EOS implementer rides 100 miles to fund sexual assault survivors

Executive overview

Rick VanDermyden, an EOS Implementer, entered the grueling Leadville Trail 100-mile mountain bike race to raise money for his sister's charity, Advocates for the Truth, which supports survivors of child sexual assault. The race became a fundraising vehicle — if he quit, survivors lost money. He raised $27,800 in under a week.

Riding for something bigger than yourself turns physical suffering into fuel.

The race and what it demanded

• Leadville Trail 100: 100-mile mountain bike race in Colorado
• Elevation ranges from 10,000 to 12,500 feet — 30% less oxygen than sea level
• Pros finish in 6 hours; amateurs target under 12
• Physical toll was secondary; the emotional and mental challenge was greater

The fundraiser

• Launched on a Saturday; $3,000 committed within hours
• An EOS client called — himself a survivor — pledging $50 per mile ($5,000 if Rick finished all 100)
• That commitment made quitting unthinkable: finishing was now about leaving no money on the table
• Final total: $27,800 raised in under one week