‘Tis the Season… to be a Challenger! Fa-la-la-lala-la-la-la-la
Believe it or not…The 2012 Challenge is only four months away!  Now is the time to get your entry forms in, form your teams or choose to ride solo, and start your pledge drives for your charity. Remember, you choose the charity you wish to ride for. Because of Tropical Storm Irene, the October snow storm, and the economy in general, the need for assistance is greater than ever. Local and national charities alike need your help, and the holiday season is when most people are willing to lend a helping hand.

The Challenge Committee is hard at work at the North Pole (otherwise known as Bristol, CT) getting ready for the main event. Instead of mistletoe, we’re hanging entry and sponsorship forms on every mantel in the community. If you know of any business that would be willing to support the Challenge, please let the Grinch (aka Carol) know. All donations to the CCC are tax-deductible. The Charity Cycling Challenge team would like to wish you all a happy holiday season and a Happy New Year.  But remember, the celebration doesn’t stop on January 1st.  Ring in the new year by becoming a Challenger and joining us for the fifth anniversary of the Charity Cycling Challenge!
Be one. Be one of our Challengers. Be one to make a difference.

BREAKING NEWS!
The Charity Cycling Challenge Inc. has just received confirmation from the IRS that we are recognized as a Public Charity with a 501(c)(3) designation, which means that all donations and contributions to the CCC will be tax-deductible as a charitable contribution. This will allow us to reach out to larger, national companies for donations and support.  A big THANK YOU to Jim Macek, Jon Guzzo and Katy Abbott for all their efforts in securing this designation for the CCC.

NOW IS THE TIME... TO BECOME A CHALLENGER!
There are several ways to sign up for the 2012 Charity Cycling Challenge. If you’re old school (like Jim), pick up a hard copy entry form from any of the CCC committee members, fill it out and hand it or snail mail it back. Entry forms are also available to download on Charitycyclingchallenge.com. On our website, we will also offer the opportunity to sign up and pay your entry fees all at once via PayPal.  This option will be available after 12/15. Once we receive your entry form and fees, we will forward your pledge packet(s) via email so you can start collecting donations for your charity right away. Remember, you can ride solo or form a team or teams of up to 8 riders each, all raising money for your favorite charity. With your entry fee comes breakfast, lunch, free massages, product samples, event t-shirt & towel and much, much more!

CCC PRESENTS: BOWL-A-RAMA II - THE GUTTER BOWL!
Our second Bowl-A-Rama fundraiser is scheduled for Sunday, January 29, 2012, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, at Spare Time Bowling in Bristol. You will be able to sign up online, starting on 12/15 at www.charitycyclingchallenge.com/bowling. Last year, our first, was a huge success, raising over $1,000 for the Bristol Boys & Girls Club. The proceeds from this year’s event will go to the CT Humane Society.

Come join us for a fun-filled afternoon, where it`s okay to spend the day in the gutters! The Ticket donations are $20 for adults and $12.50 for children under 12. These prices include pizza and unlimited soda, as well as bowling shoes (please provide your shoe size when signing up).  The holiday rush is over, you are sick of the cold wintery weather and there is no football game to watch…so come bowl your heads off, meet other Challengers, have a great time and help our furry friends.

CHALLENGERS’ & 5th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
This year’s Challengers’ Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, April 14, 2012, and will be held & co-sponsored by The Hearthstone Pub in Plantsville. This is a special celebration, marking our fifth year making a difference. The Hearthstone Pub is a beautiful restaurant, and we will have the entire second floor to ourselves. Appetizers and finger foods will be provided, and it will be a cash bar. The celebration starts at 7:00 P.M, and runs till 10, or beyond! Remember, this is when all the prizes and awards are presented, so you definitely want to be there! All participants and sponsors are welcome.   Come celebrate with us and have a good time!

“RAISE YOUR GLASS” WINE TASTING 2012 - NO SOUR GRAPES HERE!
Well, Pink didn’t show, but many Challengers did, and raised their glasses in support of the 2012 Challenge kickoff event. Because of your efforts (okay, how hard was it, really, to raise that glass as many times as you did) we raised $1000.00 for the Zukowski Family Foundation. Ray and Cheryl Zukowski were very pleased with the results. To learn more about the Zukowski Foundation and their efforts, please visit their website, http://zukowskifoundation.org.

A special thanks to John Mastroianni of Masty Music for providing soft jazz and setting the perfect mood for a wonderful evening of good wine, good food and great friends. Please visit his website at www.mastymusic.com. The good wine was provided by Haight-Brown Vineyard, a very supportive and gracious host, and they have already extended an invitation to hold the event there again next year.  The good food – Cabot Creamery, www.cabotcheese.coop, for donating a generous supply of their delicious cheeses, and Pat`s IGA in Wolcott for taking those cheeses, adding some of their own fine foods, and creating some fantastic platters that perfectly complimented the wines. If you are looking for a caterer, visit their website at www.patsiga.net. The good friends? Well, that would be you. Thank you all for your support.

SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE CCC
Our sponsors, many who have been with us since the Challenge began in 2008, help make all of this possible. Even in economic times such as what this country is experiencing today, these businesses continue to give. Whether it is money, services or products, without their generous donations, we would not have been able to come close to the success we have had in raising money for so many worthy organizations. We need to show them some support, to keep them coming back year after year. So please, whenever possible, give your business to one of the many companies that help us help others.  

SPECIAL EDITION “2012 T-SHIRT” DEBUT 
The new special edition t-shirts did not arrive in time for the 2012 kick-off event. But don’t fret… they are available now! The special edition t-shirts mark our fifth year of making a difference.  The t-shirts are available in three different styles – women’s fitted tee, unisex soft style short-sleeve and a new addition this year, the three-quarter sleeve baseball tee!

To place your shirt order now, call or email us today! Starting on 12/15, you’ll also be able to order shirts online using your credit or debit card. This year, we will continue to donate 100% of the proceeds to The Bristol Boys & Girls Club.

 Last year, we raised over $500.00 for the BBGC. The CCC continues to support the Bristol Boys & Girls Club in their efforts to help our children have great futures. Remember… today’s children are tomorrow’s Challengers!  If you wish to learn more about the programs we help support, please visit their website at www.bbgc.org.

GOING, GOING…GREEN (PLANET)!
For the past two years, the Charity Cycling Challenge has partnered with Green Planet, located at 45 Mellen Street in Bristol, in a bottle redemption program to raise funds for charity. This fundraiser seems to be a well-kept secret, as only a few of us have actually participated. Imagine the difference we could make if every Challenger brought their redeemables to Green Planet. 

Given our hectic schedules, who really has time to stand in line at the grocery store and place their bottles and cans one at a time into a machine (which, by the way, nine out of ten times jams)? At Green Planet, there is no need to count, simply bag your redeemables and drop them off. Then, tell the clerk they are for the Charity Cycling Challenge, and you’re done. Sounds easy, right?  Well, it is and every nickel is donated to charity.

We are also seeking local businesses to join our community members in making a difference to those in need. Currently, we have three business recycling partners.  If you know of a business willing to join in our recycling effort, please let us know.

As of the end of November, together we have raised a total of $200.95.  Once again we thank you all of our community members and business partners who are participating in our “Go Green for Charity” 2012 Re-cycling Challenge:

Businesses
The Fitness Center for Women, Bristol
Bristol Cleaners and Custom Tailors, Bristol
KMA Property Management LLC, Bristol

Please bring your recyclables to Green Planet and mention the “Charity Cycling Challenge”. The charity to benefit from these donations will be determined by a drawing of names of ONLY those who participated in the recycling effort. If your name is chosen, you get to designate the charity to receive the funds!  The drawing will be held at the 2012 Challenge Celebration.

STAY CONNECTED TO THE CCC
Make your way on over to our Facebook page to keep up on all the latest Charity Cycling Challenge news. Is Twitter more your style? You can find (and follow) us on Twitter @Spinathon too! As always, you can find everything Challenge-related by logging on to CharityCyclingChallenge.com!

	Bowl-A-Rama II Sunday, January 29 Spare Time, Bristol Time: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
	2012 Charity Cycling Challenge Saturday, March 31 Healthtrax Fitness & Wellness Center, Bristol Time:  8:00 am to 4:00 pm
	5th Anniversary Challengers’ Celebration Saturday, April 14 Hearthstone Pub, Plantsville, CT Time: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm