October 29, 2001

Mercy Corps International
Monday, 29 October 2001

The Inside Lane is racing towards a different kind of finish line. The adventure racing team based in Denver Colorado has a new teammate, Mercy Corps, and is reaching out to help children in New York City. Mercy Corps, a nonprofit organization from Portland Oregon, has developed a program called Comfort for Kids. The program is designed to aid families and children in New York City that might otherwise be overlooked by relief, recovery, and counseling efforts such as those in refugee, immigrant, and low-income communities.

The Inside Lane – Mercy Corps racing team (previously The Inside Lane), is competing in a five day non-stop adventure race to help raise money for the Comfort for Kids program. The Southern Traverse race is recognized as one of the world's three most formidable adventure races along with Eco-Challenge and Raid Gauloises. The race takes place near Queenstown, New Zealand and begins on November 12th. Competitors must navigate on foot, mountain bike, and kayak along unmarked trails, through indigenous native forests, across alpine passes, over lake swells, and down fast flowing rivers to the finish line.

Mercy Corps goal is to raise 1 million dollars. The Inside Lane – Mercy Corps team hopes to raise $500 for every checkpoint they successfully complete for a total of nearly $15,000 going towards Comfort for Kids. Individuals and corporations can sponsor the team per checkpoint, by purchasing one or more 'comfort kits' for needy families, or by direct donation to the Comfort for Kids fund.

Teammates include John Freudenberger from Denver CO, Cindy Gagnon from Boulder CO, Ben Binger from Big Arm Montana, and Robert Beauchamp from Davis California. The teammates are all asking friends, family, corporations, and strangers to help meet their goal of $15,000 by donating money to Mercy Corps Comfort for Kids. "Myself and my teammates alike wanted to do something that would make a difference in the wake of recent tragedies in New York City," said John Freudenberger team captain of The Inside Lane – Mercy Corps. Helping the children of New York City will be our motivation as we search deep within to successfully complete the 5 day race," said Ben Binger. "We are a bit unsure of our own capabilities, but will unite as a strong team with a clear goal as America has in the recent month."

For more information, or to contact Mercy Corps International, see their website at: www.mercycorps.org