Race Across America (RAAM) Racers Raise Funds and Awareness for Multiple Charities

Boulder, CO – Race Across America (RAAM), the World’s Toughest Bicycle Race, concluded its 35^th consecutive year of racing with some exciting competition across all categories.  Above and beyond the racing, over the past 10 years RAAM has grown in notoriety as a major platform for racers to raise funds and awareness for a broad host of organizations, 2016 was no different.

Because of the growing interest in raising money for charitable funds, RAAM created the Lon Haldeman Award in 2007.  It recognizes the race/team that raises the most fund for their charity(s) of choice. “We noticed an increasing interest in teams racing for charities, so we thought it was important to encourage that trend.  Bicycle racing in general in a pretty selfish pursuit and this was a way to make racing more important with a larger vision in mind.  RAAM does not choose the charity for the racers, we let them choose something that is important to them, hoping that that will increase their passion for the organization and the race”, according to Rick Boethling, RAAM Executive Director.

Since 2007 the funds raised collectively each year are in the $1.5-$2 million range.  The Lon Haldeman Award winners are usually raising about $500,000 or more. In 2014 & 2015 Team Intrepid Fallen Heroes raised close to $750,000 each year for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.  This year Athletes Without Frontiers, a multi-national team, based in Denmark, with racers from Denmark, Sweden and the USA, won the award. They raised approximately $484,000 for their foundation which supports a variety of organizations – http://ift.tt/2bAhEYo . The corporate team sponsored by EY (Ernst & Young) was in second place.

RAAM has opened its registration for 2017 and teams representing brain cancer research, autism, polio and military veterans have already joined the roster. The race expects to see the trend of charitable work continue, if not increase over the coming years.

About RAAM: 

RAAM and SOUL EVENTS are world leaders in the sport of ultra-endurance bicycle racing.  The team is responsible for the Race Across America (RAAM), the world’s premier ultra-endurance bicycle race, a 3000-mile coast-to-coast race across the USA, as well as the Race Across the West (RAW), an 860-mile race across the Western US, the RAAM Challenge Series, and the 6-12-24 Hour Worl Time Trail Championships.  In addition, they offer seminars on ultra-endurance bicycle racing and sanction ultra-endurance bicycle races worldwide. Visit http://ift.tt/PPK50f.  Facebook, Instagram (@raceacrossamerica) and Twitter (@RAAMRaces).

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