(Press Release)
DENVER – Rudy Project, an Italian maker of performance sunglasses and helmets, has partnered with endurance sports enthusiast and women’s rights activist Paola Gianotti as she rides her bike through 48 states in 48 days in order to raise money and awareness for underprivileged women in Uganda.
“I don’t like challenges which focus entirely on speed,” says Gianotti. “I’d rather race to find my own endurance limits and to help improve the lives of many people. That’s why I’ve raised funds to buy 48 bikes in Uganda, and am going to donate them to 48 underprivileged women who could not normally afford such a purchase.”
Starting from Walla Walla, WA, the 34-year-old aims to cross the 48 neighboring states, which will cover more than 7,500 miles and feature almost 20,000 vertical feet of climbing.
“Biking across the U.S. is an insane feat, but biking across the U.S. for a cause much bigger than yourself is truly admirable,” says Paul Craig, president and co-founder of Rudy Project North America. “When we heard what Paola wanted to accomplish, James Lawrence and his 50-50-50 challenge came to mind. Rudy Project stood behind the Iron Cowboy as he completed 50 full-distance triathlons in 50 states in 50 days in order to raise awareness of childhood obesity, and I see the same fire in Paola that fueled James. With the help of Rudy Project’s award-winning sunglasses and helmets, Paola can tackle any force of nature that she encounters on her journey.”
“In Uganda bikes changes people’ lives,” says Paola. “The children walk for 30 kilometers to get to school and then they fall asleep on the desks because they are tired. They cannot go to wells, and nurses cannot reach the villages to take care of ill people because they haven’t any means of transportation. Anyone who donates to this cause is helping to change those lives with a small gesture. I think that this is just as worthy than any sport record.”
To help keep her safe and focused on completing her epic journey, Paola is utilizing Rudy Project’s new Tralyx performance sunglasses and its Windmax road helmet. Having begun the 48-48-48 on April 29, her expected finish is on June 16, after which she will travel to Uganda and give bikes to the women of Karamoja, one of the most deprived regions of the country.
Follow Paola’s journey and support her cause at www.keepbrave.com.