Riders are on the road right now completing the 36km course. Watch for them in their bright red cycling shirts; please don’t run them over and honk to offer your support.

Thank you to all those who turned out and plunked down their hard-earned cash to bid on a wide variety of items, kindly donated by our generous benefactors.  A huge thank you as well to Francis and the staff [...]]]> Last night was the Miles for Smiles charity auction at Liquid Kitty Lounge, 69 John St. S.

Thank you to all those who turned out and plunked down their hard-earned cash to bid on a wide variety of items, kindly donated by our generous benefactors.  A huge thank you as well to Francis and the staff at Tailgates, who put out their customary fantastic spread, once again made us feel very welcome in their establishment with their hospitality.  Tara in particular deserves a shoutout – she raised about $1500 through some activities at Tailgate’s golf tournament and at some other events.  Thank you.

Thank you as well to our generous sponsors – whose logos, found at the right hand side of this page,  act as links to their respective websites.  These folks have supported our efforts to raise funds for the Good Shepherd Centres both monetarily and logistically;  some, like Backspin Marketing Group have worked tirelessly to help the event unfold.  We are very grateful for all of this support from our sponsors.  Please send your business their way and thank them for contributing to this worthwhile cause.

The winner of the Las Vegas trip was – if I remember correctly – Bruce Cook.  Also, for the first time in living memory, no one from the band won the basket of booze.   I think they call that a “black swan” event.

I’ll have a post with some wrap up information for this year, and hopefully some pictures too.  In the meantime, I have to get ready for tomorrow’s ride.  Keep your fingers crossed for “no rain.”

Since it is now August, those of you with proficiency in math will easily be able to calculate that this is a period of:  “much too long”.  I admit it, I am a slothful, lazy, indolent, good-for-nothin’ no-count webmaster that has seriously [...]]]> Keen-eyed readers will note that there have been exactly zero posts since last September.

Since it is now August, those of you with proficiency in math will easily be able to calculate that this is a period of:  “much too long”.  I admit it, I am a slothful, lazy, indolent, good-for-nothin’ no-count webmaster that has seriously let you down in terms of posting new and updated information about Miles for Smiles 2009.  Heck I haven’t even managed to give you some old and busted information about last year’s ride/auction and all the cool stuff we managed to do.

Guilty as charged.  I could spend some time making excuses here now, but really, I’d prefer to leave the formal apologies to my attorney, Mr. J. Belushi, esq.  Mr. Belushi will now read my prepared statement on this matter:

I ran outta gas. I had a flat tire. I didn’t have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn’t come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from outta town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake, a terrible flood, locusts. It wasn’t my fault!! I swear to God!!

With that, I will now proceed to pretend that the previous eleven months did not happen.  I just hope we can put this unpleasantness behind us and move on together.

There’s so much to cover, really, since last year.  I promise I will put some stuff up from last year’s auction and ride  (Video!  Photos!  Music! w00t!!!1), but it is already August 2009 and I would be remiss if I didn’t lead off with the details for this year’s event.

The 2009 Miles for Smiles Auction will be Thursday September 24th at the Liquid Kitty Lounge, 69 John St. S. in Hamilton (it’s downstairs from Tailgate Charlie’s).

The 2009 Miles for Smiles Bicycle Ride will be Saturday September 26th.  Cyclists will be departing as usual from Corktown Park (at the corner of Young and Ferguson in downtown Hamilton).

I’ll be back regularly from now on to update the site with some terrific stuff from years gone by and all the most current information about this year’s ride.  In the meantime, here’s a couple of pictures from last year to help get you stoked for Miles for Smiles 2009!

2008 Miles for Smiles Honorary Chairman Retired Justice Morris Perozak adjusts his helmet at Corktown Park in Hamilton before beginning the Ride.

…proof positive that Judges are smarter than lawyers or City Councillors. Cole Raftery and Councillor Terry Whitehead arrive at the halfway point.

Meanwhile, Michelle Titian and her band (and a star-studded cast of others) rocked it out at the Miles for Smiles 2008 Charity Auction. And all you needed was a party helmet!

Every year, we have some fun [...]]]> Well, the auction has come and gone for another year!  I will hold off doing a full-on recap for right now – I have some pictures and some video to share, and I’ll do the final recap when I get home and can get those things up on the site.

Every year, we have some fun at the auction, and last night was no exception, but the simple fact is that it’s about raising some money.   With that in mind, on behalf of the entire Miles for Smiles committee, I’d like to thank all those who attended;  those who donated items and those who bid on our auction merchandise are near and dear to our hearts.  We also very much appreciate the contributions of all our sponsors (see their logos in the right hand sidebar, click and follow the links to go to their websites).

Thanks to Michelle Titian and  band,  who started the night off solidly with some beautiful songs.   Thanks to Steve Sinnicks who played a set for us in between his frantic bids on the A.J. Burnett autographed Jays jersey (sorry, Steve, I think I saw some other guy walking around with it on after all was said and done), and thanks of course to Adam Castelli, who ripped through an energetic set and had us all wondering how he ever got eliminated from that show.   Shout out to Mike, Michelle Titian’s sound guy, who did the work of the unsung tech hero, twiddling knobs on the board to make it all sound good – even (I am told) the Dennis Reardon Orchestra, who closed out the evening and chased all the people away.

Last but not least, thanks to Francis and the staff at Tailgate Charlies, who – as always – put out a great spread for us, and provided their excellent hospitality for everyone in attendance.

There are some great items that have [...]]]> Howdy folks, and welcome to auction day. Our silent auction in support of the Good Shepherd Centres and the facilities they operate – Brennan House and Notre Dame House – goes tonight at 5:30 at the Liquid Kitty Lounge, downstairs at Tailgate Charlies, 69 John St. S., Hamilton.

There are some great items that have been generously donated by local businesses and individuals. There is also going to be an appearance by Hamilton’s most recently famous Canadian Idol contestant Adam Castelli (I’m told he’ll be playing an acoustic set for us), a peformance by Michelle Titian (Hamilton’s Female Artist of the Year for 2007), and other musical stylings from the Dennis Reardon Orchestra (winners of no awards, doomed to labour in near-total musical obscurity). No doubt Mr. Reardon himself will stage his annual attempt to be re-admitted into the band that bears his name by mounting an assault upon the stage and seeking to inflict his idiosyncratic version of “Folsom Prison Blues” upon those brave enough to remain in the general vicinity.

Good times will be had by all, this I can promise. See you there!

Riders are asked to stop by Thoman Soule to pick their shirt up, or else speak to Theresa or Erin at the auction (Thursday night, September 18th, 5:30, Liquid Kitty Lounge – downstairs at Tailgate Charlies).  It would be fantastic if all the riders could WEAR their Miles [...]]]> …are in!  Miles for Smiles T-Shirts have arrived!

Riders are asked to stop by Thoman Soule to pick their shirt up, or else speak to Theresa or Erin at the auction (Thursday night, September 18th, 5:30, Liquid Kitty Lounge – downstairs at Tailgate Charlies).  It would be fantastic if all the riders could WEAR their Miles for Smiles T while riding on Saturday the 20th – let’s show our sponsors some love, people, and get their logos out there while we are riding upon the highways and biways of our fair province this Saturday!

In other news, donations for the auction continue to find their way to the committee.   A little bird tells me that Justice Festeryga has again generously donated an original painting, entitled “Somewhere in P.E.I.” (if I remember correctly).  This beautiful piece of art, along with many other terrific items – a flight in a historic warplane!  an autographed Blue Jays jersey! an iPod! (and many others) – will go up for auction Thursday night at 5:30 in support of Good Shepherd Centres of Hamilton and their facilities “Notre Dame House” and “Brennan House”, two places that provide critical services for kids in need in our City.  Come on out and help us raise some dough for a great cause!