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Who Will Be Caesar?
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(To read about the whole history of this project, go to this page. It’s the central page about the fundraiser from start to finish.)
As many of you know, I planned on going on a bike tour across the U.S.
You also know that I failed.
That failure was the wrenching, stinging variety. I really wanted to go.
But like I promised, instead of giving up, I vowed to uphold the premise of this blog’s title and to continue to try and persist, regardless of the obstacles. That concept is the very foundation of my life.
I’ve decided to hold as wide of a fundraiser as possible, to try to raise the money over the Internet, instead of privately, something that I may not have an adequate skill set for. After all, I’m just a writer.
And if I can go after all, oh will I write things for you. 
To make the fundraiser as interesting as possible, I’ve designed it as a contest. The prize? Well, you’ll just have to watch the video below to find out.
If anyone would like to help, there are instructions on how to do so below the video.
Oh yeah, and if I embarrassed anyone by naming and/or picturing them, good. It just means I like you.
My initial goal was to raise $10,000 dollars which would replace my income for three months, allow me to purchase the hundreds of dollars in equipment I would need, and would pay for a 5,000 calorie per day diet.
Oh and some Starbucks.
This should be very possible, so long as we can get enough people to help.
It will only take a few thousand people donating a few dollars each.
And if we can do it, you will set me free and give me the greatest gift of my life. For that, I will remember all of you until the day I die…
I’ve been able to raise some, save a little more, and I’ve gotten some equipment (shout out: thanks Nigero for loaning me the good bike).
As the video shows (and is enhanced with adrenaline-stoking footage) when I return from the bike trip, whoever can help me raise the most will get a rudis. I will present it personally (regardless of where you live) as a gesture of my deep gratitude for helping me achieve the difficult.
But remember, it won’t matter who wins. You will all be my Caesar…
Here’s one good way we can make this happen:
If everyone can participate by doing the list of just three things below, we can raise the money soon enough for me to go before winter arrives:
- Try to raise just five dollars
- Try to find just two other bloggers who will commit to this list of three
- Try to do this list in two days
If everyone commits to this list, then after just 22 days, we’ll have raised the full amount and I’ll be off in mid-October with just enough time to make it back before the snow can stop me.
If you are able to modify anything in the list (raise more, find more help, or are able to do them sooner than two days, then we’ll finish faster. (This section above was extracted from this post).
How to help?
You can blog about the fundraiser, and ask your readers to support the trip by going here and donating. You can also encourage other bloggers you know to join the contest by directing them to this post. You can also Stumble this post, e-mail it to friends, and whatever else you can think of that will spread the word. Also, feel free to make use of the video if you want to embed in a post of your own.
You can also display the below graphic on your sidebar if you would like. It will automatically update with the new total throughout the day.
To add this graphic, use this code:
<a href="http://www.iwillnotdie.com/who-will-be-caesar/" target="new_window"><img src="http://www.iwillnotdie.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/caesar.png" alt="Donate" /></a>
The bloggers I mentioned in the video (and some that I pictured) are my regulars and friends (I love you all so I’m just going to pass out oodles of links):
- Creating a Better Life
- Destination Unknown
- Everyday Thoughts from Life
- Flimjo
- Illuminated Mind
- In Search of Meaning
- Indigo Spot
- Learning to Say Yes
- LifeReboot
- Max-Bro
- Monk Mojo
- Naked in Eden
- One Organized Life
- Our Best Version
- Persistent Illusion
- Stem and Root
- Steve Olson
- Wallpaper
- Writer Dad
I think I got everyone. If I forgot you, let me know. There will be more videos in the future
Other blogs I mentioned are:
- Darren Rowse at Problogger.net
- John Chow at Johnchow.com
- Jeremy Shoemaker at Shoemoney.com
- Jeff Jarvis at Buzzmachine.com
- Seth Godin at sethgodin.typepad.com
I included them because I follow them. You can help by clicking on the links above (from this page, not a reader) so they might see the referral traffic and come here to know that I am committed and serious about needing their help to get this going. I will be contacting them all in the next few days to see if they can help.
If you know of other bloggers who might be interested in helping, let them know.
If this works, it will be my great pleasure to prostrate on the ground in front of anyone and hand them my rudis.
Finally, I want to thank everyone in advance who can help.
I think it can be done.
But time is of the essence here. Before too long, besides obstructing just the Rocky Mountains, the winter will soon blanket Indiana too.
(To go directly to the donate page, click here.)
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32 Responses to “Who Will Be Caesar?”
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What a great idea, Derek. I’m delighted to kick off the donations with $100 for starters.
So come on folks, who’s next?
Orna
Wow Orna…
I can’t thank you enough
Derek…this was worth waiting for. THIS is what breaking free, stepping out of the box looks like. I am astonished, dumbfounded, and absolutely HONORED that you would include me in this.
So here’s the deal. This IS what hope looks like; I WILL tell all my friends; and when you are back from your ride (to my home state of all places) - I will get to interview the AMAZING person who returns triumphant.
I pledge $375. $375 to make your dream come true.
Now, where is is you PayPal stuff?!
Jeez Hayden! Thanks!
Wow Hayden, and I’d be totally honored to meet you in NC.
The actual PayPal link is on the donate page.
You should make it easier my friend and put a donate button on the post that I am about to link to.
As for meeting, YES. I have some :cough: flexibility regarding my schedule.
Are you linking to this post? I can add one.
Yes, please.
I added links to the top & bottom of the post. Thanks for the advice.
[...] All he needs is $2 from 5,000 people. $2 for freedom. (Actually, now all he needs is $2 from 4,762.5 people.) In dreaming, in transforming your life, in looking towards the future - how have you nourished the dreams of others? And more importantly, have you allowed others to support what you have dreamt? [...]
Thanks for the link love! I put my 2 cents in. (Well, a bit more than that, but not much more….)
@ Ari - Thank you, Ari. It means so much to me.
[...] pop-anime-hentai related videos to load, why don’t you check out the fundraising going on at I Will Not Die. If you can’t donate at least pass on the link to someone. And watch the video. The music is [...]
[...] story, titled Who Will Be Caesar, is about a dream and achieving that dream. Dereck’s story is also still in the making, and [...]
[...] wanted to help, so I visited Dereck’s site and donated $20. Consequently, $20 was added to his running total towards his goal of [...]
Have you thought about getting a corporate sponsor?
You could sell it them as promoting the need for exercise and general health for employees everywhere. Show how, even us cubicle dwellers can be in good enough shape to accomplish tough physical goals, like what you are trying to accomplish. They could probably even write it off as a business expense.
Most people try to raise money through individual patrons, but small and mid sized businesses usually have at least a little money in the budget for marketing/advertising, and this would be a great way for them to do it. If you track your progress on a website and host some ads for them on the site, then that might provide even more incentive for them to pony up some money for you, and they’d feel like they are getting their money worth.
The worst they can say is no.
@ John - Quite so. And they did say no. In fact, the brunt of my focus up until now has been attempting to solicit businesses in the hopes one or more of them might sponsor me. I couldn’t find one that would.
Oh! This story tugs at my heart strings. As I save up to bike Tuscany with a friend next summer- I so truly want to donate to your cause!
OK- since I have 20 dollars to last me til next Friday, I think it won’t happen this week. I won’t forget you. Good luck!
This is stupid. Why would anyone want to give money to some guy so he could just go on a bike trip around America?
Aren’t there other causes that our money could be better spent on? I feel like fighting breast cancer or fulfilling a dying child’s last wish is much more fulfilling then helping a guy pay for a vacation trip…
Sorry to be a downer. Please tell me if there is something that I am missing here.
Dereck, check your email as I sent you another letter.
Hang in,
Robin
After you read it see if any of your followers here have any contacts with media, radio, TV or bike clubs, magazines, groups, etc.
[...] (This is a follow-up to the article, "Who Will Be Caesar?") [...]
@ Brazen - thank you! Love to hear more about your trip too.
@ Zach -
Because it not just a bike trip. It’s much more. See this.
@ Robin - Will do.
Good luck!
Sorry it took so long to put your graphic on my site, but we had a busy weekend of putting on a new roof on our house.
It should be on now.
Pam
Zach, Zach, Zach,
giving to Derek does not preclude giving to any of the other causes you mention… and more. The main reason to give is for the sake of giving itself. Witholding makes us feel bad, giving makes us feel good — it’s that simple.
It is only since I started freely giving money away that I have found myself with more than enough of the stuff. And then I realised that makes perfect sense. Because whatever you want to receive in life, you’ve got to spread it around.
Give a smile, get a smile. Give a frown, get a frown. Give money, receive money. That’s how the world works. It’s a physical (physics) law: every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
So what Derek is actually offering is an opportunity for giving — and receiving. One you can take or decline — but there is nothing stupid about it.
I figure it’s well worth giving over a few dollars to see somebody manifest a dream.
So thanks Derek.
And come on, everyone, let’s get that total up…Up…UP!
Orna
I’m assuming this is a good time for me to register a new debit card (I’ve been delaying it for few years lol). I’ll see what I can do. I don’t want to promise but I’ll see what I can do.
Regards,
JJ
@ ORNA ROSE
You are one insightful gal!!!
I agree ABSOLUTELY.
So good to hear someone sharing this vital truth.
It makes my heart sing!
@ GaFarmWomanPam - Hey thanks! I’ll make sure to include you in the next update. I really, really appreciate it!
@ Orna - Wow, much better than I could have said it. And you’re absolutely right.
@ JJ - Hey thanks too! I definitely don’t want to put anyone in a bind by helping out, so if it’s trouble, let me know and we can figure out an alternative. Thank you JJ.
@ Robin - Couldn’t agree more.
[...] are a badass. You know this, I know this, and much of the world knows this. I’m running a fundraiser so that I can change my life. I’m raising the money so that I can ride across part of the [...]
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