Eric Troili <<eric>> writes:

I am riding this year's Furnace Creek 508 as part of a 2-man team; and once again part of my 508 is riding for a cause.

I'm raising donations for The Challenged Athlete's Foundation - CAF (http://www.challengedathletes.org/). CAF raises money to help people with physical disabilities pursue an active lifestyle through physical fitness and athletics. CAF’s mission is clear: give those with the desire to live active, competitive lifestyles every opportunity to compete in the sports they love. By making a donation towards my fundraising goal you will directly help a challenged athlete in need.

Please go to my donations web page and help me reach my fund raising goal: http://raceforareason.kintera.org/thrasher. Any amount is helpful; $5, $10, $15; Whatever you can give is much appreciated.

I’m taking on another huge personal and I’m writing today to ask for your help. You see, by donating to my fundraising effort and helping me reach my goal, you will help people with physical challenges realize their dreams. Your donation will go to the Challenged Athletes Foundation, an incredible 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides funding and inspiration to hundreds of physically challenged athletes each year so they can participate, compete and live life to the fullest.

When I arrive at the 2009 Furnace Creek 508 (www.the508.com) I’ll bring my bike and my support crew. But the money I’m raising – and the funds you are donating – will support athletes who can’t always get to the starting line: swimmers missing limbs, paraplegics who use handcycles to bike and runners who race using artificial limbs. Just like me, these challenged athletes want to participate in athletics and feel the rush of competition, but they face a major obstacle. They don’t lack fitness, desire or skill. It is only a lack of funding that stands in the way of their dreams.

High-tech running prosthetics are very expensive. Learning to swim when you lack a limb (or limbs) requires special coaching. And handcycles can cost upwards of $2,500. But with our help, challenged athletes can bridge the financial gap and overcome funding obstacles blocking their path to athletic achievement. That is why I am challenging myself to make a difference in their lives. Please partner with me by making a donation through my web site link below. Join me in making dreams come true for challenged athletes. Give the gift of sports and help get challenged athletes off the sidelines – and into the game.

Http://raceforareason.kintera.org/thrasher

Thank you for generosity. I'll keep you up to date on the race. Death Valley is nice this time of year (only 100' or so). You can follow the race as it happens on the live web cast. My totem (our team totem) is THRASHER (no race numbers, we get totems).
 
There's a WEBCAST link/button on http://www.the508.com/
 
We'll be leaving early next week for California.. For the 2-man team entrants, the race starts at 9:00 AM on Oct 3. We hope to be at the finish line by 8 or 9 PM on Sunday the 4th.
 
My four stages will be approximately. 80 mi, 100, mi 50 mi, 35 miles. In those stages, I'll have to climb a total of 18,000 feet in 5 mountain sections. The mountains are big. The wide deserts are hot, desolate, and dangerously beautiful.
 
Your donation (and the donations of all of the people who contributed) will be a huge motivation for me to complete my portion of the race.