Following a recent fundraising initiative by the IRONMAN Foundation to support the community around IRONMAN 70.3 Ecuador, the organising team notes that the event will take place as scheduled, on 31 July 2016.
After an earthquake shook the coast of Manabí on 16 April, the event team in Ecuador performed an overall evaluation of the event venue. Although there is sizeable physical damage in certain areas of town and lives were sadly lost, IRONMAN adds that the community has risen strong and is working together to host IRONMAN athletes from around the world at the event.
The IRONMAN Foundation has provided a US$10,000 donation to kick-start fundraising efforts that will assist with the relief work. Donations can be made through the initiative from The IRONMAN Foundation at crowdrise.com/ironman-for-relief.
Additionally, IRONMAN will donate 10% of every new IRONMAN 70.3 Ecuador registration to reconstruction projects in Manabí.
IRONMAN has created an email address, volunteerbackecuador[at]ironman.com, for athletes who wish to take part in reconstruction work.
IRONMAN 70.3 Ecuador is one of more than 90 events in the global IRONMAN 70.3 Series. The event, ‘hosting a cheering crowd of thousands and offering a scenic and highly competitive course’, awards a professional prize purse of US$25,000 and 40 qualifying age-group slots for the 2017 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, which will take place in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
