The Manifesto

June 1st, 2007

Hello everyone!

I know it's been awhile for some of you. As you can tell from the accompanying page, I'm trying to raise money for The Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City. I feel very strongly about this and feel that we have an obligation to help others who are not as fortunate. The Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City is a “home away from home” for families with children receiving critical medical treatment in Iowa City. It provides a haven where families can support each other, cook a meal, do laundry, relax, share a laugh, and find comfort during stressful times.

I have never done anything like this before but I am confident that we can all make this a successful undertaking. As you may or may not know, I've been involved in triathlons for the last few years. I'm not going to kid you, I still feel funny telling people that. After reading amazing stories about other people who have raised money to help people in the past (and feeling kind of guilty), I felt that I could be part of that team as well, and use triathlons as a vehicle to make the team successful. I am asking you to pledge money for each mile that I undertake in my races this summer. (Of course a one-time donation is great, too) Out of the five races that I will be doing this summer, four are a “Sprint Distance” races, which typically entails a quarter mile swim, a 10-15 mile bike, and a 3 mile run. The other race is an “Olympic Distance” race which consists of a 1 mile swim, a 25 mile bike, and a 6 mile run (I just got really exhausted thinking about that one!). For the summer, the total mileage will be 101 ½ miles of racing. Whatever amount of tax-deductible donation you can spare will be greatly appreciated by the children and families who use this. My last race is on Saturday, September 15th in Devil's Lake, Wisconsin. I'm setting an ambitious goal of $2,000 and I know we can make it. Please have your check (Payable to "RMHC of Eastern Iowa") sent to me in the envelope provided no later than September 22nd.

By all means, take this opportunity to get as interactive as you want. You want to know what it's like to train with a triathlete (albeit a very slow one)? Come along on a bike ride with me. Tag along on a run, but please promise to wait for me. Dust off those goggles and your Speedo and hop in the pool with me for some laps (we can always retreat to pool basketball at the Y). If that sounds like too much, come on out and watch one of the races. You can yell encouragement or crack jokes, I can appreciate both of them. Laugh at my body shape as I emerge from the lake, tell me how fast I make Lance Armstrong look on the bike, question whether my jogging pace should actually be considered as a “brisk walk”. Or you can just follow along online. I have a website created specifically for this at http://tri-charity.blogspot.com/ that I will update regularly, keeping you posted on the events I'm competing in, complete with race photos and recaps, and of course how the fund raising is progressing.

Thank you very much for your support, I look forward to having you as a team member! Please contact me with any questions or concerns at (563)529-2862 or nick_swanson@hotmail.com .

Nick Swanson