In a few days I will turn 83 and will once again attempt to “Bike My Age,” but here’s a far more urgent issue: Housing insecurity and food insecurity.  Both are significant problems in communities around the world, including the island that Joan and I have retired to, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Combating Hunger:  World Central Kitchen and Feeding America are two notable organizations helping combat food insecurity, and on Martha’s Vineyard our Food Pantry helps hundreds of families. 

Finding a safe, affordable place to live:  Creating affordable (or attainable) housing may be a tougher nut to crack, but here on Martha’s Vineyard the Island Housing Trust has built 156 affordable homes, which it has sold or rented to qualified Islanders, the teachers, health care workers, police and firemen and civil servants (and their children) who keep the island running.  IHT also has 149 new units currently in production.  The need is greater, which means that IHT needs more support.

“Biking My Age:” Some of you may know that every year since I turned 70 in 2011 I have managed to “bike my age.”  For the past few years I’ve asked friends to contribute to a worthy cause, and many of you have.  In a few days I will turn 83 and will try to bike 83 miles.   If I make it, I hope each of you will contribute $8300000000000 to the Island Housing Trust–leaving the placement of the decimal point up to each donor.

It is very, very easy to make a tax-deductible donation with a credit card or PayPal.  Just click here. 

Although I have managed to “Bike My Age” for the past 13 years, I am now a year older with a lot more aches and creaks, and the distance has increased by another mile.  Which means that what stockbrokers say about investing in the market is equally true about biking one’s age: “Past performance is no guarantee of future results.”  

If you’re looking for a reason to make a charitable, tax-deductible gift, here it is.  If you’re rooting for me, please support IHT.

And if you’d like to join me for part of the ride, or if you want to keep apprised of my progress (or lack thereof), please text me at 646.373.3034.

And thanks very much…..