CHARLOTTE – The 10th Annual 24 Hours of Booty presented by Levine Cancer Institute spins past heat wave by surpassing all past 24 Hours of Booty, Inc. event fundraising records with $1.25 million raised to date.
“We were thrilled to break the million-dollar mark prior to the event for the second year in a row and are incredibly thankful for everyone’s dedication and support,” said Basil Lyberg, executive director of 24 Hours of Booty. “Our event is a collaborative effort with Queens University of Charlotte, the Myers Park neighborhood, and our tremendous volunteers, riders, supporters and staff. Everyone should be so proud to know that their respective involvement is truly making a difference in the fight against cancer.”
A total of 1,600 registered participants (including 400 reboot riders) from 24 different states weathered record-breaking heat and rode in Charlotte’s Myers Park neighborhood along the famed “Booty Loop” to help stop cancer in its tracks. To prepare for the anticipated hot weather, 24 Hours of Booty implemented a heat management plan, which included: an additional hydration station on the course; an unlimited supply of water provided by Diamond Springs; increased Powerade, Vitamin Water and ice; a misting station; and a color-coded communication system to notify participants of course conditions.
According to Lyberg, “We took the weather situation very seriously to ensure the safety of our riders, volunteers and supporters. Everyone did a great job staying hydrated and taking it easy. Many of our riders commented on it being more comfortable when riding because of the shade created by the tree canopy along the ‘Booty Loop’ and breeze generated while cycling.”
The non-competitive charity event that brought in riders of all ages and skill levels featured Charlotte City Council Member Andy Dulin, Bob Roll, former American professional cyclist, author, and television sports commentator; and Sir Purr of the Carolina Panthers as its official starters. 24 Hours of Booty Founder Spencer Lueders; Kelly Franson, WBTV; and Dr. Jeffrey Kneisl; Medical Director of Blumenthal Cancer Center at Carolinas Medical Center were featured in the Opening Ceremonies program.
A highlight of program was the presentation of the “Spencer and Susan Lueders 24 Hours of Booty Scholarship” to be awarded at Queens University of Charlotte in honor of event founder Spencer Lueders and his wife Susan. 24 Hours of Booty will be donating $40,000 to the scholarship fund whereby a $10,000-level scholarship will be awarded annually for the next four years to a student at Queens who has battled cancer personally, or in their family.
“It is fitting that that in celebration of ten years of 24 Hours of Booty, that a gift be named in Spencer’s and Susan’s honor and be awarded to our neighbors,” said Lyberg. “Queens has served as our host for this event and has seen our riders circle their campus tens of thousands of times. It is powerful knowing that a student just a few hundred feet away from the event site will be impacted by the time and energy that Spencer and Susan have put into this event over the years.”
When not riding, participants hung out in “Bootyville” (a.k.a. the Queens University of Charlotte Athletic Fields) for camping, food and fun. The event also included entertainment and a “Survivor Hour” breakfast to honor cancer survivors. 24 Hours of Booty was supported by more than 200 volunteers, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department representatives stationed along the course at all times, and by the Queens University of Charlotte Police Department.
Levine Cancer Institute served as the presenting sponsor of the event and other sponsors included: Gold Sponsor: Clear Channel Radio Charlotte. Silver Sponsors:Cigna Healthcare of the Carolinas, Merckx, Giordana, Integraphx, Mountain Khakis, Queens University of Charlotte, Pinarello, Glaceau vitaminwater, and WBTV New 3. Bronze Sponsors: Carolina Bicycle Company, Donald Haack Diamonds & Fine Gems, The Dunstan Group, Lapekas & Associates, Nolen Kitchen, Queen City Bicycles, Robinson Thinks, Something Classic Catering & Cafe, Total Cyclist, and Yelp. In-kind Sponsors: American Italian Pasta Company, Blue Bell Ice Cream, Bruegger’s, Caribou Coffee, Diamond Springs Water, Fuel Pizza Café, Great Harvest Bread, The Melting Pot, Sweet Street Desserts, and Upgrade Lifestyle, Inc.
Top fund-raiser award winners included:
· Top Team: Bank of America – $140,211 (broke team-fundraising record)
· Top Fundraiser: Sandy Morgart, Bank of America – $50,353 (broke individual-fundraising record)
· First Runner Up Individual Fundraiser: Steve Kravitz, MojoRiding – $20,020
· Second Runner Up Individual Fundraiser: Terry Hennessee, Team Carpe Diem – $15,050
· First Runner Up Fundraising Team: Team Gita – $57,855
· Second Runner Up Fundraising Teams: MojoRiding – $51,423
· Top reboot Individual Fundraiser: Josh Jones, Team Gita – $1,935
Team Carpe Diem team won the highest fundraising average. With just six team members, they raised $20,100, giving them a $3,350-per-person average.
About 24 Hours of Booty
24 Hours of Booty, Inc. – which runs the Official 24-Hour Cycling Event of LIVESTRONG and the premier national 24-hour road cycling charity event in the country – is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charity located in Charlotte that provides extraordinary cycling events that are safe, fun, and open to all levels of cycling ability. Its mission is to conduct 24-hour cycling events that increase public awareness, funds, and support for LIVESTRONG and local cancer organizations. Local organizations include The Keep Pounding Fund at Carolinas Medical Center and the Brain Tumor Fund for the Carolinas in Charlotte, the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults in Columbia, Md., and Aflac Cancer Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
24 Hours of Booty will also host the Third Annual 24 Hours of Booty of Columbia, Md. at the Gateway Business Park “Booty Loop” on August 27-28, 2011 and the Second Annual 24 Hours of Booty of Atlanta at the Stone Mountain “Booty Loop” on Oct. 1-2, 2011. For more information, call 704-365-4417 or visithttp://www.24hoursofbooty.org/.
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Contact:
Basil Lyberg – 24 Hours of Booty, Inc. – 704-365-4417 / 704-258-8558
Jenni Walker – My Team of Experts, Inc. – 704-649-6571
