Active.com Donations

Update! The ride was a huge success in raising funds and awareness!

Perrie and me sporting the team colors

“Hi, my name is Perrie Smith and I have NF. I am 13 years old. Living with unwanted birthmarks is not really the icing on the cake for me. I am living with over fifty birthmarks all over my body. The biggest one is on my right leg. I call it the birthmark the size of Alabama. LOL! When I was younger, I had to get a tumor removed that was on my upper lip and people make comments about it in school photos. When I go to the pool, I see girls and boys that have only one birthmark that is barely noticeable. If I am wearing shorts, people sometimes stare at my leg, which makes me feel kind of bad. I used to take a dance class and two girls came up to me and started to count the birthmarks on my back. I may have NF, but I am living a life that I want to live and not letting anyone get to me. I hope you liked my story as much as I did writing it for you.”

Pictures from the Texas ride

Dear Friends,

As you can see, I have a very special daughter. When she was originally diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis (Neuro*Fibroma*Tosis) at the age of 2, my world temporarily stopped. We were told by doctors the condition could cause tumors along any nerve (both visible and internal), brain tumors, learning disabilities, blindness, multiple birthmarks, curvature of the long bones and even cancer – and that it has a 50% chance of being passed on to her children if she decides to start a family of her own someday. At best, she could just have the spots, and at worse, disfigurement and unimaginable complications from tumors.

This is her life, and we are dealing with it. We have soldiered through the MRIs, living in fear for years of a brain tumor – luckily she is out of the woods there. We’ve had many neurology, ophthalmology and orthopedic doctor’s visits – oftentimes wrought with fear and emotion -- and we have learned to cope. So far, the worst we have encountered is one tumor (from an area on her face), which although can never be removed as it is wrapped around nerve endings, has been “debulked” twice through surgery at UNC Hospital. Perrie will always have NF and so will the one in 3,000 others who have it. There is no cure.

Click below to see the event I completed!

It was a simple decision for me. Perrie demonstrates courage and resolve everyday, daring to live life without feeling sorry for herself or demanding that life owes her. I see her blossoming into a beautiful young woman – one that is truly paving her own way in life and facing NF head on. It is the courage of my 13-year-old daughter that has inspired me to step up, take a risk and make an impact. Fortunately I have the health and support from family and friends to do it.

Even though there is currently no cure for NF, Perrie’s resilience and positivity make me believe anything is possible. That is why I ride – to make people aware of NF, to raise money towards research for a cure, and for my daughter and countless others like her who don’t let NF get in the way of life. Perrie is my hero, and I hope that riding 100 miles can, in some way, show her that she is my inspiration, my motivation and my heart.

"So many people before , during and after this effort asked what Perrie thought about all of it. Truthfully, I'm not sure what she thinks, but I hope one day she looks back at this and realizes that her Dad did this for her and her beautiful triumph of life! She will always be my little girl...my true inspiration. "

Help me step up and show Perrie and other children with NF that nothing is impossible if they put their mind to it. Your donations will go to the Children’s Tumor Foundation, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to finding effective treatments and a cure for Neurofibromatosis.

Will your employer match this gift? Call your human resources office to see if your company has a matching gift program, and how you can initiate the process of securing a match.

To learn more about NF at The Children's Tumor Foundation web site CLICK HERE.

And to learn more about the Mighty NF Endurance Team and where we are funding research, read "Team Fundraising Dollars at Work" CLICK HERE.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Darren (on my bike and wearing team colors)

. : : Make a Contribution : : .

Sorry.

Fundraising has ended.

Total Donations: $12,557.00
Goal: $10,000

$0 126% $10,000
Goal

Contributor	Amount	Comment
Anonymous	$237.28	*

Pauline Munday	$25.00	"Good Luck"

Steve Kendra	$50.00	"It is an honor to have you on the team, Darren. Looking forward to meeting you in Texas."

Jim and Kathy Tobin	$200.00	"A worthy cause. I'll happily pay $2 per mile so I don't have to ride a bike in Texas in August. "

Anonymous	$250.00	*

Doris Tobin	$25.00	*

keith cook	$250.00	*

Alan Binkley	$25.00	*

Mario Jannatpour	$250.00	"Good Luck! Darren looks cute in his bike gear :)"

Anne Elizabeth and Matt Harrell	$25.00	"You go Big D! Love the get up! Hope all is going well! AE"

Martin Query	$100.00	"Go for it D'Man!!!"

Mary Cornell	$50.00	*

Dawn Edwards	$25.00	"Not sure who's the bigger inspiration...you, or Perrie! You got this, Darren...one mile at a time!"

Trish & Miller Sparks	$100.00	*

Tricia Lucas	$50.00	*

Michelle Baggett	Hidden	*

Tyler Rullman	$100.00	*

Deborah Hage	$100.00	"Excellent challenge! Excellent cause! Perrie is a beautiful girl...and you are an awesome Dad!!"

Kerri Patel	$50.00	"What great motivation to ride 100 miles! Best of luck."

Anonymous	Hidden	*

Jennifer Zadnik	$50.00	"Ride, Darren, RIDE! You and Perrie are such an inspiration!"

Betsy & Jeff Wood	$100.00	"Good luck Darren! "

Deanna King	$25.00	*

Daniel and Stacey Teachey	$100.00	"Good Luck, Skeeter! A great ride for a great cause. The missus says you picked the hottest spot in an already warm state. Enjoy Texas in August!"

Chris Boyce	Hidden	"Good Luck, Darren!"

Andrea Darsey	$100.00	"You have a very special family, Darren. Perrie is growing up to be such a beautiful young lady. I am so impressed and inspired by what you are going to be doing and wish you the best of luck!"

Eva Stancil	$25.00	*

Rachel & James Bailey	$25.00	"Go Big D!"

Brett Dorr	$100.00	"Good Luck!"

Carolyn & Brian Beggs	$25.00	"Just imagine Tony Stewart there to greet you at the end, that ought to motivate you on your ride!"

Dale Pope	$250.00	"I pray that God will bless you with a cool, cloudy day for the ride."

Eric Burns	$50.00	*

Chris and Tracey Hanburger	$50.00	*

Mark & Tracy Cheaney	$50.00	"You can do it D!37373"

Christine Bevan	Hidden	*

Kathleen Roberts	$50.00	*

Gail Baker	$50.00	"You and your daughter are both inspiring and amazing. Good luck!"

Darren Pierce	$25.00	"Sorry for the delay Big Darren! Go get em."

Chris Helin	$25.00	"Best of luck, there are no better causes to ride for than kids. "

Eric & Sandy Gifford	$100.00	"Good luck, we are rooting for you. We have been long time supporters of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation."

Rob & Sara Spittel	$100.00	*

David Epperson	$100.00	"Darren, Good to hear from you. I hope you have a very successful ride. Dave"

Scott Barrett	$100.00	*

Charles Nelson	$100.00	*

Nancy Riddle	$100.00	"Cheering you and and glad to help you reach your goal! What a great Dad!"

Elisa deGroot	$100.00	*

Margy Vaglio	Hidden	*

Beverly & Pat Rogers	$100.00	*

Donald Brown	$25.00	*

Howard Fisher	$50.00	*

Don Smith	$20.00	*

Jerry Wilson	$25.00	*

Bruce Pope	$100.00	*

Eloise McIntosh	$100.00	*

C.W. McIntosh	$100.00	*

Catherine Lowry	$50.00	*

Gregory Mayes	$250.00	"Good Luck and we wish you and your family well."

Teresa Padgett	$25.00	"Darren, I am so proud of you for taking on this insane challenge. Perry is a very special person to me. Good luck with the race! Teresa Padgett"

Rob and Lori Sarubbi	$25.00	"Dear Smith Family, 100 miles! You go Darren. A ride with a big purpose. You should be so proud of your daughter. She is a beautiful, young lady. We sure miss the old 'hood'. Keep in touch and let us hear from you over the summer. Take care. The Sarubbi Family "

Anthony Woodie	$20.00	*

The Engle Family!	$100.00	"Darren - Nobility will never be dead while you tread the earth, my man. With that said - I expect you to race to win - don't be afraid to pull the old "Breaking Away" stunt of the tire pump to the front spokes! I want to see you hit the finish line in style, smoking a Lucky Strike - bayonet strapped to your left thigh - and hit the line while peeling off your Euro-Trash jersey to reveal a full color chestpiece tattoo of a screaming war eagle from shoulder to shoulder! And for Kym's sake - ENOUGH WAXING ALREADY!!! Now go get 'em, killer..."

Maryann and Andy Hiscock	$50.00	"Way to go Darren! Have fun! "

Lou & Deirdre Severine	$50.00	"Smitty, Go for it, good luck to you and your daughter!!!!!"

Bridget Mitchell	$50.00	"Go Darren! Good luck!"

Anonymous	$25.00	*

Kristie Ward	$25.00	"Blessings from the Ward family!"

Rick Dean	$100.00	"Best of luck and congratulations on a beautiful daughter--- Rick and Tina Dean"

Julia Vesilind	$50.00	"Good Luck and Stay Hydrated!"

Sue Purkis	$250.00	"Good Luck Darren!! You have a great reason to ride! Perrie is an inspiration to many of us."

Richard Crawford	$50.00	*

Eva Sakkas	Hidden	"Good Luck, Darren!"

Patricia Berkowitz	$25.00	*

Scott Guthrie	$50.00	"Good luck Darren. It is a wonderful thing you are doing. Perrie is a beautiful girl and I am sure very proud of her Dad!"

Julie and Dave Rouse	$50.00	"Darren and Perrie, you are inspirations to all of us!"

Timothy Byler	$100.00	*

Kyle Evans	$50.00	*

Heather and Aslyn Lee Lee	$100.00	"Go Darren!"

Bennett Dunn	$50.00	"Good luck!"

Nate and Dean Binkley	$25.00	*

Ryan Treichler	$100.00	*

Robert Folley	$100.00	*

John Ricafort	$50.00	*

Jane Aderhold	$100.00	"Good Luck - You can do it!"

dan soceanu	$25.00	"It's all you, Darren!"

Mark Masercola	$100.00	*

Kimberly Smith	$100.00	*

Doris Smith	$500.00	"Son, there are no words to explain how proud your Dad and I are that you are taking on this challenge. May the wind be at your back."

Pansy McIntosh	$250.00	"Darren, Im very proud to have as my son-in-law, and Perrie as my beautiful granddaughter.Best wishes as you ride, lots of love"

Jeff Smith	$250.00	*

Erika Hanzely-Layko	$25.00	*

Melvin Tillman	$100.00	*

Max Leisten	$25.00	"Way to go, Idaho!"

Jason and Kate Gurney	$100.00	*

Jay Pitzer	$100.00	"get r done brother"

Elisa and Derk deGroot	$50.00	"We are so proud of you, Darren!!! We love you guys very much!!!!!"

Anonymous	$50.00	*

The Piechottka Family	$25.00	*

Ed Crabtree	Hidden	*

Katherine and Mike Spinak	$50.00	*

Valerie Blaxall	$25.00	*

Susan Bell	$25.00	*

Hank McCauley	$25.00	*

Paul Thompson	$100.00	*

Michael and Lauren Musolf	$50.00	*

Dawn Christley	$50.00	"Good Luck D. I know your going to have no problem with this. You've trained hard and are well prepared. This is awesome. It really demonstrates the lengths people will go for their children. Perrie is lucky to have you for a father."

Jon Roberson	$25.00	*

Anonymous	$25.00	*

James & Cathy Chickos	$50.00	*

Michelle Baggett	$115.00	*

Jeanette Hagood	$100.00	"Go Darren!! Ride On:)"

Sean and Kristin Murphy	$100.00	"It can't be much hotter there than what you have been training in. Can it? Good luck."

Ingo Winzer	$500.00	*

Doug Hammond	$50.00	"Ride Charlie Brown. Ride."

Angela McIntosh	$200.00	"I'm so lucky to have such wonderful people in my family! Go Big D!"

Glenn Griffin	$25.00	*

Betty Musolf	$25.00	"Ride well!"

Carolyn Quarterman	$25.00	*

angela allen-helms	$400.00	"May God richly bless you and your wonderful family..."

Emily Eubanks	$50.00	*

Warren & Kim Mays	$100.00	*

Steve Futrell	$25.00	*

Willliam Bartlett	$500.00	"Wishing you miles of success!"

David Buffaloe	$100.00	"Congrats on meeting your goal and good luck on your ride."

Joan Riddles	$25.00	"Thank you for coming to WIchita Falls to ride with us. Your daughter is a beautiful girl with a fantastic attitude and strength. You and your family will absolutely love the friends you will make at this great event! Bike riders are some of the finest people in the world and I am glad you are one of them. Be safe in your travels and remember YOU CAN DO FINISH! Just do YOUR OWN PACE. I finished 3 times (first time took me 8 hours but it got better the following years.) Most finish in 3-6 hours. The weather is going to be great.. cool start up, high about 95 which is great since yesterday was 107. GOOD LUCK!"

Mike & Kendra Walker	$50.00	"Great job with your fundraising and Good Luck in the race!"

Tim Ogren	$50.00	"Good Luck Darren! Awesome job raising the money for an important cause. "

Kerrianne & Brian Anderson	$25.00	*

Barbara Yow Newton	Hidden	"What an inspiring story! Praying for both of you!"

Teri Saylor	$25.00	"Congratulations on hitting that big century mark. "

Jeff Finken	$200.00	*

Brian Dietrich	$50.00	*

Judy VanMeter	$50.00	"You go ,Darren!! My daughter has NF1--was diagnosed when she was about 2 years old. She is now 45 yrs old. She has many, many fibromas. Her life has not been easy, but praise God, she will be married on Saturday to a man who accepts her for who she is and not what she looks like. She is a very special lady and he is a very special man. Her daughter has also shown signs of NF, as has her son (age 4). God bless you Darren and Perrie!!!"

Eric Berg	$100.00	*

Tracey Myers	$25.00	"You have my complete respect and admiration. I will be following my news feed on Saturday for updates. Hugs"

Carol Puente	$100.00	*

Deborah Menius	Hidden	*

Tessa Plana	$125.00	"Good luck! I'm writing on behalf of my parents and two sisters and me. My dad and I will be doing the 100 right there with you. I have a pretty funny looking birthmark too, but it's only one. I call it my pepperoni."

Scott Smith	$250.00	"Ride on Darren! I wish I could come out and do this ride with you, but I am on call and have to stay around here. You've got this though. Keep the pedals turning over and you'll have the century EASY! Glad to be able to support such a worthy cause and effort! Wishing you, Kym and Perrie a greta trip to Texas!"

Brian Rineer	$25.00	*

Catherine Hall	$100.00	"Way to go Darren! Glad you survived! - Kay"

Kendall, Libby, Virginia Ogren	$100.00	"Way to go Darren, we are so very proud of you!! Perrie we are even more proud of you! We love you all and know how special of a family you are!"

Richard Crawford	$50.00	*

Kathleen Hertzberg	$50.00	"Congratulations on your successful 100 mile bike ride!!! Good luck on your fundraising efforts & give our best to Perrie! Kathy & Al"

SAP Matching Gift Program	$100.00	*

The Baxter Int'l Fdt Matching Gift Program	$100.00	*

Charles Schwab Fdt Matching Gift Program	$25.00	*

Below is a video from the Children’s Tumor Foundation that demonstrates how your support benefits nearly 2 million people worldwide that are affected by Neurofibromatosis. I hope you’ll please take a few minutes to watch the video and perhaps be as motivated as we are to support The Children’s Tumor Foundation.

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