CRCA and the I WILL FOUNDATION are pleased to announce that I WILL FOUNDATION will be the title sponsor of the 2012 CRCA Bear Mountain Spring Classic and the 2012 Alpine Hill Climb.  I WILL FOUNDATION was established by CRCA member Matt Long, author of The Long Run, to help people overcome adversity and challenges caused by life altering illness or traumatic injury.

As part of the sponsorship agreement the first 300 riders to register for the CRCA Bear Mountain Spring Classic presented by I WILL FOUNDATION will receive FREE race t-shirts.  All participants will also be able to purchase race t-shirts on Bikereg.com with all profits going to the I WILL FOUNDATION.  Donations may also be made to I WILL FOUNDATION via Bikereg during the registration process. Registration opens February 15 - see the Bear Mountain Spring Classic race page on CRCA.net for additional information.

To read more about I WILL FOUNDATION visit their website at: http://www.iwillfoundation.com/ To learn more about Matt Long's story see his Daily Show interview: http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-august-16-2011/matt-long

To read more about the Bear Mountain Spring Classic visit the race page on CRCA.net.

About I Will FOUNDATION

The I WILL FOUNDATION is a non-profit organization established to help people, with the will to work hard, overcome adversity and challenges caused by life altering illness or traumatic injury. Our primary goal is to provide motivational and inspirational support through hands on training, coaching, and financial support when necessary. We believe the will to survive and accomplish all tasks, great and small, is present in all of us whether we recognize it or not. If you have the desire to live your life to the fullest, we can help you.

Matt Long, a New York City firefighter, Author of “The Long Run”, established I WILL FOUNDATION. Matt was struck by a bus and critically injured on the streets of Manhattan while riding his bike to work in the winter of 2005. He received 68 units of blood in the first 40 hours following the accident and spent 5 months in the hospital.

He had 40 surgeries in less than two years and has been in physical therapy since. Matt survived this horrific accident due to his high level of fitness and determination as an active runner and Ironman triathlete, both of which helped him in his recovery. It is this perseverance that he wants to share with others who may think things seem impossible.

Matt attributes his turning point to when he stopped listing what he wanted to do and started listing what he WILL do. His outlook post-accident changed and his comeback began.

About CRCA

Founded in 1898, Century Road Club Association (“CRCA”) is a bicycle racing and development club that provides coaching and competitive events for all ages in the New York Tri-State area.  The club is one of the largest bicycle racing clubs in the country and was named “Club of the Year” in 2009 by USA Cycling, the sport’s national organizing body.

To learn more about the Club's 2012 sponsors - whose contributions help make our expanded open race calendar possible - visit: http://archive.crca.net/sponsorship/