Flying across the country takes a long time. Imagine doing it by bicycle.
That's exactly what a team of bike riders from Durham, including Christopher, has been doing for the past week. If all goes well, the team will have ridden from San Diego to Annapolis, Md. By the end, the team will have touched 14 states, climbed more than 100,000 feet and covered 3,004 miles - competing against 60 teams from more than 20 countries. And they will have done it in just seven days.
The Race Across America event is considered one of the toughest bike races in the country - particularly for the solo riders, who cross the nation in less than 10 days.
Goal: $100,000
The Durham team of eight riders has been doing a relay 24 hours a day for the past week.
As of press time the DurhamCares team was closing in on fourth place. The team is more than 90 percent toward its goals of $100,000 fundraising and 5,000 hours of volunteer. Eighteen Durham nonprofit agencies will benefit from the team's efforts. To see the final results please go to www.durham cares.org/raam.
The challenge is exciting in itself, but what really distinguishes this feat is its purpose.
Raising money through charity sporting events is not new. In fact, it is estimated that last year, organized races in the U.S. raised $1.6 billion for charitable groups. But all too frequently the emphasis is on the amount of money raised, rather than how that money is spent - and most significantly, what the practical effect is.
DurhamCares stands out nationally for its focus on citizen engagement and results.
Launched three years ago by Bandwidth.com co-founder and chairman Henry Kaestner, DurhamCares is dedicated to helping Durham citizens "engage in serving each other, building relationships across cultural boundaries, and transforming our community through committed involvement."
Inspired by the parable of the Good Samaritan, DurhamCares identifies nonprofit groups in the community that state clearly what their intended effect is, measure their results and publish their findings. DurhamCares evaluates the effectiveness of these organizations and the transparency of their measures, and then it supports a select group of nonprofit organizations. Through a concerted marketing and awareness campaign, DurhamCares guides funders and volunteers to support those nonprofit groups.
The chosen few
To be included in the campaign, agencies must go through a rigorous application process and be approved by the DurhamCares board.
One featured organization is the Kramden Institute. With a mission to bridge the still-prevalent digital divide, the Kramden Institute provides refurbished computers to children and families who need them. To date, the Kramden Institute has provided more than 4,000 computers to families across Durham. It has ensured that every Habitat for Humanity house in Durham has a computer.
The nonprofit groups' works are displayed on the DurhamCares website ( www.durhamcares.org) to inspire accountability and volunteer involvement.
To date, 18 organizations have received support from DurhamCares, through which they have raised more than $150,000 and generated thousands of volunteer hours. DurhamCares could add as many as 10 nonprofit groups to its network in the next year.
"We certainly don't claim to have identified all of the excellent nonprofits in Durham. In fact, we look forward to working with many more of the 1,400 registered nonprofits here," said Heather Jones, executive director of DurhamCares.
"We have an annual application process, and we encourage all interested nonprofits to take a look."
Cyclists on a mission
Racing bicycles across America requires setting very specific targets, spreading the word and going for it. With such a high bar, the training has been intense and the personal rewards immensely gratifying.
But perhaps more satisfying is the knowledge that all of the money raised and time volunteered will support causes that will be measured with similar rigor.
