The IRONMAN Foundation diversity initiative Race For Change is expanding outreach with the formation of three relay teams comprised of nine athletes of colour. These athletes will compete in the 2022 Sunbelt Bakery IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga North American Championship presented by McKee A Family Bakery triathlon taking place on Sunday, May 22, 2022.
The goal of the relay teams is to bring attention to the Race For Change initiative and inspire more athletes of colour to participate in triathlon. Individuals affiliated from Black Kids Swim, Black Runners Connection, and Major Taylor International Cycling Alliance will make up the teams.
In addition to welcoming diverse groups to the sport of triathlon, foundation will host its Gold Start Initiative program and distribute more than US$25,000 in charitable giveback to non-profit initiatives and groups in the greater Chattanooga area in conjunction with the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga North American Championship.
This year’s grant funding brings The IRONMAN Foundation’s total historical giveback to over US$603,000 in the region since inception.
Race For Change
In 2020, with the mission to ensure equity for athletes in the sport of triathlon and the communities where IRONMAN athletes and first-time hopefuls live, train, and race, Race For Change was launched by The IRONMAN Foundation and The IRONMAN Group with an initial pledge of US$1 million to support programming.
The nine athletes participating on the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga North American Championship are:
- Team ‘Race For Change’: Hollie Adejumo of Detroit, James Ravenell of Brooklyn, NY, and Ebonie Dubose of Atlanta.
- Team ‘Race For Change-BKS’: Darien Edwards of Washington DC, Conrad Kiffin of Atlanta, and Melinda Wofford of Cleveland.
- Team ‘Race For Change Team 1’: Marcus Fitts of Washington, DC, Zachary Rogers of Atlanta, and Nikaeda Griffie of Lexington.
Each relay team member will undertaken one leg of the triathlon event consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, and 13.1-mile run.
“These relay teams represent the next stage for how The IRONMAN Foundation intends to welcome and support athletes of color who previously might not have considered triathlons,” said Audra Tassone-Indeck, Executive Director of The IRONMAN Foundation.
“We are excited for these athletes to come together and participate in the Sunbelt Bakery IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga North American Championship presented by McKee A Family Bakery triathlon and for the positive effect their efforts will have on their communities and lives.”
In addition to showcasing the Race For Change relay teams, The IRONMAN Foundation will host a special community event in partnership with the Chattanooga Sports Commission and the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga on Saturday, May 21st at the YMCA downtown facility from 13:00 to 15:00 CDT. The community event will feature guest speakers, triathletes, and a youth swim clinic.
Aiming to remove swimming as a barrier and foster future triathletes, The IRONMAN Foundation will be donating US$10,000 for continued swim lessons through the Chattanooga YMCA for nearly 100 area youth.
Gold Star Initiative
IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga will again feature the Gold Star Initiative. Here, IRONMAN athletes who have served in the US military carry the American flag during the run portion of the event and present it to a Gold Star Family.
Born in Staten Island, NY, Scott Nelson served six years in the US Army as a 12B Combat Engineer and 17 years in the US Army Reserve. During a tour in Afghanistan, Nelson badly injured his left arm during a fuelling operation while riding in a convoy from Bagram to Kandahar. He was transported to Germany for surgery and then spent 14 weeks at Fort Bragg, NC, for occupational therapy to regain the use of his left arm.
Nelson is competing in honour of his brother, US Army Sergeant First Class Edward W Nelson, who died in an auto accident while deployed in December 2006. Sgt First Class Nelson’s two children and family members will receive the flag at the finish line.
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