My Life Changed with Lyft

In May of 2013, I was in Indianapolis, preparing to run a half marathon. I didn’t want to forget anything, and the weather seemed colder than we had originally planned, so it was a little hectic that morning. We were running a little behind and didn’t particularly have time to figure out how three runners and a spectator would get to the start line without wasting more time parking the car.  The suggestion was made by Ashley that we take Lyft. Of course, three of the four of us didn’t know anything about Lyft.

“So you mean some person that we don’t know is going to pick us up here, take us to the start line and drop us off?”

“I don’t have any cash.”

“So it’s all done through our phones?”

We had lots of questions.

Ashley opened the app, requested the ride and before we even got down the stairs, she received a text notifying her that our driver was out front.

It was so quick and painless. We couldn’t believe how easy it was! From that point on, I was hooked. We took Lyft everywhere we went that weekend, even though we had two cars with us! I asked the next couple of drivers a few questions (while eating the candy they gave me), and decided to put in an application online. It wasn’t long before I was contacted, and I set up my mentor session with Puddin’. I couldn’t believe how friendly this guy was. He made it easy for me to meet him, in an easy and safe location and a time that worked for me.

He did a thorough check of my car and of me. He put in all the information about my license plate, etc. and then we did a driving test before he took photos of my car, my license and me.

Two weeks later, I received a text message letting me know that I was approved to drive. All I had to do was get in the approved Lyft area of Nashville and click the steering wheel icon that was now visible in my app, to turn on driver mode.

Because I live on the outskirts of Nashville I am not able to work every day but I try to at least drive every Saturday. It’s easy money but it’s also a great experience. I meet so many wonderful, interesting individuals; I always tell people the worst part about driving for Lyft is that I get into fascinating conversations with my passengers and then I drop them off to most likely never see them again!

If you have any questions about my start with Lyft, or becoming a driver yourself, please let me know. I am happy to help!

Team in Training

A few months ago I decided to sign up for an Olympic distance triathlon.  I’m training with my team through Team In Training in Nashville. Here’s a little background info about the triathlon, which will take place in Knoxville, TN in May.

By participating as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) TNT, I am raising funds to help find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients.

This cause is near and dear to me for many reasons, but most importantly because of two of my family members. I’ll never forget the day in 1998; we were all gathered around the kitchen table at my grandma’s house and my cousin Beth was working on her homework. She asked “how do you spell Leukemia?” It was just a short time after that when she was diagnosed with the awful disease.

My grandma, who is not only very special to me, but has also touched the lives of so many of my family members and friends, has Lymphoma. She has undergone two exhausting chemotherapy treatments and despite the blood disease that affects her daily life, still sits at the top of the list of people with a positive attitude in my life.

Your donation will help fund treatments that save lives every day; like immnuotherapies that use a person’s own immune system to kill cancer. Every single donation helps save a life with breakthrough therapies such as these.

Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training (by following this link) and help get us all closer to a world without blood cancers.  It takes more than one person to make up a team and that’s why I’m asking you to donate to my TNT fundraising page! Thank you for stopping by!

Please also remember to stop by Ashley’s page as well, and check out the t-shirts (new link coming soon) she has designed (all proceeds will go to TNT). She and my dad got me started on this triathlon stuff so I have them to thank. 🙂