As excitement builds for this year’s City Bikes IRONMAN 70.3 Miami, taking place on 24-26 October, and the event’s UnitedHealthcare Corporate Challenge, internationally acclaimed Miami pop artist Romero Britto and four-time World Triathlon Champion Leanda Cave are putting their artistic and athletic talents together to support a medical grant program for children.
Britto lent his artistic talents and designed the art graphics that appear on the frame of the Canyon Speedmax CF 9.0 triathlon bike that Cave will race at the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship in Kaiua-Kona, Hawaii, on Saturday 11 October.
Following the bike’s unveiling on Thursday 9 October, an auction of the bike will start via charitybuzz.com. When the three-day IRONMAN 70.3 Miami expo begins on Friday 24 October, at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami, athletes and spectators will have an opportunity to bid live on the bike and other items. To place online bids, fans can visit: www.charitybuzz.com/brittobike.
The auction will conclude on the last day of the competition, Sunday 26 October, with some of the proceeds going to support the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF). UHCCF is a charitable organization that provides medical grants to help children gain access to health-related services not covered, or not fully covered, by their parents’ commercial health insurance plan.
“Art is the expression of human creative skill and imagination, whether it be painting or sculpture, to produce works that reflect beauty and emotional power,” said Leanda Cave. “I am honoured to support the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation on a bike of such mechanical and aesthetic beauty. On very few occasions do the expressive arts, mechanical function and the art of the sport come together as they do in this instance.”
Cave will ride the bike at the IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii, the most prestigious event of the year in the long distance triathlon circuit.
Taking place later this month, the 24-26 October City Bikes IRONMAN 70.3 Miami, created and organized by Miami Tri Events, is positioned a unique racing experience that draws thousands of fitness enthusiasts and features one of the biggest expos on the IRONMAN 70.3 circuit.
The Sunday 26 October race includes a 1.2-mile swim in the protected bay waters adjacent to Bayfront Park, a 56-mile bike ride from downtown Miami to Florida’s Everglades, and a 13.1-mile run through metropolitan Miami.
“The City Bikes IRONMAN 70.3 Miami is a wonderful event that raises awareness of the benefits of healthy living and exercise for people of all ages,” said Nicholas Zaffris, CEO of UnitedHealthcare of South Florida. “We are grateful to Leanda Cave and Romero Britto for lending their amazing talents to promote health and wellness, and for supporting the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation medical grant program for children and families in need.”
This year’s UnitedHealthcare Corporate Challenge portion of the event consists of team relays and individual entries. Each team will represent a participating corporation. Relay teams will be made up of three individuals: a swimmer, a cyclist and a runner. The UnitedHealthcare Challenge is seen as a unique element of the IRONMAN 70.3 Miami, providing opportunity for positive competition among corporate teams as well as a chance for participants to network within the local business community.
“The UnitedHealthcare Corporate Challenge brings together fitness, networking and art to create a positive impact on athletes, companies and disadvantaged children in our community,” said Wilber Anderson, CEO of Miami Tri Events, the company behind City Bikes IRONMAN 70.3 Miami. “We are delighted to be the beneficiaries of this generous world-class support.”
Teams are competing for a UnitedHealthcare Corporate Challenge trophy and an invitation to defend the title at next year’s event. A portion of all proceeds raised by the corporate challenge will also be donated to the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation.
For decades, Brazilian-born artist Romero Britto of Miami has donated his art and time to children’s charities. “It’s a true honour to collaborate with Leanda Cave to support the work of the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation,’’ Britto said. “If my design can help to bring some much-needed awareness to the foundation to help children in need gain access to life-saving treatments, then our partnership has been a win for all.”
www.ironmanmiami.com
www.UHCCF.org
www.uhc.com
www.miamitrievents.com
www.canyon.com
www.britto.com
www.leandacave.com
