Blood, Sweat & Gears sold out

The American Red Cross has announced that the 14th annual Blood Sweat & Gears has sold out.
The event, scheduled for Saturday, June 23, sold out in seven hours (100-mile route) and the 52-mile route sold out in 10 hours.

“We currently have a waiting list of 450 riders. Blood Sweat & Gears has come a long way in 14 years — only 200 riders braved the course in its first year. The race now supports 750 full century riders and 500 half century riders,” officials with the Watauga County Chapter of the American Red Cross said.

The BSG is a challenging to strenuous full English century — 100-mile loop ride starting and ending at Valle Crucis Elementary School.

A 50-mile “half century” is available for those who prefer the sanity of a challenging but shorter route.

Both rides are fully supported with aide stations and SAG support.

BSG showcases the mountain communities of Watauga County; highlights of the route include a 21-mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a strenuous climb over the 4,500-foot gap at Snake Mountain, and a 10-mile “flat” on old U.S. 421.

BSG is more than an event, it’s often a family vacation, which in turn boosts tourism throughout the High Country.

“We are humbled and amazed at how fast the rides filled up. It’s a testament to the tremendous efforts of our volunteers, sponsors, volunteer fire departments, law enforcement agencies and local governments to make BSG an experience for the riders and not just a ride,” said Scott Nelson, event coordinator.

BSG is supported by businesses and groups throughout the High Country. For a complete list of the fundraiser’s gold, silver and bronze sponsors, visit the website at http://bloodsweatandgears.org/.

Proceeds from the ride will benefit the Jeremy Dale Fisher Fund and The Russell Fund, established by the Watauga County Chapter of the American Red Cross, which provides assistance to local families who are displaced by fire, flood or similar disasters.

Within the past fiscal year (July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011), the local Red Cross chapter responded to 47 disasters (fire, flood, or other natural disaster); helping dozens of families with food, shelter and necessities.

“We trained 4,500 people in lifesaving courses, such as first aid/CPR, lifeguarding, baby-sitting and pet first aid, just to name a few,” officials said. “Donors rolled up their sleeves at hundreds of community blood drives to produce nearly 11,500 pints of blood for patients in local hospitals. Red Cross volunteers also supported our local military men, women and their families through emergency communications and other services.”

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American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.

The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.

For more information, visit http://www.redcross.org or join its blog at http://blog.redcross.org.