2012

Family and Friends,

I hope this email finds that everyone is enjoying their summer if you are north of the equator and getting some ski turns in if you are south. It is hard to believe that six years ago I participated in my first Copper Triangle and Brooke 4 years ago. It all started one day during lunch at Tokyo Joe’s on the 16th Street Mall in Denver, Co. While I was enjoying one of their delicious bowls I read a flyer talking about a ride to benefit Parkinson’s that was taking place in a couple weeks. I quickly created a donation page and asked my college roommate if he wanted to ride in the event. He agreed, and on that fateful August morning we reached Copper Mountain at 6am for what would prove to be an epic ride. Little did we know it is below freezing at elevation at 6am and our bibs and jersey offered little warmth. There we were cutting the toes off long socks to wear as arm warmers during the ride. Regardless of our ignorance we finished and in the process I raised somewhere around $7,000 and was one of the event’s top fundraisers. Fast forward six years and almost $50,000 in fundraising and that brings us to this year’s ride. On August 4th, I will once again be riding in the Copper Triangle, winding 78 miles over 3 high mountain passes and traveling through Leadville, Vail and Copper Mountain in Colorado.

The last year has been nothing short of amazing Stanford vs Oregon football game for me living back in Chicago close to my family and friends. I have especially enjoyed the time I have been able to spend with my father, Wild Bill. An irreversible illness like Parkinson’s is something I would not wish on my worst enemy, but life works in mysterious ways in terms of what can come from hardships. I state this because the experiences that I have shared with my father in the last year are ones that I will never forget; I am sure many of you will not forget either, as you have shared some of these memories too. All of us at some point will experience the decline of a parent, but mine has just been accelerated due to Parkinson’s and my advice is this: do not let something like an illness create the precedent for you to want to spend time with a parent. When we look back over our lives what we can take from the previous generation is priceless because that is our closest link to history, the history of each and every one of us. It was with the proceeding thoughts that I purchased a 1948 Chevy 5 Window Pickup truck in the spring of 2011 for my father and I to fix up. For as long as I can remember Wild had talked about a 5 Window and my move back presented an excellent opportunity. Now for the uninformed the best example I can give as a comparison to vehicle restoration is Facebook '48 being delivered to the farm stock. On the surface it just makes sense to put a little money into it and then reap the rewards. Quite the opposite….it simply takes your money with no reward. As I am recent MBA some of you have asked about Joe Mihalic (http://nomoreharvarddebt.com/about/) and his ability to repay his loans in a year

and if I was up to something similar. Well with Mr. 5 window I am not up to this same scenario, but how many chances do I get to learn how to gap a spark plug,

or that an engine has a firing order launching pistons non-sequentially instead of sequentially like I thought (I played sports in high school and did not get the car bug). It is more than just learning, it is learning with my dad and hearing a story such as the creeper Only Wild works on a car in a polo

(http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=588300) we were using was a Christmas gift for a gap toothed 18 year old in 1956 on the farm. While telling a close friend about this project he told me he would give anything to have the chance to do the same with his dad so I urge you Removing the all wood bed to take the trip you have talked about, drive across a state (something larger than Rhode Island) or whatever it might be because you never get a second chance.

In the last year sibling rivalry also coerced me into running a marathon. Brooke signed up for the Chicago Marathon with the intention of running for Team Fox in support of the Michael J.

Fox Foundation, which meant that I had to sign up for the Chicago Marathon. 26.2 miles later Team Fox became a huge part of my life. In October of 2011 13 individuals who have been touched by Parkinson’s came together to found the Chicago Young Professionals chapter of Team Team Halcott after 26.2 miles Fox.

Our goal was to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s research. In June of this year we hosted a 400 person gala that raised almost $50,000 in one night for the Michael J. Fox Foundation (watch a video of the event here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWVyY0SAbss&feature=youtu.be). Thank you again to all friends and family that were able to make this event including flying all the way from London for a quick weekend trip. Being involved with such passionate and caring people on a grass roots organization

Team Fox board members

was truly inspiring and a team I never want to leave because of the support that we are able to offer one another.

As Brooke and I have now become involved with 2 amazing groups, the Davis Phinney and Michael J. Fox foundations we have found it necessary to have a vehicle by which we can direct funds that people donate to our events. Therefore, we created Wild Bill’s Warriors (“WBW”) a 501c3 non-profit. All money received will be directed to Parkinson’s research. To make a donation please visit www.wildbillswarriors.org. Brooke and I have set our goal at $10,000 again this year so any amount can help.

Finally this year’s Copper Triangle will be a lot more special than the rest. With a recent purchase from http://www.davincitandems.com/ Wild will be riding this year. If you are in the Colorado area on August 4th please come out for a ride with him and I. Unfortunately it will only be Wild and I this year as Brookie is heading overseas to support the US of A in London.

Wild and Mom before Bike the Drive