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| The 2007 RAAM team at the finish line. |
Just imagine watching a member of your family get sick in the prime of her life, suffer for more than 15 years, die young and likely passing the disease onto some of her children. As this disease robs them of her mind and body, it takes away the person they love. What would you do?
This is reality for Renato and Sharon Shafter and their daughters Alexa and Taylor. The disease is called Huntington’s disease, and there is no treatment or cure.
Sharon has been diagnosed with the disease, which claimed her father’s life.
And if all of this is not ugly enough, the name of the disease is unrecognizable by most people (even many doctors). The unfamiliarity creates an additional hurdle that is extremely hard for HD families to surpass.
This makes families feel alone and scared.
Born out of a sense of anger, obligation and purpose, Renato Shaffer and Scott Needle, another hero who married into an HD family, decided to participate in a cycling event in June 2006 to raise money for Huntington’s disease research.
However, they intentionally chose the world’s toughest bike race!
The Race Across America (RAAM) is an annual transcontinental bicycle race from the West to East Coast of the USA. Athletes from around the world participate in this feat of endurance. The route begins in Oceanside, CA, and ends in Annapolis, MD. It is over 3,000 miles, crosses fourteen states and four time zones and over 110,000 feet of vertical climbing.
Created in 1982, RAAM is now the longest running ultra-distance endurance competition in the world. It has been aired on ABC, ESPN, OLN, NBC and stations all around the world. It is frequently cited as the most-challenging physical event in the word, topping even notable events like Ironman, summitting Everest, and the Tour de France.
The Shaffers felt that this was the perfect platform to channel their fears, raise money for research, and have the chance to teach folks about HD is and how they can help.
Teams participate in a relay format race. They bike 24 hours a day until they reach the finish line. Merely to finish is the accomplishment of a lifetime and a testing ground for the human spirit.
The Shaffers are pleased to say that their “Team 2 Cure Huntington’s Disease” participated in and successfully completed RAAM in 2006, 2007 and 2008 in 8 days or less!
As if three years are not enough, riders Renato Shaffer, John Sylvester, Jason Tate and Joe Beeson have decided to enter RAAM 2010.
Along with the four riders who will sacrifice their bodies, time, energy and sanity, the team is composed of about twelve support people.
Renato claims they he and the other riders have the “easy” part while the support vehicle drivers, navigators and other crew members have the challenging job of getting the team across the country safely, timely and without strangling each other.
The lack of sleep, constant driving and close quarters truly test the strength of every crew member while highlighting their intense devotion to the cause to stop HD.
RAAM is a year-long effort driven by committee members who sort out logistics, buy supplies, and tirelessly seek out donations and sponsors.
Because of the recession, “Team 2 Cure Huntington’s Disease” was not able to participate in RAAM 2009. But the team refuses to let that hinder their efforts of awareness and fundraising for 2010. In May 2009 they held a benefit golf tournament at Eastlake Country Club in Chula Vista, CA, and are now making plans for the big race next year.
They are also holding another exciting golf tournament with many prize opportunities on Friday, April 30, 2010.
Click here for details.
These men and crew members are risking their lives and taking time away from their careers and families because they feel so passionate about ending this fatal disease. So please help support them in their journey! All donations are needed so even the smallest amounts make a difference.
Please visit the team’s site to make a donation today:
click here. You can also help by sponsoring the RAAM. For information please contact Stephanie Alband or Natalie Carpenter at 619.225.2255 or by
clicking here.
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The RAAM team is selling T-shirts in memory of the late Marie Portillo of Orange County. Marie died last year after a long battle with juvenile Huntington's disease. The team is requesting a donation of $20 per shirt. Proceeds from sales benefit HDSA-San Diego, with every dollar going to the care of HD patients and research towards treatments and a cure. Click on the picture of the official 2010 RAAM T-shirt to order yours now!
Click on the picture to get your RAAM T-shirt!
For other RAAM news and training and race updates, see the links below.
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