In June 2010, Epic sponsored 'Team RAF Survitec Epic' in their Race Across America (RAAM). Established in 1982, RAAM is one of cycling's longest running and toughest annual endurance events. Starting in Oceanside, California and ending in Annopolis, Maryland, the race touches 14 US states, climbs 10,000 feet and spans over 3,000 miles truly making RAAM not a race to compete, but a race to complete. Not only did the team complete the race but did so in an amazing 6 days, 23 hours and 5 minutes, finishing in 7th place in the 4-man team category. The team also won the Military Cup, an internal RAAM prize awarded to the first military team to cross the finish line.
Sleep-deprived Ed Nockles, Epic's Web Producer, was part of the 9-man support crew, helping to navigate, fix the bikes and communicate with the cyclists and race officials. He comments: "RAAM is the world's toughest cycling race, and considering I took annual leave to be part of it, I can now say it's the toughest holiday I've ever had. Playing my part as token civilian with the RAF team, I was quick to learn the ways of military communication and structure, and at the end I felt part of the team, and part of the overall success that saw us over the finish line. It was a life-changing experience."
Ed kept a regular blog during the RAAM, which can be viewed at http://raf-raam.blogspot.com. The RAF raised £1,180 for 'Help for Heroes', a support charity for injured military personnel, while Ed smashed his own personal target of £1,000 for 'Street Child Africa', a charity providing support to homeless African children.
For more information go to http://www.epic.co.uk/news/press-releases/Epic-RAF-RAAM.html
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