Cycling for Leader Dogs: June 2012

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Let the Journey Begin...

I have begun the journey across America. My online efforts to communicate will be mainly through our Facebook Fan page, Leader Dogs for the Blind website and my online journal (see links below). Feel free to communicate with me either through email or through the journal guestbook.

Leader Dogs for the Blind

Cycling For Leader Dogs Trip Journal

Trip Maps by Sections:

Redfield, NY to Portland, ME

Rochester Hills, MI to Redfield, NY

Green Bay, WI to Rochester Hills, MI

Foley, MN to Green Bay, WI

Jamestown, ND to Foley, MN

Forsyth, MT to Jamestown, ND

Missoula, MT to Forsyth, MT

Vancouver, WA to Missoula, MT

Therefore, if you want the most accurate information about the trip, please checkout one of these sites to keep track of where I am at, and what I am doing:

A huge thank you for all the support. Let's keep this energy going!

Happy Cycling,
Lion Mark

Want to support Leader Dogs?

Be a "Penny Per Mile" Sponsor

All donations of $35 or more
(One Penny Per Mile) will receive a
CYCLING FOR LEADER DOGS
sponsorship lapel pin.

100% of ALL donations go to
LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND

Donate Online By Clicking Below

Don't want to donate online?
Mail your sponsorship check to:

Cycling for Leader Dogs
c/o Leader Dogs for the Blind
1039 S. Rochester Rd.,
Rochester Hills, MI 48307

Make your check out to:
Leader Dogs for the Blind

Write in the check memo
"Cycling for Leader Dogs".
This way Leader Dogs will know
to send you a sponsorship pin.

Information about Leader Dogs

Leader Dogs for the Blind has been providing guide dogs to the blind and visually impaired since 1939. More than 14,000 service dogs have been provided in the past 74 years. All Leader Dog services are provided free of charge. Funding for Leader Dogs is provided by private, corporate and Foundational donations. Lions Clubs are a key part of Leader Dog funding, providing more than $2 million dollars in support each year. Cycling for Leader Dogs is an effort to help support the great work of Leader Dogs. Lion Mark Mansell with the support of his home club (La Center Lions Club), Leader Dogs for the Blind and Lions Clubs along the trip route are working together to raise more than $35,000 to support those in need.

A bit about Lion Mark

Lion Mark is a proud member of the La Center Lions Club. Lions Clubs are service organizations with more than 1.3 million members worldwide. He makes his home in La Center, Washington with his wife Debbie (also a Lion).

He is an educator by training and an adventurer in spirit. His hobbies include learning, distance running, camping, metal working and of course bicycling.

Lion Mark's "day job" requires 60 or more hours a week, so that never left too much time for Lions activities beyond the local club level. When the chance to take two months off from work came about, the idea of bicycling across America quickly filled the vacant schedule.

Leader Dogs for the Blind began as a Lions Club endeavor and has served thousands of blind and vision impaired individuals over the past three-quarter century. The chance to seize the opportunity to help make a positive difference for this wonderful organization and fulfill a dream adventure created a perfect combination for Lion Mark.

And as they say... "The rest is history."

Welcome to Cycling for Leader Dogs.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Let the Journey Begin...