I am honored to have been selected by the Board of Directors to be the next executive director of the National 24-Hour Challenge. As I become familiar with all of the responsibilities of the executive director position, it is with great appreciation that I once again recognize the tireless dedication and commitment of Kathy and Pete Steve, who have served as the executive directors of the N24HC for the past nine years. I am inspired by their leadership, their unwavering high standards, and their attention to every detail, which have made the National 24-Hour Challenge the premier event of its type.
My goal for this year is to continue the tradition of the National 24-Hour Challenge. I do not anticipate any significant changes to the event this year, as we will focus on making sure this year’s event is everything you have come to expect from the National 24-Hour Challenge. I am excited to report that the entire Board, and nearly all of the Event Directors, are returning for next year! The commitment of the Board and Event Directors is essential to continuing the tradition of the event and will make the it a success once again next year.
I am truly humbled by the outpouring of supportive comments, emails, and texts I have received. I will keep your kind words and encouragement in mind as I plan and organize next year’s event, and will make every effort to meet all of your expectations. Should you have any comments or suggestions regarding next year’s event, be sure to let me know.
That said, I have two requests for you:
First, put June 16-17, 2018, on your calendar now! That was simple wasn’t it? Beyond putting it on your calendar, please reach out to at least one other rider you know and invite them to consider putting the National 24-Hour Challenge on their calendar too. Invite riders you know to check out the website www.n24hc.bike and make plans to participate in 2018. Just as in past years, registration will open on January 1, 2018.
Second, the success of this event depends on our volunteers. If you will not be able to ride next year, please consider volunteering. Last year, over 160 volunteers made the event a success. Volunteering can be anything you want it to be – from working at a checkpoint, to designing the rider T-shirt, or even helping promote the event on social media. As our planning continues, I’ll be sharing specific volunteering opportunities which I hope you will consider.
Once again, a sincere thank you for all your support! I am excited to be serving as your executive director, and look forward to seeing all of you on June 16-17, 2018!
Gary