Eighth Annual 24-Hour Charity Cycling Event Brings in $875,000 to Date – Plans Expansion to Atlanta in 2010 - CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Eighth Annual 24-Hour Charity Cycling Event Brings in $875,000 to Date – Plans Expansion to Atlanta in 2010
Posted: 07-27-2009 : CHARLOTTE, N.C.

CHARLOTTE – 24 Hours of Booty, Inc., which runs the Official 24-Hour Cycling Event of the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the only 24-hour road cycling charity event in the country, announced today that $875,000 has been raised to date for the Eighth Annual 24 Hours of Booty that took place on July 24-25 in Myers Park. In 24 Hours of Booty’s eight-year history, more than 6,000 riders have raised over $3.5 million to help fight cancer.

“We had a fantastic event this year and are thrilled about these preliminary numbers. We are closing in at breaking the $1 million mark as donations continue to come in for both the Charlotte and Columbia [Md.] events,” said Basil Lyberg, executive director of 24 Hours of Booty, which announced during the event that it will be expanding to Atlanta, Ga. in 2010.

On July 24-25, 1,200 participants from 24 different states rode in Charlotte’s Myers Park neighborhood along the famed “Booty Loop” to help stop cancer in its tracks. The non-competitive charity event that brought in riders of all ages and skill levels featured Celebrity Carpenter Brandon Russell of TLC's “Trading Spaces” and Sir Purr of the Carolina Panthers as its official starters. Tonia Bendickson, WBTV; Jenny Matz, Queens University of Charlotte and Dr. Jeffrey Kneisl, Medical Director of Blumenthal Cancer Center at Carolinas Medical Center were featured in the Opening Ceremony program.

“The continued success of this event is a testament to all the amazing support and participation from everyone involved, including Queens University of Charlotte for serving as the host site and to the Myers Park neighborhood for accommodating us,” said Spencer Lueders, founder and president of 24 Hours of Booty. “Hats off to our amazing participants, sponsors, volunteers and staff who play an important role in this event and help make a difference in the fight against cancer. We are excited about continuing our expansion plans and look forward to bringing the event to Atlanta next year.”

When not riding, participants hung out in “Bootyville” (a.k.a. the Queens University of Charlotte Athletic Fields) for camping, food and fun. More than 250 volunteers helped run the event that also included members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. There were 20 CMPD representatives stationed along the course at all times during the event.

Carolinas Medical Center’s Blumenthal Cancer Center served as the presenting sponsor of the event and other sponsors included: Silver Sponsors – Queens University of Charlotte, Mountain Khakis, Glaceau/VitaminWater, Clear Channel and WBTV; Bronze Sponsors – Bicycle Sport, Total Cyclist, Donald Haack Diamonds & Fine Gems, Great Harvest Bread, Andrew Blair’s HMS Worldwide, Eye Design and Endurance Magazine; and Value-In-Kind sponsors – Diamond Springs, SouthPark Marriott, Doubletree Hotel at Gateway Village, REI, and Fuel Pizza.

Top fund-raiser award winners included:

Top Team: Bank of America, $41,414
Top Fundraiser: Christopher Fernandez, Alston & Bird Team, $15,915
First Runner Up: Mona Baset, Bank of America, $10,069
Second Runner Up: Sandy Morgart, Bank of America, $9,060
First Place Fundraising Team: MojoRiding, $39,607
Second Place Fundraising Teams: Alston & Bird, $24,905

About 24 Hours of Booty
24 Hours of Booty, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charity located in Charlotte that provides an extraordinary cycling event that is safe, fun, and open to all levels of cycling ability. Its mission is to conduct 24-hour cycling events that increase public awareness, funds, and support for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and local cancer organizations. Local organizations include The Keep Pounding Fund at Carolinas Medical Center and the Brain Tumor Fund for the Carolinas in Charlotte, and the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults and Johns Hopkins Medicine in Columbia, Md.

The next 24 Hours of Booty event will roll on the “Booty Loop” at Gateway Business Park in Columbia, Md. from 4 p.m. Saturday, September 26 to 4 p.m. Sunday, September 27, 2009. For more information, call 704-365-4417 or toll-free at 877-365-4417, or visit www.24hoursofbooty.org.

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