Chartway FCU’s Vice President of Technology Ran Ultramarathons to Make a Difference

PRLog (Press Release) - Dec. 8, 2011 - In the mind of one credit union executive, life is like a marathon.  Although there may be slowdowns and brick walls along the way, Chartway’s Vice President of Technology Rick Richter knows firsthand that going that extra mile is always worth the effort. Richter challenged himself to run 139.3 miles of half marathons, full marathons and ultramarathons in just two and a half months, and raise $2,500 for two charities close to his heart:  the Wounded Warrior Project and the credit union’s charitable arm, the We Promise Foundation.  Starting Labor Day weekend and finishing the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Richter ran a total of 139.3 miles and nearly doubled his fundraising goal, enabling him to donate more than $2,300 to each charity.

Richter’s first race on Labor Day weekend was the Rock N’ Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, VA, which was followed by the Gibbet 50-mile ultramarathon on October 8th.  The Gibbet 50 marked the first time Richter ran a 50 mile race.  Of the 32 original registrants, only 17 finished the race.  

Richter wrapped up his endurance race and charity challenge with the Marine Corps Marathon on October 30th and then his finale on November 12th was the oldest ultramarathon in the United States: the famous JFK 50 Mile race held on the steep, rocky Appalachian Trail and historic C&O Canal trail.  Started by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, Kennedy required his military officers to meet the requirements Teddy Roosevelt had set for his own military officers at the dawn of the 20th century - to cover 50 miles on foot in 20 hours to maintain their commissions. The current race rules require participants to complete the race in 12 hours or face disqualification.  Starting in the dark at 5:00 a.m., and with temps in the low 30’s, Richter completed the event in 11 hours, 54 minutes.

Speaking about the historic race, Richter said, “As I ran the JFK 50 Mile race, I drew on the strength of the people the Wounded Warrior Project and the We Promise Foundation support.”  As a father of two young, healthy children, he knows just how fortunate he is.  “I can’t imagine – not even for a second – how it must feel to be a parent of a child facing a life-threatening illness.  The We Promise Foundation helps these children and families get through life’s greatest challenges by making their dreams come true,” shared Richter.

Additionally, having been raised in a military family, Richter’s respect for the men and women who live by a code of honor and discipline runs deep. “For those who are willing to lay down their lives to protect our country, I am honored to return their generosity by supporting the Wounded Warrior Project.  This wonderful organization helps wounded service members who have made enormous sacrifices transition back into civilian life,” Richter said.

In addition to raising money for these two foundations, Richter personally matched the donation total with a 10% contribution.

PHOTO CAPTION:
Gibbet 50 Mile Ultramarathon.JPG – Rick Richter raced over 50 miles of tough terrain to finish the Gibbet 50-mile marathon in 11 hours, 26 minutes.  He was one of 17 to finish the inaugural event in Virginia Beach, VA.

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About Chartway Federal Credit Union
Chartway FCU, a not-for-profit financial institution, has been serving members and families since 1959, building a service network that includes 64 branches in 10 states. Headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA, the credit union’s reach extends through Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and Utah. HeritageWest Credit Union and SouthWest Community Credit Union joined the Chartway family in 2010. Utah Central became part of the organization in 2011. Altogether, the organization has assets of more than $1.9 billion, and serves 230,000 members. For more information, visit www.chartway.com; or, follow them at www.facebook.com/chartwayfcu.

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/11745125/1