New cycling challenge to benefit Utah’s at-risk children and teens

LAYTON, Utah - Jan. 6, 2016 - PRLog -- SALT LAKE CITY – Amateur cyclists looking for the next new challenge in Utah are turning their attention to Utah’s Ultimate Cycling Challenge™ (UUCC™). The recently announced statewide charity event stretches from Logan to St. George with five stages for participants to ride individually or in relay teams, a unique feature for a state full of endurance cyclists.

Spin Utah, a Layton-based cycling business, announced that the event will take place August 16-20, 2016. UUCC aims to bring amateur cyclists from all over the state and region a new opportunity to conquer the vast landscapes of Utah, from mountain peaks and twisting canyon roads to stretches of desert. In just five days, cyclists will pass through 60 different Utah towns and 13 different counties. UUCC selected The Christmas Box International as the charity partner for the event in an effort to support children who are victims of abuse, neglect and abandonment.

“We’re so excited about this charity effort,” said Executive Director of The Christmas Box International (http://www.thechristmasboxhouse.org/), Lisa McDonald. “Not only will Spin Utah’s event offer generous monetary support to our cause, but we believe it will help spread awareness of what we do in a way that sport enthusiasts of this beautiful state can really appreciate.”

Utah’s Ultimate Cycling Challenge is a multi-stage Gran Fondo based on the ride its founder undertook on his own several years ago. Jordan Arey, Spin Utah’s founder and president (and the creator of UUCC), has been an avid cyclist of over 17 years. He developed the concept of UUCC to bring cyclists the “missing element” in Utah, a greater opportunity for amateurs to ride and even compete in a long distance cycling event akin to a professional stage race.

“We need this event in Utah. We harbor a huge enthusiasm for cycling in this state, but we haven’t had anything quite like this event yet,” Arey said. “Colorado’s ‘Ride the Rockies’ has been round for over 30 years now. It’s time for Utah to have something even better.” Though the event itself is merit enough for its founder’s passion, Arey said it means something so much more when considering their charity cause. “We feel we couldn’t benefit any greater cause,” he said. “We are so proud to support The Christmas Box’s effort to help at-risk children and teens. That’s why we plan to donate the largest amount of our proceeds as we can.”

Registration for the event opens February 1^st (https://utahsultimatecyclingchallenge.com/registration/) and is expected to fill quickly. Participants can register as individuals (riding all five days of the event) or as a relay team to share the distance. For more information about the event visit: www.utahsultimatecyclingchallenge.com.

More about Spin Utah

Spin Utah was founded in order to create the biggest and most ambitious amateur cycling event the state of Utah has to offer. With years of experience and passion for the sport of cycling, Spin Utah created Utah’s Ultimate Cycling Challenge (UUCC). This multi-stage cycling event takes cyclists through some of the most beautiful and challenging landscapes in the state. Starting in Logan and finishing in St. George, UUCC weaves riders along the amazing Wasatch front down to the red-rock plains of Southern Utah. For more information about Spin Utah, or to contact their staff, visit www.spin-utah.com.

More about The Christmas Box International

The Christmas Box International provides assistance to prevent child abuse and services to improve the quality of life for children who have been abused, neglected or homeless. Their motto is simple: every child deserves a childhood.

In 1996, founder and New York Times best-selling author, Richard Paul Evans, created a safe place for Utah's children, a Christmas Box House, naming the charity after his first novel, The Christmas Box. Every year, the organization serves some 6,500 children, teens and young adults who were victims of abuse, neglect or homelessness through local, national and international partnerships.

Since completing construction of their emergency children's shelters, The Christmas Box International continues to grow its programs. From providing needed clothing, educational items and toys to pairing volunteer mentors with older teens aging out of foster care, Christmas Box programs aim to serve the same youth that inspired the construction of the emergency children’s shelter, the first Christmas Box House. Learn more about their story here (http://www.thechristmasboxhouse.org/our-story-2-1/).