US Continental team Rally Cycling parlayed its invitation to the inaugural Tour of California last month into two stage wins for Evan Huffman. The team found success off the bike as well, raising $32,000 for the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation by auctioning off eight custom bikes used in the men's and women's races.
Each bike was inspired a UHCCF grant recipient who filled out a survey about their favourite things and future aspirations. Then the Rally Cycling design team created a theme and custom name badge. Themes included favourite school subjects, animals, family activities and even a few super powers. The UHCCF medical grants are awarded to families who need financial assistance to help pay for their children’s health care treatments, services or equipment that is not covered, or not fully covered, by their commercial health insurance plans.
"Rally Cycling's support of the UHCCF is remarkable and inspiring," said Rob Britton, winner of the most courageous jersey on stage 5. "The entire peloton was jealous of the amazing bikes we were riding. Knowing the bikes were being auctioned off for such a good cause provided extra motivation for us, and it's something the entire team will remember. It made for a few stressful moments knowing how important it was not to crash and scratch one of the frames."
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On the final day, the team hosted UHCCF grant recipient Nathan, who inspired the 'Snake' bike ridden by sprinter Eric Young. Although Young was forced to abandon the race on stage 2, Nathan was able to witness Huffman's second stage win of the week as the Rally rider sprinted from a small breakaway group in Pasadena.
"Nathan thought is was the coolest bike ever," said his mother, Stephanie Ellinger. "He was so excited and said that it was even better than he could have ever imagined. It was a special day, a lot of kids with health issues like Nathan, their lives are spent in and out of a hospital. Getting a chance to do something normal, like go to a bike race, is not an everyday occurrence."
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