Death Race For Life Project Sponsored By Long Trail Brewing: Fundraising Efforts

Project Summary

I am dedicating February through July 2010 to my passion for endurance sports and an effort to help the Lance Armstrong Foundation fight cancer. Between March and June I will undertake a bicycle racing tour of multi-day stage races in the western United States. I’ll be racing in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and California. I’ll spend the winter training in Colorado and New Mexico. My tour will serve as conditioning for a final test – the Death Race. On June 24 I will join 99 other selected athletes in Pittsfield, Vermont for the 2010 Death Race.

The Death Race, loosely defined as an “adventure race” is a 24-hour slog that blurs the line between challenge and absurdity. The race consists of an unknown number of tasks spread out over a mountainous course with an unspecified finish line. The route and sampling of mental and physical challenges are also unknown. Previous races have included wood chopping, swimming, running, cycling, mud crawls, memorization tasks, fire building, weight caries, waterfall climbing, and more. The race boasts a 10% finishing rate. The international field of contestants includes ex-special forces, ultra-marathoners, Iron Men, and athletes from other disciplines. You can see the New York Times video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rtMFKpOYqo

My tour will benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation by raising money through direct donations and pledged donations per mile that I ride during the tour. In this blog you can find more information about the tour, my training, my connection to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, donations, and my motivation for starting this project.

Thanks for visiting the blog and supporting my project!

Cully Cavness

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Fundraising Efforts

Throughout the spring and summer I will be racing for thousands of dollars of prize money, including a $1000 first place prize for the Death Race. If I profit a single dollar, I pledge it to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Furthermore, I’ve arranged a partnership charity of sorts. I’ve applied to become an official grassroots fundraiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. As an official grassroots fundraiser, my friends and family can support and encourage me by donating through my website directly to LAF.

I chose LAF for many reasons. I raised a few hundred dollars for them in high school by selling yellow Live Strong bracelets, and I’ve had the foundation in mind since. Several of my closest friends from Colorado have been diagnosed with cancer including Andrew, Jamie, and Carol. Many of my friends from college have also been diagnosed or have had family members with cancer. My mom was diagnosed with an in situ melanoma when I was in high school, but she is now cancer free.

I admire LAF because the foundation doesn’t just donate to cancer research, but it provides first-rate counseling and advice to cancer patients searching for information and support. I remember the struggle that my friend and fellow cyclist Jamie endured as he fought prostate cancer – there were so many options for treatment and nobody seemed to have definitive advice. A source of council is important for people in that situation.

Another important factor in this decision is Lance. Lance is a hero for me. I’ve read his books, watched him on TV, and last summer I had the chance to see him race live for five days in the Tour De France while I was guiding a bike trip at the Tour. I think about his duel with Jan Ulrich often www.youtube.com/watch?v=7THIhZEP4QM – it is the most impressive athletic feat I’ve seen, and it inspires me when I race.

I’ve set my goal at $10,000. Help me by donating now athttp://www.livestrong.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=325373&lis=1&kntae325373=697A4C789B5F4E6AAD01DC47352CA56A&supId=279099976, or write some words of encouragement on the comment wall. Thank you!