I am excited to announce another seriously cool raffle for a 2009 Specialized Tricross Sport Cyclocross Bike courtesy of Rasmussen Bike Shop and other prizes as a fundraiser for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, Iowa Chapter.

I would like to offer tickets to cyclocross supporters to win this bike. The winner of the bike* will have their new rig ordered to size by Rasmussen Bike Shop and the envy of every racer out there.

We will have runner-up prizes including:
***2009 Specialized Tricross Singlecross Cyclocross Bike
***Oakley Schwag Pack
***Bike World Schwag Pack
***Copy of Simon Burney's updated Cyclo-Cross book - signed by Tim Johnson
***Rasmussen Schwag Pack
***more prizes to be announced!

Buy one, buy ten - I appreciate your support in helping raise funds and awareness for this cause that we believe in and Iowa bikers support strongly - we have donated over $6,000 so far.

What I'm asking is: EMAIL me with the number of tickets you would like to purchase. The tickets are $25 apiece and only 100 will be made available. The raffle will take place on Sunday, October 5 in Newton after the Cross Out Crohn's Intergalactic Cyclocross Championship. Like last year, I will send updates with names and numbers of tickets purchased via BikeIowa, IORCA, and DSM Tri yahoo e-groups.

When the tickets are gone, they are gone!

Thanks in advance - so send me your rsvps for tickets and bring your cash (or check to CCFA Iowa Chapter) to Newton on Sunday, October 5, 2008! (Let me know if you need to mail it.)

Marco
###
The Fine Print: Only 100 tickets will be sold at $25.00 each. Raffle will be held Sunday, October 5, 2008 at Cross Out Crohn's Intergalactic Cyclocross Championship. Grand Prize Winner and Runner-UP need not be present to win. Grand Prize Winner will receive a 2009 Specialized Tricross Sport Cyclocross bicycle (http://twurl.cc/56d). Runner-up winner will receive a 2009 Specialized Tricross Singlecross Cyclocross bicycle (http://twurl.cc/56f). No substitutions. At discretion of Des Moines Cyclocross Mafia, if all tickets are not sold, winner will receive either the Specialized Tri Cross Sport Cyclocross Bicycle or 50% of raffle proceeds as a gift certificate to Rasmussen Bike Shop, West Des Moines , IA. No discounts, offers or coupons may be used with raffle gift certificate. All net proceeds to be donated to the Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America, Iowa Chapter upon completion of contest. Des Moines Cyclocross Mafia, Rasmussen Bike Shop, Bike World, Oakley and other sponsors reserve all rights and deny any liability. Raffle Contact: Marc Hollander 515-371-6275 or marcthollander@gmail.com.

So... what is the Cyclocross Mafia? Listen and learn. We'll see you at Mc Rae Park this weekend and in Newton next weekend.

http://www.bigdreamgathering.com/2008/09/another-bdg-pod.html

###

Another BDG podcast with BIG dreamers Mark and Rob!

Hey gang -

We've got another inspiring podcast with BIG dreamers Marc Hollander and Rob Versteegh!  (Click here to check out the podcast or hit the Blogtalkradio player below.)

These guys have combined two very different passions to make one BIG dream!

They've taken a passion for a new form of bike racing called "CycloCross" and a passion for growing awareness about Crohn's Disease.

Listen in as you hear about Mark's story of overcoming Crohn's and how Rob has come along side him to put some freakishly cool events together... to get people out... having fun... getting muddy... and growing awareness for Crohn's!

You can check out bikeIowa.com to find out more about their upcoming event in downtown Des Moines on September 27 and 28.

You can also check out Mark and Rob's website at cyclocrossmafia.blogspot.com.

Then, join in the conversation. 

Just click comments below and let us know if you have some ideas, some inspiration or some contacts for Mark and Rob. 

 Thanks for dreaming BIG!

###

The Cyclocross Mafia to be recognized by the CCFA Iowa at their 2008 Patient and Family Education Conference on Saturday, October 11, 2008 in Ames Iowa.  Through promotion of cyclocross racing in Iowa the past seven years, the Cyclocross Mafia has donated over $6,000 to the organization and helped raise visibility of the disease through the midwest. 

This one-day conference will feature leading experts discussing inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and how they affect the body, the role of the immune system in the diseases, different medications used to treat IBD adn how these medications work in the body and beneficial coping mechanisms used in chronic illness. 

Marc Hollander will be the featured keynote speaker, presenting "IBD for Dummies: Perspective From a Dummy," about the importance of a strong medical team, alternative therapies, diet, activity, and goal-setting. He will also be involved with the Youth and Teen Session - "If You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It." The chat session will be an opportunity for questions and answers about Crohn's, coping, communication with friends and family, and spreading information to their community.

Hollander, diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in 1999, is co-director of the Cross Out Crohn's: Intergalactic Cyclocross Championship in Newton, IA on Sunday, October 5. The race will be a fund-raiser for the CCFA, featuring a raffle of a 2009 Specialized TriCross Cyclocross bicycle from Rasmussen Bike Shop. Event sponsors include Court Avenue Brewery, Graziano's Italian Grocery, Jasper Winery, Active Endeavors, Bike World Iowa, Rasmussen Bike Shop, Oakley, UME COMPETE, and Oakley.

More information on the event can be found on the CCFA Iowa Website here.

Just Plain Sexy

This just in from our friends @bikehugger on Twitter. This definitely ain't yo daddy's Raleigh.

THE CYCLOCROSS MAFIA IS GOING INTERGALACTIC IN 2008

The race is a non-profit venture to support the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Iowa.

• Beer by Court Avenue Brewery.

• Fine wines provided by Jasper Winery

• Grilled Italian Sausage Sandwiches by Graziano's Italian Grocery

• Limited Edition Cross Mafia 2008 T-shirts by Godfather Garrett

• 2009 Specialized Cyclocross Bikes Raffle by Rasmussen Bike Shop

• BOS (Bags of Schwag) Raffle by Oakley and Bike World

WHEN: Sunday, October 5:

WHERE: Maytag Park, Newton, IA

Categories Entry Fee Start Time Distance Prizes

Women $30 11:00 AM 45min + 2 laps $125/3

Juniors $15 11:00 AM 45min + 2 laps ROOT BEER

CX 4 $30 12:30 PM 45min + 2 laps PRIZE = :)

CX 1-2-3 $30 2:00 PM 60min + 2 laps $125/3

Masters 30-39 $30 2:00 PM 60min + 2 laps PRIZE = :)

Masters 40-49 $30 2:00 PM 60min + 2 laps PRIZE = :)

Masters 50+ $30 2:00 PM 60min + 2 laps PRIZE = :)

Race Info: Maytag Park, Newton. From I-80, take Hwy 14 North. Turn right onto South

12th Avenue. Turn left at stop sign, then immediate right onto 12th Avenue. Turn left at

West 6th Street (HA Lynn Field) and right onto South 11th Avenue West to Maytag Park.

Cash prizes sponsored by: UME COMPETE

Contact Marc Hollander @ marcthollander at gmail dot com for more info.

www.CyclocrossMafia.blogspot.com

Race supported by MOB racing

Announcing the newest sponsor of the Cross Out Crohn's Cyclocross on Sunday, October 5.

We are excited to have the renowned Jasper Winery come aboard to provide their acclaimed beverages for racers. They specialize in premium quality wines using grapes sourced from vineyards throughout central Iowa.

Visit them online at www.jasperwinery.com

Cyclocross Mafia Announces the "Josh & Jake Comp" for Capitol City Cyclocross and Cross Out Crohn's (Sept 27-28, October 5).

As we've been blessed by some great out-of-state racers the past few years to push our competitive spirit, we're formally starting the Jake Stechman & Josh Johnson comp program*. 

Out-of-staters, please send us your race resume, and we will award four starting positions, gratis, for each race, for two men and two women.

Elites will be posted here the week of September 20.

* Josh & Jake always get comp'd.

Capital City Cross is on!

September 27 - 28

Des Moines, Iowa

www.bikeiowa.com for info

CROSS OUT CROHN'S 2008

Sunday, October 5. 

Maytag Park, Newton, Iowa

Cyclocross Racing on one of Iowa's best courses.

• Beer by Court Avenue Brewery
• Grilled Italian Sausage Sandwiches by Graziano's Italian Grocery
• Limited Edition Cross Mafia 2008 T-shirts by Godfather Garrett
• 2009 Specialized Cyclocross Bikes Raffle by Rasmussen Bike Shop
• BOS (Bags of Schwag) Raffle by Oakley and Bike World

All of this and more, to benefit the Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America, Iowa Chapter. 

Kindly brought to you by MOB Racing.

Stay tuned.