Oceanside CA— In addition to keeping city streets and beaches safe, a group of Oceanside police officers will cycle across country to be heroes of another kind by raising money to help fight children’s cancer through the world’s toughest endurance bike race, Race Across America (RAAM). Team Oceanside will set off from Oceanside pier on Saturday, June 20 for the grueling cross county race with the goal of raising $50,000 for Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases. The group is currently seeking public donations to help reach their goal. Donations are tax deductible and can be made at www.oceansideraamteam.com.
Led by team captain officer Steve Peppard, the team of eight includes a captain, field evidence technician, several officers and a retired sergeant all from Oceanside Police Department, along with an Oceanside lifeguard, a technician from Oceanside City Clerk’s Office and the general manager of Oceanside’s popular triathlon shop Endurance House. This is the second time the team has competed in the race; the first was in 2013 and they were the only emergency services team to enter the eight-person team category.
“We are excited to be able to make another attempt at winning the team category while also raising money for a cause that is dear to our hearts,” said team member Oceanside Police Captain, Fred Armijo. “We hope the community will get behind us and support our efforts by donating to the cause.”
Supporting research to fight children’s cancer and blood diseases was a team decision, in part based on several members’ personal experiences. A visit to CHLA earlier in the year, which included discussions with researchers and doctors, made it official that this was the cause they wanted to get behind.
“I have a family member who recently passed away from leukemia, which he was diagnosed with at 16,” said Armijo. “It’s an honor to race in his memory and do my part in helping find a cure.”
Sponsors of Team Oceanside include Visit Oceanside, Pier Construction, Mossy Nissan, Oceanside Police Officers Association, Fallbrook Crossfit, MRI Endurance, New Flight Charters and Inertia Racing Technology.
For more information, visit www.oceansideraamteam.com.
More About RAAM
RAAM and SOUL EVENTS are world leaders in the sport of endurance bicycle racing. The team is responsible for the Race Across America (RAAM), the world’s premier ultra-endurance bicycle race, a 3000-mile coast-to-coast race across the USA, as well as the Race Across the West (RAW), an 860-mile race across the Western US, the RAAM Cycling Challenge Series, and the 6-12-24 Hour Endurance Time Trail World Championships. In addition, they offer seminars on endurance bicycle racing and sanction endurance races worldwide.
www.raceacrossamerica.org
About Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has been named the best children’s hospital in California and among the best in the nation for clinical excellence with its selection to the prestigious US News & World Report Honor Roll. Children’s Hospital is home to The Saban Research Institute, one of the largest and most productive pediatric research facilities in the United States. The hospital is also one of America’s premier teaching hospitals through its affiliation since 1932 with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. For more information, visit www.CHLA.org. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn, or visit our blog: www.WeAreChildrens.org.
About Visit Oceanside
Visit Oceanside Conference and Visitors Bureau is the official tourism marketing organization in Oceanside, Calif; promoting travel to the city for both leisure and group visitors. The organization influences more than $60 million in visitor spending in Oceanside each year, which supports nearly 700 tourism-related jobs. Visit Oceanside also operates one of the state’s official California Welcome Centers. With just one stop, visitors can find local, regional and state maps, purchase discount tickets to major Southern California attractions, make hotel reservations or shop for the perfect California keepsake. The Visit Oceanside CVB and California Welcome Center- Oceanside are conveniently located just off Interstate 5 at 928 North Coast Highway. For more information, please call (800)350-7873 or visit www.visitoceanside.org