My name is Martin Richer and I'm an avid bike rider from Carmel, IN. Cycling is one of my passions and it has made an incredibly positive impact on my life. I love riding both on and off the road and the challenges associated with long distance gravel events.
This June, I’ll be riding in the 2025 UNBOUND 200 mile Gravel race. Call me crazy...but it’s for a good reason: I’m riding on behalf of the Chris Klug Foundation (CKF), a nonprofit that educates on the importance of organ, eye, & tissue donation! Not only will I be riding in their honor, but I will also be fundraising for their cause, in support of organ, eye & tissue donation. This will be my second time tackling the rugged 200 miles North Course at Unbound and I'm excited to be racing for such a great cause.
So, why CKF? Although I am able to take on such a daunting physical (and mental!) task like riding Unbound Gravel, there are still more than 103,000 people in the U.S. who cannot because they're awaiting a lifesaving transplant. Everyday 17 of these people die waiting for their turn for their transplant. And every 8 minutes, someone new is added to that waitlist. Just one person has the ability to save up to 8 lives as an organ donor and improve up to 75 lives through tissue and eye donation. But here’s a stark reality: although 95% of U.S. adults support the idea of organ donation, only 48% are actually registered as organ donors. That isn’t good enough. I’m riding in the hopes of eliminating the wait for a transplant. I know that’s a lofty goal, but if my riding helps just one person from having to wait, I believe it's worth it.
CKF is making huge strides to educate people of all ages, with the goal of registering more individuals as organ donors across the U.S., in the hopes of one day eliminating the wait for transplant nationwide. Please help me raise the very important funds they need to continue their lifesaving mission. The smallest amount helps and 100% of your donation is tax-deductible. Donations can be made via credit card or check.
