The Turning Point – Kansas City Events
July 16th
• Cycling for Change Team arrives in Atchison, Kansas.
•Evening events include Mass and reception at Benedictine College.
• Atchison-to-Kansas City cyclists are invited to spend the night and join the team as they ride the next morning to KC.
July 17th—the ride into Kansas City
• Events for cyclists of all ability levels:
• Local cyclists can join the C4C Team for the ride from Atchison into Kansas City.
• Turning Point Ride – Beginning and ending at St. Francis Xavier at 52nd and Troost, novice cyclists are encouraged to ride a shorter route and converge with the through riders in Kansas City for the grand arrival.
• Celebration for Father Matt Ruhl and C4C Team (family event) on Rockhurst College campus. Lunch and Kansas City Social Service Exhibition to recruit volunteers from across the metro for local poverty reducing programs.
• Evening Celebration (Adults) at the Airline History Museum.
July 20th—the departure from Kansas City
• Cycling for Change team leaves KC to begin the second half of the journey throughout Missouri and well beyond.
Sponsorship Levels:
Vistory Sponsor—$50,000
Yellow Jersey Sponsor—$49,999–$30,000
Breakaway Sponsor—$29,999–$20,000
Peloton Sponsor—$19,999–$10,000
Team Sponsor—$9,999–$5,000
Crew Sponsor—$4,999–$2,500
SAG (Support & Gear) Sponsor—$2,499–$1,000
"Spokes"-Person Sponsor—$999–$500
Your gift of cash or in-kind items contributes to Catholic Charities' goal of raising important funds which directly impact those affected by poverty. For information about benefits attached to various sponsorship levels, go to www.cyclingforchange.org
Ingram’s Magazine will serve as one of the sponsors of the Cycling for Change ride across America and we encourage Kansans and Missourians to get involved in this important project to assist Catholic Charities in its quest to help reduce poverty throughout the United States. “It’s exciting to see the Cycling for Change national initiative be driven from leaders right here in the Kansas City area,” says Ingram’s Publisher Joe Sweeney.
“Fr. Matt Ruhl is a long time friend and one of the most extraordinary people I know,” said Sweeney. “We’ve supported Matt in a number of initiatives from kayaking the headwaters of the Missouri River in Three Forks, Montana 2,500 miles to St. Louis, and with various fund-raisers for urban parishes he served as pastor in midtown Kansas City and in north St. Louis city and east St. Louis.”
The Challenge:
• Please raise pledges and ride your bike on behalf of Cycling for Change for a social ride or for a one- or multiple-day ride when the cyclists come through the region. Ingram’s will usher the cross-county cyclists from the Colorado state line near Atwood Kansas, on July 11 and will help with logistics. We will also help promote participation among Kansans throughout the six-day route across the state.
• On July 17, please participate by riding and converging with the national cyclists for the grand entry into Kansas City, the home of the Cycling for Change national initiative. We’re calling on all Kansas Citians and the business community to participate by financially supporting this important mission.
• We hope seasoned cyclists will consider recruiting pledges and supporting the cause by riding along with Fr. Ruhl and his team on one or several daily rides across the states of Kansas and Missouri.
• Here’s another challenge. Consider pledging a “Buck-a-Mile” on behalf of Caritas Center and Catholic Charities for each mile Ingram’s Publisher Joe Sweeney rides. The goal for Sweeney is to ride 60 miles with the national cyclists from Atchison to Kansas City and another 320 miles through Missouri to St. Louis or any respectable destination in between. Sweeney also plans to make the final 120-mile ride from Miami to Key West, Florida, on Labor Day weekend. “This is a lofty shot goal, but I believe in the cause and I’ll do what I can to help raise awareness and resources to help fight poverty throughout the bi-state region and our nation. I hope you too will consider supporting the Cycling for Change bike tour throughout Kansas and Missouri and the nation this summer,” said Sweeney.
Here’s How You Can Help:
• Consider sponsoring Fr. Matt Ruhl at a “Buck-a-Mile” or any amount for his incredible pledge of biking 5000 miles in 100 days. From Cape Flattery, Washington to Key West, Florida.
• Sponsor the cross-country through riders on this incredible journey of biking 5000 miles in 100 days. From Cape Flattery, Washington all the way to Key West, Florida.
• You can sponsor or challenge Ingram’s Publisher Joe Sweeney at a “Buck-a-Mile” or any amount for his lofty goal of biking 500 miles in nine days. From Atchison, Kan. to Kansas City, then on to St. Louis and the final leg from Miami to Key West, Florida. Your donation will be based on his performance.
• Or ride along with us for any leg or distance of the journey. Solicitations for pledges are appreciated. 
Return to Ingram's February 2010