The IRONMAN Foundation’s diversity initiative Race For Change is expanding outreach with the formation of four relay teams. These will be comprised of 12 Black athletes who will compete in the 2022 St Jude IRONMAN 70.3 Memphis triathlon taking place on Saturday, October 1, 2022.
The goal of the relay teams is to garner support for the Race For Change diversity initiative and inspire more athletes of colour to participate in triathlon. Individuals affiliated with Black Kids Swim, Major Taylor International Cycling Alliance and Black Runners Connection will make up the teams.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Race For Change relay team competing this year at the St Jude IRONMAN 70.3 Memphis race,” said Audra Tassone-Indeck, Executive Director of The IRONMAN Foundation.
“The IRONMAN Foundation is proud to support these athletes and hope they will inspire others from diverse communities to get involved in the sport of triathlon.”
In addition to welcoming diverse groups to the sport, The IRONMAN Foundation will distribute more than US$15,000 in charitable giveback to non-profit initiatives and groups in the Memphis region in conjunction with IRONMAN 70.3 Memphis. This year’s grant funding brings The IRONMAN Foundation’s total historical giveback to more than US$70,000 in the region since inception.
Race For Change
In 2020, with a 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 12 athletes participating on The IRONMAN Foundation’s Race For Change relay teams are:
- Team 1: Christopher Hasfal of New York, NY, Jacqueline Holmes of Jackson, TN, and Jason Gibson of Washington, DC.
- Team 2: Dereka Hendon of New York, NY, Brittany Wade of Cincinnati, OH, and Pepper Totten of Arlington, TN.
- Team 3: Yolanda Butler of Marlboro, MD, Aaron Jackson of San Antonio, TX, and Kendrick Miles of Charlotte, NC.
- Team 4: Yvonne Spencer of Brooklyn, NY, Tamika Jackson of San Antonio, TX, and Natalie Davis of Moreno Valley, CA.
“I am honoured and thrilled that the Race For Change Relay Teams will compete in Memphis,” said Sika Henry, the USA’s first Black female professional triathlete and an IRONMAN Foundation Race For Change Ambassador.
“These athletes are excellent representatives for The IRONMAN Foundation’s diversity initiative, and they’ll remember this event for the rest of their lives. I’m incredibly proud of them.”
Each relay team member will take on one part of the triathlon event consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, and 13.1-mile run. For live tracking, real-time results and instant tracking notifications, fans can follow the Race For Change relay teams on the IRONMAN Tracker app, available for download from iTunes App Store and Google Play.
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