The IRONMAN Foundation diversity initiative Race For Change continues to build awareness and expand outreach with the second formation of three relay teams comprised of nine Black athletes. These will compete in the 2022 Maytag IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead triathlon taking place on Sunday, June 26, 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. Members of Black Kids Swim, Major Taylor International Cycling Alliance and Black Runners Connection will make up the teams.
In addition to welcoming diverse groups to the sport of triathlon, The IRONMAN Foundation will distribute more than $15,000 in charitable giveback to non-profit initiatives and groups in the greater Benton Harbor area in conjunction with IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead.
This year’s grant funding brings The IRONMAN Foundation’s total historical giveback to more than US$50,000 in the region since inception.
“We are thrilled that the Race For Change relay teams are competing for the second time this year at Maytag IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead,” 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 triathlon events.”
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 nine athletes (ages 18 and older) participating on The IRONMAN Foundation’s Race For Change relay teams at IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead are:
‘Race For Change Team 1’: Theneshia Glaze, Edwardsville, IL, Isaiah King, Bethesda, MD, and Ramon Stewart, Chicago, IL.
‘Race For Change Team 2’: Kevin Carter, Chicago, IL, Tiffany Martin, Roseville, CA, and Tom Scheer, York, PA.
‘Race For Change Team 3’: Jill Brown, Naperville, IL, Davon Culley, Long Island City, NY, and Autumn Provine, Chicago, IL.
Each relay team member will take on one part of the 70.3-mile 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.
“I am honoured and thrilled that the Race For Change Relay Teams will compete at Steelhead,” 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.”
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