GU Energy and Strava Partner to Benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation
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Performance-tested nutrition brand GU Energy Labs and Strava, the online network connecting the global community of athletes, today announced a partnership aimed at raising at least $50,000 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). The unique partnership allows millions of runners and cyclists worldwide to help raise funds for CAF. Money raised will be used to equip physically disabled athletes with adaptive sports equipment, including running prosthetics and hand cycles, allowing them to take up or resume an active lifestyle.
Beginning today, runners and cyclists can join the Challenged Athletes Foundation run and ride challenges on Strava where, from October 6th to October 26th 2014, Strava and GU Energy are encouraging athletes to run and ride as much as they can. In doing so, GU Energy will donate $0.01 for every kilometer run, and $0.01 for every three kilometers ridden as part of the challenge to CAF.
Additionally, participants who individually run 50 kilometers or ride 300 kilometers during the challenge will unlock the ability to purchase a limited edition tee-shirt from Strava. All profit from the sales of the tees will be donated to CAF.
“The Challenged Athletes Foundation is a fantastic charitable partner,” said GU Energy Vice President of Marketing Adam Chamberlain. “We believe in their mission whole-heartedly, and partnering with Strava to reach our combined global audiences just made a great deal of sense.”
Virginia Tinley, executive director of the CAF, said, “GU Energy is a powerful partner for us, and we welcome Strava to the cause. Their generosity has been inspiring, and I greatly value what they’re doing for our athletes.”
“Like CAF, we believe everybody deserves the opportunity to live an active lifestyle,” said Strava CEO Mark Gainey. “Together with GU Energy, our members have an amazing opportunity to help those with physical challenges attain the same access to sport that we enjoy every day.”
GU Energy and Strava are brands dedicated to an athletic, active lifestyle, and believe that their global audiences can make a difference for athletes facing physical disabilities. Founded in 1994 and based in San Diego, the CAF has raised more than $50 million and provided life-changing support to more than 8,000 athletes.
Chamberlain and Gainey, in a joint statement, said, “We’re asking our entire community to run and ride as much as you can in these three weeks. The more kilometers we cover, the bigger the impact we can make for this cause.”
ABOUT GU ENERGY LABS
GU Energy Gel, the original energy gel, was developed in 1993 in Berkeley, California. To this day, GU remains the market share leader by a margin of more than two to one, and is still the premium gel available to endurance athletes. GU Roctane, Chomps and Brew are designed to provide athletes with scientifically-based, performance-tested nutrition. For more information about GU, log onto www.GUenergy.com.
About Strava
Strava is the online network that connects the global community of athletes. Founded in 2009, millions of athletes have joined Strava for the competition and camaraderie found in tracking and sharing their fitness activities. The company’s free mobile apps and website help members discover and plan workouts, record and share activities, and analyze and compare performance. Strava’s ability to connect athletes around the world makes fitness a more social experience, providing extra motivation even when training alone. www.strava.com
About the Challenged Athletes Foundation
The Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF) is a world leader in helping individuals with physical challenges get involved – and stay involved – in sports. CAF believes that participation in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life. Since 1994, more than $53 million has been raised and over 9,500 funding requests from challenged athletes in all 50 states and dozens of countries have been satisfied. Additionally, CAF’s outreach efforts reach another 60,000 individuals each year. Whether it’s a $2,500 grant for a handcycle, helping underwrite a carbon fiber running foot not covered by insurance, or arranging enthusiastic encouragement from a mentor who has triumphed over a similar challenge, CAF’s mission is clear: give those with the desire to live active, athletic lifestyles every opportunity to compete in the sports they love. To learn more, log on to www.challengedathletes.org or call 858-866-0959.
