RAAM 4-Person

Patrick Doak, Carlos Moleda, Dr. Hannes Koeppen and Vico Merklein are extraordinary athletes doing extraordinary things.

They rode on handcyles and knew that no team has ever completed RAAM in 9 days before on handcyles. They knew it would be really hard, they knew it would hurt (physically and mentally) and they knew they would do it. Failure was not an option.

They arrived in Annapolis at 2.29am. The journey took them an incredible 8 days, 9 hours and 6 minutes averaging 15.02mph. THAT IS FANTASTIC!

THE CAN BE VENTURE GOAL

Inspire everyone. Mentor members of the disabled community through extreme challenges. Showcase the possibilities of what can be achieved and how life Can Be lived, regardless of ones unique challenges.

Build awareness of the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) its mission, programs and goals.

The Challegend Athletes Foundation raises money to help people with physical disabilities pursue an active lifestyle through physical fitness and competitive athletics.

This is how these men live their lives and not because they are disabled and in chairs. This is who they are. We can learn a lot from them. They are inspiring!

Congratulations Team Can Be Venture - Well Done!

Anthony Gallo, Anthony Colasurdo, Richard Keith and Alan Sterner arrived in Annapolis at 4:37pm. They finished in 7 days, 23 hours and 18 minutes and averaged 15.79mph.

Drew's Crew had this to say before the race began:

"Our purpose for this race is to raise money for research to find effective treatments and a curefor NF. NF is a genetic disorder that can cause tumors anywhere in the body. NF can also contribute to learning disabilities, behavior problems, deafness, blindness, cancer, and even death. Drew Budlong, is a 10 year old who was first diagnosed with NF when he was 13 months old. His life up until this point has been filled with doctors visits plus physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Drew is an amazing child who has to work long and hard to do things that to most children his age come easily. Drew has tumors presently, one of which, will need to be removed in the near future. Drew along with nearly 2 million people worldwide suffer from neurofibromatosis and there is no cure.

Drew's Crew is participating in the Race Across America with the NF Endurance Team, to raise money and awareness for research to find effective treatments and a cure for this devastating disorder. Your generous donation, by way of mileage sponsorship, will help children like Drew who live with the effects of NF everyday.

Our GOAL is to partner with enough companies and individuals to raise $100 for every mile we ride. Together, Drew's Crew and its sponsors can make a difference towards the ultimate finish line of finding a cure for neurofibromatosis."

You can be proud of your efforts. You rode well and got a lot of lifetime experiences out of RAAM. They surely enjoyed the crabs they craved during the race in Annapolis.

Congratulations Drew Crew - Well Done!

Hubert Schwarz, Lenzen Wolfgang, Dirk Zinnecker and Eberhard Wagemann arrived in Annapolis at 2:45pm. They averaged 15.96mph and the journey took them 7 days, 21 hours and 15 minutes.

They supported the Black-Hubert Foundation.

Founded in 1998, the Black-Hubert Foundation so far, with over two million euro donation to charity projects throughout the world. From the very beginning we have set ourselves the task of our own (corporate) power and success in the service of helping to make.

On our side, many private donors and donors, but also many corporate customers helped children to give a smile or existential distress to liberate. It is the best reward that we as a healthy and secure material for a selfless people can receive help. It is our drive, and we look forward to anyone that his donation - even small amounts can make a big difference - our foundation's work supports.

As a relatively small foundation, its projects carefully selected and controlled, we can ensure that donations arrive exactly where they are needed. The funds, which are entrusted to us, we give directly to the needy or auxiliary bodies. Administrative costs from the proceeds of the foundation's assets paid.

A warm "Vergelts God's" for your help!

Renate & Hubert Schwarz

You rode well. You can be proud of your efforts.

Congratulations Equip Schwarz - Well Done!

Bill Hardy, Steve Kendra, Bill Edmonds and Dan Kendra can be proud of their efforts. They crossed the finish line in Annapolis at 7:50am. The journey took them 7 days, 14 hours and 35 minutes averaging 16.35mph.

They were participating in RAAM to raise funds and awareness for Neurofibromatosis (NF).

Neurofibromatosis encompasses a set of distinct genetic disorders that cause tumors to grow along various types of nerves and, in addition, can affect the development of non-nervous tissues such as bones and skin. Neurofibromatosis causes tumors to grow anywhere on or in the body.

Steve Kendra has a 13 year old daughter, Ari, who has had 14 major spinal surgeries to correct an 88 degree curvature of her spine caused by NF. She is a courageous young lady and an inspiration to everyone who knows her. They rode in honor of Ari and the millions like her who suffer with this disorder.

They reached their goal to raise over $100,000 and in the process had an experience of a lifetime competing in and finishing RAAM.

Congratulations Ari's Angels - Well Done!

Herbert Wiggenhauser, Frank Hammel, Ralph Walther and Gregor Kutzschbach from Germany arrived in Annapolis at 3:40am.

The journey took them 7 days, 10 hours and 23 minutes and they averaged 16.94mph.

The charity they rode for was END POLIO NOW (www.rotary.org)- joint project by Bill Gates Foundation and Rotary Foundation International (District 1940)

Rotary, a volunteer service organization of 1.2 million men and women, made a commitment to immunize the world’s children against polio in 1985 and became a spearheading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative three years later. The other partners are the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF.

Rotary’s primary responsibilities include fundraising, advocacy, and volunteer recruitment. To date, Rotary has already contributed more than $800 million to the polio eradication effort.

At the start of the race, Berliner stated that RAAM is a window of opportunity to support a global project on an international stage watched closely by the sports world. To eradicate a global disease should be a common goal in a globalized world.

Berliner rode with great team spirit and more importantly stuck together when times were tough. They encountered tough times during the race, but they got through it and can be proud of their effort.

Congratulations Team Berliner - Well Done!