wfn.org | Triathlete Goes the Distance for HIV and AIDS

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact, Beth DeGraff, cell 616-648-7821 or 1-800-55-CRWRC
Regional Resource Developer, Randy Hedman, 612-270-0284

> Triathlete Goes the Distance for HIV and AIDS

September 4, 2009?Last weekend, Mike Pluimer ran, swam, and biked his
way to raising more than $30,000?that he?s giving away. Pluimer is
donating the money he collected, and more, to HIV and AIDS programs
through the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (www.crwrc.org).

Pluimer says he can see a day when ?HIV and AIDS are no longer a
pandemic in Africa, and our brothers and sisters can cross their
finish line in good health.? On August 30, Pluimer crossed his finish
line in Louisville, Kentucky, completing the ?Ironman Louisville? in a
respectable 13.5 hours in a field of 2,435 competitors. Pluimer spent
the last twelve months training and raising money through personal
appearances at churches and schools, and online.

The Louisville Ironman is one of a number of grueling physical events
Pluimer scheduled throughout the past year. His race season started in
June with the Ironman Coeur d?Alene, continued with the July Chisago
Lakes (Minn.) Half Ironman, and included the Alaska State
Championships Olympic Distance Race in early August. The  Louisville
event featured a 2.5 mile swim in the Ohio River, a 112 mile bike
segment through the hills of Kentucky, and a 26.2 mile marathon past
Churchill Downs.

?The Ironman takes endurance and commitment,? Pluimer says. ?Not only
by me, but by the strong support group who train, cheer, and pray me
through.? There?s nothing like passing the finish line, Pluimer adds.
?There are few things more satisfying in life than hearing long-time
race announcer Mike Reilly say one more time, ?Mike Pluimer?YOU are an
Ironman!?

Because of his fundraising efforts for CRWRC?s Embrace AIDS Campaign,
Pluimer also won second place in the Janus Charity Challenge. Janus
matched Pluimer?s $30,000 with an additional prize of $8,000 for HIV
and AIDS alleviation through CRWRC.

CRWRC has HIV and AIDS programs in 17 countries on three continents. A
faith-based relief and development organization since 1962, CRWRC has
addressed the HIV and AIDS pandemic for 15 years. The agency, part of
the Christian Reformed denomination, provides palliative and respite
care, prevention education, and community-based programs for orphans,
vulnerable children and foster families. The funds Pluimer collected
are designated for the CRWRC Embrace AIDS Campaign
(www.iembraceaids.org), which has raised $3 million for HIV and AIDS
alleviation in the last two years.

Pluimer?s support team and CRWRC regional developer Randy Hedman
collaborated to attract pledgers who raised $500 from supporters by
accumulating Ironman miles over the year, encouraging both healthy
exercise and charitable giving. More than 250 pledgers, or
?I-joiners??most of whom are young people from three countries, eleven
states, and three Canadian provinces, signed-up to ?Join the Race?
with Pluimer. The I-joiners accumulated 2,532 bike miles, 1,208 miles
running, 67 swim miles, and 45 hours of other physical exercise with
the corresponding financial pledges.

The effort, Pluimer says, by those who are physically strong on
behalf of those who are afflicted with HIV and AIDS helps us all get
to the finish line together.

Additional donations for ?Join the Race? are being accepted through
the month of September at www.jointherace.org or www.crwrc.org/donate.

For more information, visit www.crwrc.org or call 1-800-55-CRWRC.

CRWRC is a Christian, non-profit organization of the Christian
Reformed Church in North America ministering in development, relief,
and justice education with people in need in 30 countries around the
world since 1962.