RAW - The Race

This is a follow up post regarding the Team Suicide Prevention journey to the finish of the 2022 Race Across The West which took the racers and crew across a grueling 930+ mile route from Oceanside, California to Durango, Colorado. The previous post highlighted our journey and preparations to get to the starting line on June 14th. This post includes highlights for the team from the starting line to the finish line after an effort that took 2 days 14 hours and 46 minutes to cover the 930 miles.

We invite you to grab your favorite beverage while you check out the video. While you are watching, you may ask yourself the question, why do this? While it’s true that it’s not all smiles and easy going climbing mountain passes, pedaling through the desert in 105 plus degree temps, sleeping in the back of a van for two days, subsisting off energy gels and endurance drinks, or riding all night, it’s a small sacrifice to pay to leverage our bicycle endurance skills to raise awareness for Suicide Prevention. It is amazing to have someone walk up to you at 11pm in a convenience store parking lot while the race crew is preparing for the next leg to say that “I’ve been following you guys on the tracker app and wanted to come out and say hello and thank you”. Every individual that we can reach is a success and makes our efforts worthwhile.

Team Suicide Prevention has a broad range of plans underway focused on our beneficiary organizations who include Hope Is Oxygen, The Coffee Bunker, and Hope Is Alive. But honestly, many of us still have a bit of recovery left to do. It was certainly worth it as we race to raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health issues.

Thanks for your support.

cj