George Hood's Guinness World Record

"Ride IV Reasons "

Fundraiser for Fox Valley United Way's Youth Programs

and Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund

 Record Breaking Ride 

April 11 - 24, 2010

Ride IV Reasons Headquarters

Aurora Market Place

Route 59 & 75th Street, Aurora 

Our Newest Sponsor:

The Kane County Chronicle

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.

To donate to George's World Record Breaking "Ride for Reasons" click here!