L'Union Fait la Force / Strength Through Unity - National motto of Haiti
LA JOLLA, CA - AdventureCORPS, Inc., an athlete-run firm producing some of the world's toughest sports events—including the Badwater Ultramarathon and Furnace Creek 508 races in Death Valley—will host "80 For Haiti," a cycling benefit ride for Haiti relief supporting Mercy Corps on Saturday, February 13, 2010.
The event will feature an 80-mile ride along Old Hwy 80 in southeastern San Diego County, California. There will be an $80 entry fee and 100 percent of the entry fees will go directly to Mercy Corps, one of the most respected relief organizations worldwide. AdventureCORPS will absorb all costs, but food, drink and support sponsors are being sought.
The 80 For Haiti cycling event start/finish line is just 44 miles east of San Diego, in Pine Valley, California. The route is spectacular, on absolutely quiet roads through rolling terrain.
As international relief efforts continue in Haiti, a Mercy Corps earthquake response team is in Port-au-Prince responding to urgent needs.
Registering for this ride—or donating to the cause, if you can't do the actual ride—will help families in Haiti recover from the most powerful quake to hit the country in more than 200 years. Mercy Corps relief workers with experience in disaster responses ranging from Hurricane Katrina to the Myanmar cyclone are converging on Haiti from Africa, Asia and North America. They're focusing first on the immediate needs—for water, food, temporary shelter supplies and much more—and expanding their work to three areas: clean water, post-trauma support for children and job creation.
The needs in Haiti are immense. Its capital lies in ruins, as many as 200,000 may be dead, and survivors are increasingly desperate for food, clean water and shelter. Please ride 80 For Haiti and/or give what you can to help families recover.
Cycling participants in 80 For Haiti must pre-register for the event, so that we can plan accordingly. Registration closes on Saturday, February 6, just before midnight. Donations will be accepted through February 13, and beyond.
Click here for all the 80 For Haiti information
Don't want to or can't ride 80 For Haiti, but you still want to donate? Or perhaps you and your friends want to ride your own 80 For Haiti near where you live? Go for it!
Please click here and DONATE NOW directly to Mercy Corps
About Mercy Corps
The Official Charity of 80 For Haiti is Mercy Corps, a team of 3,700 professionals helping turn crisis into opportunity for millions around the world. By trade, they are engineers, financial analysts, drivers, community organizers, project managers, public health experts, administrators, social entrepreneurs and logisticians. In spirit, they are activists, optimists, innovators and proud partners of the people they serve. According to their website:
"Mercy Corps has long been recognized as an excellent steward of the resources entrusted to it. Over the past five years, more than 89 percent of our resources have been allocated to programs that help people in need. Ensuring that resources are wisely spent is the cornerstone of our values, vision, and strategy for growth in the future. We are proud of the awards, endorsements, memberships, and honors that substantiate our track record of accountability."
More info about Mercy Corps' Efforts in Haiti
About AdventureCORPS
La Jolla, Californa-based AdventureCORPS, Inc. is an athlete-run firm producing and promoting ultra-endurance and extreme sports events, lifestyle and media. Adventure is our way of life. AdventureCORPS' world-class events for athlete-adventurers include epic races such as the Badwater Ultramarathon and Furnace Creek 508, multi-day cycling lifestyle adventures known as CORPScamps, the annual Rough Riders Rally in Marin County, plus several 100- and 200-mile cycling events in Death Valley, and on and around San Diego County's Mt. Laguna. We also host and develop our adventure-related websites and blogs and provide a variety of adventure-related services. Founded in 1984 by Chris Kostman, this group effort is dedicated to exploring the inner and outer universes, seeking adventure, energy, and insight both in daily life and "out there." AdventureCORPS is a member of 1% For The Planet and the Conservation Alliance, and supports three Official Charities: Challenged Athletes Foundation, Death Valley Natural History Association and Major Taylor Association.