Haute Route, Gran Fondo National Series and Project Hero Announce New Charity Partnership

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 1, 2018) – Haute Route, the most prestigious multi-day event series for amateur cycling worldwide, is expanding its charity partnerships with the addition of Project Hero, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Veterans and First Responders affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and injury achieve rehabilitation, recovery and resilience in their daily lives through cycling, research and community HUB. The new partnership will provide opportunities for Project Hero athletes to participate in Haute Route and Gran Fondo National Series (GFNS) events in 2018.

“Every day, the brave men and women of the US Military as well as first responders throughout the US, put their life in harms’ way for us. Making Haute Route events more affordable for them is a way to show our gratitude to those who defend us”, said Haute Route North America Chairman Alain Lambert. “We are honored to provide opportunities for the inspiring athletes of Project Hero to participate in Haute Route events and help them in their journey to recovery from injury, PTSD and TBI through cycling.”

“Our goal is to help increase support for Project Hero and enable as many Veterans and First Responders, along with their family, friends and supporters, to participate in GFNS events”, said Reuben Kline, Series Director for GFNS. “We will honor every Project Hero rider at the start of each of our events in 2018. We look forward to making a positive impact in their recoveries.”

The partnership between Haute Route, GFNS and Project Hero is also designed to raise awareness for Project Hero and the work the organization does utilizing cycling as a recovery tool, while providing a new competitive pathway for Project Hero athletes. Project Hero supporters, friends and family will be encouraged to ride alongside Veterans and First Responders in an Haute Route or GFNS event.

“Our programs have helped more than 10,000 Veterans and First Responders through cycling-based programs and other events since 2008,” said John Wordin, President and Founder of Project Hero. “Cycling events such as Haute Route and GFNS help Project Hero participants eliminate and decrease use of prescription drugs, increase injury recovery rates, and improve sleep habits and overall daily life functions.”

Taking place over seven or three-day formats, the timed and ranked Haute Route stage events are embedded in the world’s most iconic cycling terrain. Each Haute Route event offers a premium level of rider services usually reserved for the professional peloton. The 2018 calendar of events includes three brand-new three-day U.S. events in San Francisco, Calif., Asheville, North Carolina, and Cedar City, Utah as well as the second edition of the seven-day Mavic Haute Route Rockies. The Gran Fondo National Series is a strategic partner of Haute Route, featuring some of the most iconic rides in the U.S., and spanning a 12-event calendar in 2018.

About Haute Route

Haute Route was created in 2010 by global sports marketing and event company OC

Sport to deliver an unparalleled professional experience both on and off the bike for amateur riders. Taking place in the world’s most iconic cycling destinations, the events are timed, ranked and fully supported with premium services typically reserved for the pros. Haute Route launched its first North American event in June of 2017 with the Mavic Haute Route Rockies. For more information and to access the full 2018 Haute Route calendar of events, which includes three new three-day U.S. events, Haute Route San Francisco (April 20-22), Haute Route Asheville (May 18-20) and Haute Route Utah (September 14-16), and the seven-day Mavic Haute Route Rockies (June 23-29), please visit www.hauteroute.org.

About the Gran Fondo National Series (GFNS)

The Gran Fondo National Series (GFNS) was established in 2012 as the Gran Fondo National Championship Series by Reuben Kline who has more than 25 years of experience in the cycling industry, including five years as a professional mountain bike racer, 13 years as a full-time race director, and over 22 years as promoter of the Michaux Endurance Series. GFNS is comprised of 12 European-style rides staged across the United States and Canada. Part personal challenge, part serious competition, the GFNS leads riders through country roads with challenging climbs and incredible scenery on some of the most beautiful courses in North America.

For more information, or to register for an event, go to www.granfondonationalseries.com.

About Project Hero

Founded in 2008, Project Hero is a groundbreaking national non-profit organization dedicated to helping Veterans and First Responders affected by PTSD, TBI and injury achieve rehabilitation, recovery and resilience in their daily lives and increasing awareness to combat the national mental health emergency posed by PTSD and TBI. 

Project Hero programs including Ride 2 Recovery events and Project Hero Community Centers work by producing positive outcomes at lower costs and reducing drug-based therapies.  The organization also builds and provides adaptive bikes to physically-challenged and injured Veterans and First Responders and founded the Project Hero Research Institute for Mental Health to support clinical research programs in 2016. 

More information is at www.projecthero.org.