Begin. Making a Difference One Cyclist at a Time

Everything has a beginning. For one man and one event, it all started with a bike and a dream.

Spencer Lueders has always been a fan of fellow native Texan Lance Armstrong. Like Armstrong, Lueders shares a passion for cycling and finding a cure for cancer. After riding all 470 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2001 – honoring the place where Lance Armstrong found professional rebirth after his cancer recovery – Lueders wanted to do more to help fight cancer and support the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

While riding Charlotte’s “Booty Loop” one day, Spencer had an “ah-ha” moment for a bigger cycling-related fund-raising event – he would ride the “Booty Loop” for 24 Hours, which he did solo in November 2002 for 312 miles. “I remember being amazed the first year at the level of support from people I didn’t even know.  Cancer has touched almost everyone in some way and it just reaffirmed my belief that it was important to go all out and do something about it,” said Lueders.  

Since then, Lueders – who has since passed the leadership reigns to Basil Lyberg, but still serves on the board of directors – has worked tirelessly to grow 24 Hours of Booty into the Charlotte institution that it is today all while balancing a legal career and a young family. Today, 24 Hours of Booty is the only national 24-hour road cycling charity event in the country and the Official 24-Hour Cycling Event of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.  The event is for people all ages and cycling abilities to camp out and ride a closed three-mile loop for as much or little as they want in 24 hours. 

In 24 Hours of Booty’s eight-year history, more than 6,000 riders have raised more than $3.7 million to fight cancer. Last year’s event in Charlotte included 1,200 riders from 24 different states, and more than 250 volunteers. 

By working toward a nation-wide expansion with events in Columbia, Md. and Atlanta, 24 Hours of Booty is furthering its mission of conducting 24-hour charity cycling events that increase public awareness, funds, and support for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the following local cancer organizations: Blumenthal Cancer Center, Levine Children’s Hospital, 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 Children’s HealthCare of Atlanta.

In Charlotte, the 24 Hours of Booty presented by Blumenthal Cancer Center participants are seeing firsthand their donations at work literally in the backyard of the “Booty Loop.” It recently pledged $250,000 to the Carolina Kids Cancer Research Coalition in support of a new clinical trial program conducted by the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Center at Levine Children’s Hospital. It also donated funds to sponsor the Carolinas Cancer Wellness Program powered by 24 Hours of Booty at the Dowd YMCA. 

What started as a bike and a dream has evolved into an event with ordinary riders who are making an extraordinary difference in the fight against cancer. It’s all part of a collaborative effort to begin the loop in helping cancer survivors through their cancer journey while doing something meaningful for others. 

24 Hours of Booty Preview

The Ninth Annual 24 Hours of Booty presented by Blumenthal Cancer Center in Charlotte is scheduled to roll on the “Booty Loop” in Myers Park from 7 p.m. Friday, July 30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 31, 2010. The event will begin with a survivor’s lap for participating cancer survivors to ride in a ceremonial first lap together. In addition, 24 Hours of Booty will also host the Second Annual 24 Hours of Booty of Columbia, Md. at Gateway Business Park “Booty Loop” on Aug.28-29 and its inaugural event at Stone Mountain in Atlanta on Oct.2-3. 

There’s still a chance to ride in the Charlotte event. Because registration for the 24 Hours of Booty in Charlotte closed early, 24 Hours of Booty launched the reboot program whereby reboot riders can ride between 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 31. A $25 registration fee and $100 fundraising commitment is required to participate in the program. All reboot participants will have full access to drinks and snacks, receive an event t-shirt, and be eligible for fund-raising prizes. 

Interested in 24 Hours of Booty attire? All 24 Hours of Booty gear – cycling apparel, 2010 limited edition T-shirts, hats, mugs and more – is housed at 24 Hours of Booty’s new online store at  Gita Sporting Goods LTD’s ‘ North American headquarters in Charlotte and is available at www.gitabike.com.

For more information about 24 Hours of Booty or the reboot program, call 704-365-4417 or visit www.24hoursofbooty.org. For updates and the inside scoop about 24 Hours of Booty, follow 24 Hours of Booty at www.twitter.com/24hoursofbooty and become a 24 Hours of Booty “fan” on Facebook.