The IRONMAN Foundation^® and Race2Rebuild, the nonprofit endurance sports program supporting disaster recovery, are heading to Ecuador to support continued earthquake recovery during race week as part of All You Need is Ecuador IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Ecuador.

Manta, Ecuador, the site of IRONMAN 70.3 Ecuador, is one of the most critical communities in need of help following massive earthquakes in April 2016 that decimated the area and claimed more than 600 lives.

“IRONMAN is about creating a sense of community, and through the support and generosity of our athletes, we hope to be able to make a difference in a community that has opened its arms to support us,” said David Deschenes, Executive Director of The IRONMAN Foundation.

The IRONMAN Foundation and Race2Rebuild have partnered with All Hands Volunteers to build a SER Community Center in a new housing development, Ceibo Renacer, located in the outskirts of Manta. Ceibo Renacer currently has 55 houses, which is just the start of a much bigger settlement planned by the city.  Approximately 575 families and approximately 2,300 people will benefit from this community center, and will improve the quality of health, education, and recreation for all residents.

“A community’s recovery process following a disaster is the ultimate endurance event,” said Race2Rebuild President Sarah Hartmann.

“We are truly grateful to The IRONMAN Foundation and our rebuilding partner All Hands Volunteers for the opportunity to bring together athletes and volunteers and create tangible impact in Manta.”

“But one of the greatest costs is the loss of hope that can occur in the sometimes overwhelming aftermath. As we come together to build this community center, we will give this area a place to gather, but more importantly, we will also show them by our actions that there is hope,” said All Hands Volunteers Executive Director and CEO Erik Dyson.

To support this initiative, individuals can help The IRONMAN Foundation reach their $50,000 fundraising goal by donating online at www.crowdrise.com/ironman-for-relief, or by signing up to tour the project on Saturday, July 30, and volunteer on Monday, August 1 online at www.race2rebuild.org/2016-events.  Volunteer Registration will be open until July 29.

To support the initiative, the IRONMAN Foundation will hold a drawing for one (1) entry to the 2017 IRONMAN^® 70.3^® World Championships in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Those who donate $50 or more online or register to volunteer and participate in the August 1 service project in Manta will be automatically entered in the contest.
For more information, contest rules and updates on this initiative, please visit www.ironmanfoundation.org/ecuador