Cyclist Maxim Almenas Chosen as Fort Lee Town Challenger In Third Campangnolo Gran Fondo New York

FORT LEE, N.J. - March 18, 2013 - PRLog -- FORT LEE, NJ – March 15, 2013 – Fort Lee resident Maxim Almenas has qualified to represent the borough in the upcoming Gran Fondo New York bike race, a 110-mile pro-am challenge that will be held on May 19, 2013, drawing 7,000 participants from 70 countries. Almenas’ ride will raise funds to provide financial support for the ongoing medical expenses of Johnny Damato, a 16-year-old Fort Lee heart transplant recipient.

“Although Johnny is emblematic of what transplant families around the world go through – ongoing exorbitant medical expenses – what has further inspired my support is Johnny’s personal commitment to raise awareness of the need for organ and bone marrow registration and blood donations,” said Almenas.

“For example, Johnny recently organized the First Annual Johnny Damato Donor Awareness Drive which drew more than 200 people to Fort Lee to donate blood or register to be organ or bone marrow donors,” he said.

Almenas has pledged to raise $15,000 between now and the May 19 race day. Interested parties can log onto gofundme.com/thehumantriumph (http://www.gofundme.com/thehumantriumph) to make a private donation. Corporate sponsors may be eligible to receive logoed cycling jerseys for their donation.

The cyclist is also blogging in advance of the race at thehumantriumph.com (http://www.thehumantriumph.com/) where he is sharing inspiring stories including Johnny Damato and a range of athletes who have overcome challenges in their lives through exercise and healthy diets.

Almenas’ road to Gran Fondo NY began in 2012. He decided to train for the Ironman U.S. Championship (IMNY) triathlon, which started in Fort Lee, New Jersey and ended in New York City on August 11th, to raise funds for Athletes to End Alzheimer’s.  

He completed the arduous IMNY course in 16 hours and 28 minutes. The motivation behind raising money for Alzheimer's stemmed from the loss of his grandmother, Emma Almenas, who succumbed in 2006 to the memory-robbing disease.

A member of the Fort Lee Regional Chamber of Commerce, the official chamber of the IMNY, Almenas became an advocate in an effort to promote the world-class event to potential sponsors and local spectators. This effort led to the chamber selecting Almenas to represent the Borough of Fort Lee in the 2013 Gran Fondo NY.

Almenas, who is being sponsored by Athletes Fueled by Mila is distributing Mila products, and through the end of May 2013, will donate proceeds from his sales to the Damato medical fund. To place an order and generate a donation for Johnny Damato’s medical fund, log onto thehumantriumph.fueledbymila.net (http://www.thehumantriumph.fueledbymila.net/).

Mila, a whole raw food that was featured on Good Morning America this month, is a mixture of Salvia hispanica L (Chia seeds) and is gluten–free, trans-fat free, and sugar–free. Each serving has 3,000 mg of Omega 3's and is an excellent source of fiber and protein, phytonutrients and antioxidants. According to Lifemax Inc, Mila may help heart health, blood sugar, weight loss, mental clarity, and arthritis.

Almenas is also training to compete in the Olympic distance Aquaphor New York City Triathlon scheduled for July 14, 2013.        

For more information on Almenas’ participation in the Gran Fondo New York, log onto: thehumantriumph.com (http://www.thehumantriumph.com/) or granfondony.com/town-challenge (http://www.granfondony.com/town-challenge).