IRONMAN Foundation, HOKA ONE ONE and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Team Up for Hurricane Michael Relief
Community 5K to Support Hurricane Michael Relief Efforts presented by HOKA ONE ONE part of over $125,000 in giveback at IRONMAN Florida.
TAMPA, Fla. (October XX, 2018) – In conjunction with the IRONMAN® Florida triathlon taking place on Sunday, November 4, 2018 in Haines City, Florida, the IRONMAN Foundation® will continue its mission of supporting IRONMAN race communities in times of need. Due to the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Michael, IRONMAN and local partners concluded that it would not be feasible to host the 20th edition of IRONMAN Florida in its usual location of Panama City Beach, Florida prompting the relocation to Haines City, the home of IRONMAN® 70.3 Florida.
When the Category 4 storm made landfall, it was the strongest hurricane to ever hit the Florida Panhandle, with winds hitting 155 mph. At its peak, more than 1.5 million homes and businesses from Florida to Virginia were without power and it will be months before power is fully restored in the hardest hit areas. Thousands of residents have lost their homes and will need continued support as they work get back on their feet.
“As we mark the 20th year of IRONMAN Florida, our thoughts are with the Panama City Beach region and the community members who continue to be impacted by Hurricane Michael,” said Sarah Hartmann, Acting Executive Director for the IRONMAN Foundation. “We are calling upon our greater IRONMAN community to join us in helping to bring assistance in this time of need. The areas affected will require ongoing assistance and donations, and service projects will be critically important for their continued recovery efforts.”
The IRONMAN Foundation has set up multiple initiatives to help with Hurricane Michael Relief Efforts:
- DONATE – The IRONMAN Foundation has pledged $50,000 to support local recovery efforts and will match all donations made by November 4, 2018, up to $100,000.
- T-SHIRT SALES – 100% of the proceeds raised through the sale of a custom Humanitarian Relief T-shirt will go towards the IRONMAN Foundation’s Hurricane Michael Relief Efforts.
- VOLUNTEER – Register to volunteer and provide hands-on recovery assistance at local service projects to be announced.
- RUN – The 2018 IRONMAN Foundation Community 5k to Support Hurricane Michael Relief presented by HOKA ONE ONE will be held on Saturday, November 3. Proceeds from this event will go directly to relief efforts in Panama City Beach to provide assistance as they work to recover and rebuild.
- GIFT CARD DONATIONS – At the IRONMAN Village on Thursday November 1 through Saturday, November 3, the IRONMAN Foundation will collect VISA gift cards to be provided to individuals impacted in the greater Panama City Beach region.
“HOKA ONE ONE is honored to help support the IRONMAN Foundation in their efforts to help the greater Panama City Beach region rebuild their community in the wake of Hurricane Michael,” said Wendy Yang, President of HOKA ONE ONE. “Our connection to IRONMAN extends beyond the races to the communities in which they are held, and it is humbling to see the community come together to provide relief through this 5K and the efforts it will fund.”
The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, a Florida-based organization, has pledged a $25,000 donation to the IRONMAN Foundation to be used towards Hurricane Michael relief efforts.
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In addition, the IRONMAN Florida “Picnic in the Park” Welcome Ceremony will be held on Friday, November 2 at 6:30PM, with food provided by Firehouse Subs. Athletes, as well as their families and friends, are invited to attend and help kick off the 20th year of IRONMAN Florida.
For more information on the 5K, including registration, as well as how to donate, purchase t-shirts or volunteer for future recovery projects, visit the IRONMAN Foundation booth in IRONMAN Village during race week or go to www.ironmanfoundation.org/florida.
For more information on IRONMAN and the IRONMAN Foundation, please visit www.ironman.com and www.ironmanfoundation.org. For media related inquiries, please contact press@ironman.com.
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About the IRONMAN Foundation
The IRONMAN Foundation® creates positive, tangible change in IRONMAN race communities by engaging athletes and volunteers to participate in programs that demonstrate service through sport and commitment to community. Since 2003, over $50,000,000 has been provided through IRONMAN charitable giveback programs including the IRONMAN Foundation to more than 7,800 local, regional, national and global nonprofit initiatives. Through these partnerships, IRONMAN athletes are powerfully linked to the community and together we leave the IRONMAN legacy behind in our race communities long after event day. For more information on IRONMAN Foundation programs, including Team IMF, Community Fund, Your Journey Your Cause, and Women For Tri, visit www.ironmanfoundation.org.
About HOKA ONE ONE
HOKA ONE ONE® is the fastest growing premium running shoe brand in the world. Two life-long runners launched HOKA in 2009, after years spent handcrafting and shaping lightweight shoes with extra-thick midsoles. Initially embraced by ultrarunners because of their enhanced cushioning and inherent stability, HOKA now offers shoes for all types of athletes who enjoy the unique ride the shoes provide. For more information visit hokaoneone.com or follow @hokaoneone #timetofly.
About IRONMAN
A Wanda Sports Holdings company, IRONMAN operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN®70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock n’ Roll Marathon Series®, Iron Girl®, IRONKIDS®, International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Series races, road cycling events including the UCI Velothon® Series, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, premier marathons including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, and other multisport races. IRONMAN’s events, together with all other Wanda Sports Holdings events, provide more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. The iconic IRONMAN® Series of events is the largest participation sports platform in the world. Since the inception of the IRONMAN® brand in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines at the world’s most challenging endurance races. Beginning as a single race, IRONMAN has grown to become a global sensation with more than 230 events across 53 countries. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.
About Wanda Sports Holdings
Wanda Sports Holdings is the world’s leading sports business entity, founded to capture the opportunities in the global sports industry and to contribute to the prosperous international sports landscape – in three key areas: 1) Spectator Sports (media & marketing business), 2) Participation Sports (active lifestyle business), 3) Services (digital, production and service business). Wanda Sports Holding incorporates the international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media, the iconic endurance brand IRONMAN, and Wanda Sports China. The headquarters are in Guangzhou, China.