Lisa & Loren Turner

Loren and I will be riding in this year's RAGBRAI as proud members of TEAM PEACOCK. I realize that for some of you, the letters in all caps are foreign words, so I will explain.

RAGBRAI is the Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. Approximately 10,000 people will ride their bikes from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River during the last full week of July. RAGBRAI is the oldest, longest, and largest touring bicycle ride in the world, spanning 35 years and about 500 miles during the week. There are six overnight stops across the state, and dozens more small towns that are called "pass through towns" - you ride through them, and you eat in them, but you don't spend the night there. This year, Jefferson is an overnight stop on the RAGBRAI route, and not only are we housing TEAM PEACOCK in our yard on July 21, but we are also riding 56 miles to Ames the next day.

In addition to being a group of riders, TEAM PEACOCK is a fundraising vehicle of Upper Iowa University's scholarship program for students. Loren is an alumnus of Upper Iowa, and jumped at the chance to house TEAM PEACOCK and be a part of this. I'm just along for the ride, literally and figuratively.

A little about UIU: the school was founded more than 150 years ago and has a residential campus in Fayette. There are also many Extended University centers around the world; in fact, Upper Iowa has the number one distance-learning program in the country.

Loren and I have set a joint fundraising goal of $500. If you are interested, you can contribute online or send us a check made payable to Upper Iowa University. We have all the proper forms.

Thanks for listening to our story, and our fundraising plea. I'm sure we'll have many stories to tell on July 23, and probably some pictures too.

Team Peacock Fundraising

Make your gift online.

Make your gift online using your credit card by completing our secure form on myUIU, UIU's campus portal system. Note: UIU accepts Discover, MasterCard and Visa for credit card payments.

Online gift and pledge process:

1. Go to the Alumni page of the myUIU campus portal system. (page opens in new window)
2. Follow the "Give a Gift or Pledge" link on the right-side of the Alumni page.
3. Enter your personal information, and click "Continue."
4. From the "General Scholarship Funds" drop-down menu, select "RAGBRAI scholarships." Click "Make a Gift" or "Make a Pledge."
5. From the "Designations" drop-down menu, select a Team Peacock rider. Enter the amount of your gift or pledge and pledge details. Click "Continue."
6. Review your gift or pledge. Click "Confirm & Submit."
7. If you made a pledge, you are finished. If you made a gift, you now will be asked for your payment information. Click "Continue" on the "Payment Method" to go to the secure form to enter your credit card details
8. Enter your credit card details on the "Enter Payment Information" page. Click "Continue."
9. Review your gift and credit card details on the "Verify Payment Information" page. Click "Continue."
10. You are now finished. Thank you for your gift.

Don't want to make an online gift?

You can also make a gift using a check, electronic funds transfer or a payroll deduction (payroll deduction for UIU employees only).

Make your check payable to Upper Iowa University and mail to:

Upper Iowa University
University Advancement
PO Box 1857
Fayette, IA 52142

Please contact us for electronic funds transfer or payroll deduction options:

Phone: 563-425-5235
alumni@uiu.edu

All gifts to the University are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.