I haven't been on this board much since I moved to Portland, but thought some of you guys maybe would want to help. I am going to try to put together a benefit for my best friend who I love more than pretty much anything in the world. She was hit on her bicycle while out riding on NYE. I know you guys don't know her personally but she is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. She is going to have at least a couple years of recovery and won't be able to work and her mom also will need help taking care of her. Her dad lost his job while down seeing her and both the mom and dad are already stretching themselves pretty thin being down in Austin. Here are some links about the situation:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/marielmentink

http://www.kvue.com/news/Ccyclist-severly-injured-in-hit-and-run-crash-81049702.html

I don't know a lot of people or musicians or artists out here yet since I've only been here a few months, but I have some contacts that I'm going to try and get in touch with for venues and such. If ANY of you guys would want to do anything to help or have any good ideas I would super appreciate it.

Love
Tom

p.s. I was also thinking about maybe taking a very small amount of the money and donating to a bike friendly cause in an effort to get more people involved who maybe didn't know Mariel, but want to help. I know the Lance Armstrong foundation was one of her favorites. If you know of any, feel free to send a link my way. My e-mail is tcober5@gmail.com if you wanted to get ahold of me outside this board. I am also talking to people on the Urban Honking message board, and I'm going to look for some other bike boards to post this on.

a friend of mine in austin posted a link to that caring bridge site. i read the whole journal.. sounds awful, hopefully she recovers but it'll be a long road. good luck with the fundraiser.

that's a pretty sweet idea.