Getting Our Guts in Gear, Again

Last year, Chris, blog photographer, husband, and bike racer, participated in Get Your Guts in Gear, a 210 miles/3 days bicycle ride to raise awareness and funds for patients with Crohn's Disease and Colitis. Charlie, our cat, who also had IBD, was our Spokescat. He knew firsthand about the discomfort, tests, and treatments of the disease along with his Person. They were the same, for both human and cat.

Charlie passed away from IBD-related lymphoma last fall. (Let me stress that this can happen in cats, but not in people, though humans with IBD may be more susceptible to colon cancer). It is now time for GYGIG 2.0, and the ride is even more personal to us. Though GYGIG raises awareness and funds for research and treatment for humans, and hopefully one day a cure, what doctors learn helps veterinarians too.

To honor Charlie, and help raise funds for Chris' ride, I asked for the help of a talented knitter, dyer, and fellow Crohn's patient -- Yvonne of Lavender Sheep. She took out her dye pots, worked some magic, and created Charlie's yarn, a limited edition sockweight yarn.

Tim: "Do you think it looks like him?" Rosie: "I think it looks like meeeeee!"

Here is a closeup of the yarn, but my photo is more brown than in real life:

For every donation to GYGIG we receive between now and Memorial Day (May 26), we'll enter donors into a prize drawing for some of Charlie's yarn. We'll give away one skein of yarn each during the last weekends of March and April. On Memorial Day, I'll choose three winners and give away two skeins of yarn and a gift certificate to a yarn shop for $21.

If you would like to purchase Charlie's yarn as well (and see a more accurate photo of the colors), please visit Yvonne at Lavender Sheep. She'll be donating 50% of the sale of each skein to GYGIG as well. The yarn is 100 grams, 460 yards, for size US 1-3 needles, just right for socks. Two to three skeins will make a scarf, which is what I plan to do.

If you would like to read about last year's 210 mile, 3 day ride, please click here, here, and here. You can use the button at the top left column to read Chris' story on the donation page. Thank you in advance for your support.

Rosie with one of my skeins

"I still think it looks like me..."

Comments

[Kristen]

Charlie's yarn turned out beautifully! Yvonne did work magic. What a wonderful remembrance of your faithful spokescat.

[Bridget]

First of all, what a couple of good-looking guys! And what a marvelous idea. Our kitty Abigail died last spring from IBD, and this would be a great way to honor her memory as well.

Thank you for thinking of animals as needing a cure just like people do. And best of luck to your husband in this year's event!

(P.S. The other kitties are very pretty - I'm glad they approve of the yarn ...)

[Karen]

The yarn turned out great and it does look like him. Best of luck to your husband in this years ride!

[Sara]

The yarn is beautiful...I hope you have a wonderful turn out of donations for your hubby and Charlie.

Do I just go to the link on your blog to donate?

[--Deb]

The yarn IS beautiful and such a nice, fibery-y memorial for a wonderful spokescat!

Okay . . . heading over to make a donation....

[Beth]

What a great idea! Charlie's yarn is beautiful.

[Sheepish Annie]

Charlie would be proud. Very, very proud!

[Nancy]

You got it!

[Meg]

I love your idea! I'm looking forward to reading about this year's ride!

[Chris]

I just donated! And of course I'll mention this tomorrow.

[Sydney]

I just donated. The yarn is beautiful and it's the perfect prize. :)

[Brigitte]

Aw, what a sweet picture! Such a lovely yarn as well, gorgeous colours!

[melanie]

I just bought the yarn, and posted on Tea Leaves about the fundraiser. I hope you raise so much money that the research reaches its goal!

[Karen]

What a wonderful cause. I once dated a guy with Crohn's disease and I know first hand how terrible it can be. He was in and out of the hospital all the time.

That, added with the Charlie yarn and the fact that the contest ends on my birthday are more than enough signs that I need to make a donation. I'm sorry that it will be smaller than I would like, but I'm glad I can help, even a little!!

[Holly of HollYarns]

Utterly beautiful colorway and such a perfect remembrance of dear Charlie.

[keri]

What a lovely remembrance...I'm off to donate now.

[Sonya]

I can't get over how much that yarn looks like Charlie. You know I'll be donating! I'm glad my colitis is mild and I also know how tough Crohn's is.

You received some great birthday goodies too!

[sari]

random comment ahead:
i saw the comment on lickety knit asking what i was referring to in the comment that i left on lickety knit....
warning, its kinda gross!
http://consumerist.com/consumer/worst-customer-service-ever/jo+ann-fabrics-refuses-to-let-customer-use-bathroom-even-as-she-suffers-diarrhea-right-in-front-of-them-274441.php
(if for some reason that doesn't work, i googled "joann fabric not letting someone use the bathroom" and it was the top one, consumerist dot com.)

[Carrie K]

My best friend's mother passed away a few years ago from, among other things, complications of Crohn's disease. I'm sorry to learn about Charlie and his passing! He was a very handsome cat. Nice colorway too. But Rosie has a point. It does look a lot like her too. ;)

[Julie]

I wish I weren't so far behind on my blog reading - this would definitely have gone in today's post. It'll definitely be in the next one!

[robin]

The yarn is a great tribute to Charlie, the wonderful spokescat! I'll go donate now.