Lowery, a veterinarian from Athen, Tennessee, has won some big races including Transrockies, Cohutta 100, and the National Ultra Endurance series in 2007. Now she wants to use her talents as a bike racer to raise money for physical education. Make a pledge for each lap Carey completes at the upcoming Burn 24 and help support kids and physical education.
Carey Lowery outside one of the schools she will be raising money for
I first hopped onto a mountain bike 11 years ago after a back injury forced me to look for an alternative to running. I was bitten by the racing bug after competing at a local MTB race. For several years, I raced XC, but after my good friend and training partner, Zeke Lilly, suckered me into racing The Off-Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell, I entered the scene of ultra-endurance racing and never looked back.
Racing has taken me places I have never dreamed of going. I have pushed myself to my limits, stood atop the podium, and fueled that inner monster that makes me feel alive. Up until now, racing has been about me. For 2010, I wanted to try something different. I wanted to do a race and use it as a platform to raise money for a cause. There are hundreds of wonderful charitable causes. I based my choice on four things. I wanted it to be local, educational, proactive, and hit a sector of the population that cycling needs desperately.
I am going to be racing solo at The Burn 24 Hour MTB Challenge over Memorial Day weekend. This grassroots 24 hour race is in its 10th year and is the largest in the Southeast. I am using this as a platform to raise money for the physical education programs at City Park and Ingleside Elementary Schools. Both are K-3rd and educate about 700 children. My daughter, Carly, goes to City Park. This is my own personal fundraiser as there are no organized drives to raise money for this purpose. My bike shop, The Outdoor Store, is helping me in this endeavor. My goal is to raise $6000.
Lowery will be using her MTB skills to help kids learn to love exercise and make a start to a healthy lifestyle
I will be giving two educational presentations to the students. The first will focus on health, fitness, nutrition, and cycling. Sadly, the county I live in is one of the most obese in Tennessee, according to CDC studies. And Tennessee is on the podium for being one of the fattest states! My hope is that I will interest them in getting off the couch and away from TV’s and computer monitors and back outside on their bikes.
The second will focus on mountain biking and my 24 hour race. I am going to try to have pictures and video from the race to entertain the kids as well as all my gear needed for racing solo.
I will also be holding a contest for the kids. The top 3 boys and girls closest to guessing how many laps and miles I complete in 24 hours will win. As of now, I am working with The Outdoor Store, Specialized, and local businesses to give away bikes for 1st place.
I will be accepting pledges through May 29, 2010. If interested, you can e-mail me, careylowery@yahoo.com, visit my website, www.careylowery.blogspot.com, or Facebook me. I will collect the donations during the month after the race. I feel that pledges per lap versus a flat rate will give me better incentive to grind through those laps, especially during the night hours. Besides, it will give my mind an opportunity to do the math rather than dwelling on the suffering my body will be enduring.
