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PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES CYCLE FOR CHARITIES
Local Utah and National Professional Freeskiers and extreme athletes unite in West Coast Bike Ride to raise money for injured and fallen athletes and their charities.
Professional freeskiing athletes are on a mission the whole month of October along the Pacific Coast. The “Cycle for a Cause” charity bike ride from Seattle, Washington to San Diego, California has been established to raise money and awareness for fallen and injured individuals in the freeskiing community. The 1200-mile ride has been organized to raise money for the Billy Poole Ski Foundation, which benefits the Local Boys and Girls Clubs of Salt Lake City, the Shane McConkey Fund in lieu of the Make a Wish Foundation, and the NTAF Spinal Cord Injury Fund in honor of Riley Poor.
Utah freeskiing local, Billy Poole, was killed in a skiing accident here in Utah two years ago while filming with Warren Miller Entertainment. Industry icon, Shane McConkey died this past winter in a Ski BASE Jumping accident while filming in Italy with Colorado’s Matchstick Productions. Ski industry cinematographer, Riley Poor, sustained a paralyzing spinal cord injury last season while in Vermont at the Dew Tour, a freeskiing and snowboarding event.
With the spinal cord injury of industry cinematographer Riley Poor and the deaths of industry icons Shane McConkey, and Utah local, Billy Poole, fellow professional freeskier/BASE Jumper, organizer, and Utahan, Max Kuszaj, felt that something needed to be done.
“Losing two friends to skiing and then having a friend have a life-changing injury, really made me take a step back and realize what we do and what a tight-knit community we have with skiing.” “I organized this ride to do anything I can do to help those guys and benefit their families, try to make a change, and make the general public realize what goes on and what happens in the industry.” says organizer, Max Kuszaj.
The ride is open to all and has attracted the participation of many other ski industry athletes, like Utah locals, Pep Fujas, Julian Carr, Cody Barnhill, Jesse Hall, and Suzanne Graham. Other athletes include: Sherry McConkey (Shane’s wife), Peter Olenick, Simon Dumont, Jackie Paaso, Chris Ernst, JT Holmes, and many others.
A website has been established which includes how to donate, information, daily blogs, photos, videos and more about the ride.
People and companies are encouraged to donate per mile, to the cause, or using their own discretion. All money accumulated will be distributed evenly to the three organizations.
Contact: Max Kuszaj
Cell: 801-244-7780
Email: PacificCoastCycleforaCause@Gmail.com
Website: www.CycleforaCause.com
