Thank you for visiting my fundraising page!

On Saturday, September 11th, I plan to participate in Beyond the Bike again, a 100K (62 miles) ride to help raise money and awareness for Beyond the 11th, an organization co-founded by my friend Susan Retik, who lost her husband on September 11th.  Please help me achieve my goal of raising $1000! 

Beyond the 11th is a non-profit organization that provides support to widows in Afghanistan who have been affected by war, terrorism and oppression. Co-founders Susan Retik and Patti Quigley were moved to action in the wake of September 11th, which claimed the lives of their husbands.  Supported by their families and communities, the obvious disparity between the support they received and the cruel realities facing their Afghan counterparts prompted them to channel their grief towards empowering Afghan widows to realize a better and sustainable future.  Susan’s commitment to this project is both humbling and inspiring, and that is why I am writing to you today.

Last year, Beyond the Bike raised over $50,000 for construction of the Dragon Valley Women's Community Center in Bamyan, Afghanistan. 

The community center opened its doors at the end of December 2009. Razia Jan, the director of the project, was just visiting Boston from Afghanistan and she told Susan how transformative the center is for the women accessing the facility. I am excited to be able to continue supporting the community center with much needed programming, literacy classes, a library, and a playground (for the children of the women who can't leave young ones at home).  

Since the women's community center is so successful, Beyond the 11th is now raising money to build a SECOND community center!  Please join me, Susan and Beyond the 11th to make this dream a reality.

Thanks,

David