George Hood's Guinness World Record

"Ride IV Reasons "

Fundraiser for Fox Valley United Way's Youth Programs

and Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund

Ride IV Reasons Headquarters

Aurora Market Place

Route 59 & 75th Street, Aurora

Join The FOX VALLEY UNITED WAY this Saturday Morning from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the George Hood’s Ride IV Reasons Headquarters for the Community Celebration of George’s World Record Attempt!  Listen to George’s recount of the ride and enjoy live music from DOUGH!  There will also be a silent auction and drawing for prizes.  George gave so much physically and mentally, all to benefit the Fox Valley United Way’s Youth Programs and the Injured Marines.  These causes still need your support!  Please consider attending and making a donation. 

The celebration begins at 8:00 a.m. at the corner of Route 59 and 75^th street.  See you on Saturday!

 To donate to "Ride IV Reasons" click here! 

THE FOX VALLEY UNITED WAY WANTS TO RECOGNIZE GEORGE HOOD FOR HIS VALIANT ATTEMPT TO BREAK THE WORLD’S RECORD FOR STATIONARY BIKING. AFTER “SPINNING” FOR AN UNBELIEVABLE 175 HOURS STRAIGHT, JUST SHY OF THE CURRENT WORLD RECORD, GEORGE DECIDED MONDAY MORNING THAT HE WOULD NOT GO ON TO COMPLETE HIS 300 HOUR , 12 ½ DAY CHALLENGE.   THANK YOU GEORGE FOR THE ENDLESS HOURS OF TRAINING AND DEDICATION YOU PUT INTO THIS MAGNIFICENT EVENT!  THE FOX VALLEY UNITED WAY IS ALSO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THOSE WHO DONATED TIME, ENERGY AND FUNDS FOR THE CAUSE.  ALL THE YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTED BY THE UNITED WAY AND THE INJURED MARINE SEMPER FI FUND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT. 

GEORGE PUT AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EFFORT INTO HELPING TO RAISE MONEY FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS.  WHILE THE RIDE IS OVER, THE NEED HAS NOT DIMINISHED, AND THE FOX VALLEY UNITED WAY STILL NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT.  PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO GIVE.  EVERY DONATION, HOWEVER SMALL, MAKES A DIFFERENCE.  STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER UPDATES, INCLUDING AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT A SPECIAL CELEBRATION EVENT COMING SOON!

Sponsored By: 

Read George's Blog

www.ridegeorgeride.org/blog

Join George's Facebook Page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ride-IV-Reasons/189379531359?ref=ts

Ultra endurance athlete George Hood, an Aurora resident and three time Guinness world record holder in stationary (spin) bike riding, will help Fox Valley United Way raise funds to support local youth programs as he takes aim at a new Guinness record for spin bike riding.

Hood, already in training at the Ride IV Reasons Headquarters, Aurora Market Place, Route 59 and 75th, Aurora, is shooting for a 300-hour ride. The training rides are several in a series that will lead to the Fox Valley United Way-Ride 4 Reasons record-setting attempt, April 11-24 at the Aurora Market Place.

Bonnie Management Corporation is donating the Aurora Market Place training facility and event time to Hood and FVUW. The current spin bike marathon riding record is 192 hours, set in January, 2009, in Belgium by Shirvani Merhzad.  Hood’s best so far is a then record 177 hours, 45 minutes, set in May 2008 at the Heritage YMCA in Naperville . Money raised by Hood will go to Aurora-based Fox Valley United Way.  Money from the ride will be earmarked for FVUW youth programs, including the local Three Fires Council of the Boy Scouts of America.  Hood and his three sons in Naperville are members of Aurora Boy Scout Troop 849. 

Also, a portion of the donations will be shared with the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, which provides support to Marines injured in Afghanistan and Iraq and their families.

“There are two reasons I’m riding,” Hood says.  “I’m a former Marine officer.  I’ve been in Afghanistan , and I know the dangers our young people face there. “But I also know that the future of our great country lies in its youth.  Especially now, the kids in the Fox Valley need our help.  My hope is that we all can contribute through my effort to bring the spin bike record back to the U.S. ”

For Fox Valley United Way and the youth agencies it helps support, Hood’s record-setting attempt “will help us highlight the continuing need so many families, especially families with children, face,” says Michael Meyer, FVUW CEO.

Sponsors and individuals who want to join the Fox Valley United Way-Ride IV Reasons effort can contact Michael Meyer at 630-896-4636 or via email at michael.meyer@uwfoxvalley.org.

Hood is a retired DEA agent recently returned from southern Afghanistan where he conducted security operations on behalf of U.S. forces.

Photo by Perry Slade -SLADEIMAGES