Million Dollar Challenge Ends Early Due to Fires
October 26, 2007
Judith Seid, Founder & President of Blue Summit Financial Group, returned early yesterday from the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge Bike Ride. Last Friday, she joined 100 riders departing from Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco to ride the scenic California Coastline, spanning 600 miles in 7 days, down to San Diego to benefit the Challenged Athlete's Foundation (CAF).
In its second year, this ride has already raised over $2.5 million for CAF, providing adaptive sports equipment for challenged athletes that might otherwise be unable to afford it. Each rider committed to raise at least $10,000 in order to participate in the fully-supported bike ride. Riders were treated to hotel stays, daily massages, van & meal support, as well as bike jerseys for each day of the ride depicting the seven major cities to be crossed: San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Big Sur, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Marina del Rey, and Newport Beach.
Riders reached the approximate half-way point on their way to Santa Barbara, having completed just 330 miles of the 600 miles when the ride was halted due to smoke hazards. Many of the riders had received reverse 911 calls on their cell phones and as early as Tuesday morning many riders had already withdrawn from the event in order to tend to their families during the crisis.
"It was a little disappointing, after so many months of training and fundraising," commented Seid, "but, obviously there are some things that take precedence."
CAF is planning to continue the ride from where it stopped at a public park in Lompoc in either November or December, so that the 100 athlete's can complete their journey.
