Gary Heinfeld, CCIM, CPA and Designated Broker with Advisors in Real Estate of Tucson will be riding for the first time this year in El Tour de Tucson. Now in its 32nd year, El Tour expects more than 9,000 riders and 35,000 spectators for this year's event scheduled for November 22, 2014.
Special Olympics, the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, is ushering in a new era to El Tour as a title sponsor and primary beneficiary for the first time this year and has committed to three years as sponsor.
Gary said in a written statement, “I’m excited because El Tour’s charitable partner this year is Special Olympics and for over 45 years it has fostered the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities through the power of sports. I know personally the transformative power that sports instill confidence, improve health and inspire a sense of competition which is at the core of what Special Olympics is all about.”
Gary knows the joy and accomplishment of Special Olympics through his cousin, who has Down Syndrome, as well as a friend in School with intellectual challenges.
With motivation like this, Gary got a bike this year and started riding just on weekends. In April, he was going approximately 14-miles on Saturday and 21-miles on Sunday. In June, he started riding three days a week for a total of approximately 65-miles per week. In September, he increased his total miles to 100 - 115 miles per week and included one long ride.
“My long ride started at 30-miles and I increased it each week by 5 miles, for example yesterday my long ride was 45-miles. Over the next five weeks, I plan to increase my long run by 5 to 10 miles per week until I reach 80-miles, which will be two weeks prior to El Tour. I will still be maintaining between 100 to 125 miles per week,” Gary explained his ambitious training program.
Since the event's inception in 1983, 11 title sponsors have been part of Perimeter's El Tour history. In 2013, El Tour did not have a sponsor after 11 consecutive years of sponsorship.
In 2013, nearly $4 million was raised for more than 35 charitable organizations despite persistent rain occurring throughout the day in Southern Arizona for the first time in the event's 31-year history. Leading up to the ride, El Tour was headed toward record participation.
A conservative estimate of El Tour's annual economic impact to Tucson is $18 million.
By donating today, you can help Special Olympics fund the more than 50,000 competitions held each year for more than 4 million participants. Special Olympics has helped bring about policy to improve education, health care, and employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.
Any support that you can give for this worthwhile cause is appreciated. All donations are tax deductible. Donating online is safe and easy! You can send your support by visiting Gary’s personal page at https://eltourdetucson.donordrive.com/participant/2704 and click either ‘Donate’ or 'Support Me'.