitment for another $500, so now we're in striking distance of $8K. Hopefully, we'll see even more donations during the ride. Follow my Twitter updates by following "markdwight".

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AWESOME! We've raised more than $6,000 so far! HUGE THANKS to all who've donated so far. Let's not stop here...

rob wrote:

Bravo!!!

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(Jan 12) Thanks to all of you who helped make Day 2 the $2K-Day. Meanwhile, I'm getting my bicycle ready for the trip. Cheers! -Mark

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(Jan 11) Happy Monday! I just sent out an email to friends, family and acquaintances to rally support for my campaign. I receive an email when you make a donation. It's very exciting! Cheers! -Mark

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