Racing for a Good Cause

HERA's flagship event is a four-day climb in Salt Lake City, Utah, including climbs for all ability levels, lessons for newcomers, parties and appearances by professional climbers. Other climbs take place in Las Vegas and Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, with the HERA Climb For Life REI Road Tour swinging through six climbing areas throughout the United States.

Overall HERA Climb for Life events have raised more than $375,000 for ovarian cancer research and to aid survivors. In 2004, 1,000 people participated in HERA Climbs.

Named after the Greek goddess and protector of women, HERA is also an acronym for heath, empowerment, research and advocacy.

Event locations: Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Grand Teton National Park, Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver, San Francisco, Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Distances: Participants set their own climbing and fundraising goals (1,000 feet for $1,000 is popular).

Dates: Various.

Fundraising details: No minimum to participate. $500 minimum for the gear raffle.

Web site: www.herafoundation.org/events.cfm

Boarding for Breast Cancer

Since it began in 1996, B4BC has raised $600,000 for breast cancer research. But what it really seeks to do with its snowboarding festivals at ski resorts around the country is to get the word out to young women that breast cancer is their problem, too. "B4BC targets young people, aged 16 to 30, who are more likely to believe--erroneously--that breast cancer is only the concern of middle-aged and older women," says Blair Young of B4BC.

In fact, founders Tina Basich and Shannon Dunn were inspired to start B4BC after their close friend, Monica Steward, died of breast cancer at just 28.

Collecting a total of $75,000, this year's eight Board-a-Thons featured breast cancer education, snowboarding competitions, Op Girls Learn to Ride clinics, autograph signings with pro athletes, nighttime festivities and concerts.

Snowboarding competitions are open to boarders of all skill levels. However, Young advises that participants have "some experience in the halfpipe and jumping off kickers."

Event locations: Depends on participating resorts. Events have been held at Copper Mountain, Colorado; Liberty Mountain, Pennsylvania; Mountain Creek, New Jersey; Crystal Mountain, Michigan; Bristol Mountain, New York; Mountain High Resort, California; Northstar-At-Tahoe, California; and Killington, Vermont.

Dates: Various.

Fundraising details: Fundraising format varies by location. There's typically a $5 to $20 registration fee, depending on the host resort.

Web site: www.b4bc.org

Tour de Cure for Diabetes

Tour de Cure is a series of cycling events held in more than 80 cities nationwide to benefit the American Diabetes Association, serving the more than 18 million Americans inflicted with the disease. The tour offers choices of fully supported rides that vary from 10 to 100 miles.

Since the Tour began in 1991, thousands of individual riders and teams (a minimum of four riders) share the fundraising duties and riding experience.

Location: 82 cities in 40 states.

Distances: Range from 10 to over 100 miles, depending on event.

Dates: April through June.

Fundraising: $100 minimum.

Web site: http://tour.diabetes.org


Dana Villamagna is a freelance writer who specializes in women's health and fitness, travel and parenting. She lives in Richmond, Virginia.
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