Trish Harriger, 46, Rocky River, OH
Crew Chief
Are you a bike rider? If so, what does your cycling background include? My love for cycling has grown from numerous charity rides; MS150, TOSRV, to racing duathlons and triathlons. This will be my fourth season racing for Grunt Girl Racing; an all-female multisport team. My girls inspire me to BELIEVE anything is possible! Work hard and play hard!
What do you do for a living? I’m an X-ray technologist and a mother of three.
Have you crewed before? Team Hope co-crew chief in 2011 and returning as the crew chief for 2012!
Why are you doing this? I am honored to be able to offer my support to the numerous athletes that are racing RAAM. Blue Planet Network has opened my eyes to the global water crisis. We forget sometimes how accessible everything is when its so easy to take advantage of walking to the kitchen and turning on the faucet.
Katie K, 25, Lancaster, CA
Are you a bike rider? If so, what does your cycling background include?
Yes! I love riding bikes! I mostly stick to the road, but always have a great time riding in dirt. I’ve been riding consistently for three years, but off-and-on for several years more. I really got into bikes by volunteering at my local bike co-op. I ride a Trek 520 touring bike. I love it. It’s a strange day when I don’t ride.
What do you do for a living?
I’m kind of a student, but spend more time working on projects like gardening, knitting, baking, fiddling around on my guitar (no irony intended), working on who I want to be, and developing relationships.
Have you crewed before?
I was a crew member for the 2008 edition of RAAM and for Team Hope in 2011.
Why are you doing this?
One of the reasons I’m doing this is to meet people, both team and crew, and get to know them as we endeavor to finish this race, and finish it strongly. I’m looking forward to the middle of nowhere; it’ll be a chance to embrace the task before us and hope for the plentiful times ahead!
Nick Corrette, 25, Duarte, CA
Are you a bike rider? If so, what does your cycling background include?
For the last 4 years I have been a regular bicycle commuter and recreational rider. My love for cycling was profoundly influenced by the collective urban cycling movement in Los Angeles, particularly embodied by the spirited nomads of Midnight Ridazz.
What do you do for a living?
I am a sociologist who would like to teach at a community college. As far as survival I live on the occasional research grant and perform various odd jobs to get by. My last gig was moving pianos. I live to learn about environmental and human rights issues and participate in social movements.
Have you crewed before?
Team Hope – RAAM 2011. I have worked the pits for District 37 dirt bike races in the high deserts of California and crewed major off-road events.
Why are you doing this?
I suffer from wanderlust and am always ready for new adventures and the open road. RAAM is a very exciting event and I have always wanted to somehow get involved since I saw the gathering for the start in Oceanside a few years ago. As soon as I heard about the opportunity to crew for The Team H2Ope I was on board. Their lived passion for cycling and adventure while simultaneously raising awareness and resources for important issues, like sustainable drinking water, is virtuous and inspirational. I know their vigorous momentum will radiate, energizing me to move forward. The Blue Action Network is an important charity to fund as they provide needed resources to historically colonized and exploited lands that are frequently dammed from indigenous resources and practices. I am here to assist The Team H2Ope in reaching the finish line in Annapolis so that we can help Blue Planet Network reach its goal of safe drinking water for 200,000,000 people in the next 20 years.
Bill Potter, 34, Bellaire, MI
Are you a bike rider? If so, what does your cycling background include?
I am not a biker, I wish I was I think they have great legs.
What do you do for a living?
I work at a college as an “Area Housing Coordinator.
Have you crewed before?
RAAM 2011 with Team Hope, and for a runner going 100 miles in 24 hours.
Why are you doing this?
Why am I doing this, well … I saw my friend run around the world for Blue Planet Run 2007, and I Thought if he can do that and give up a few months I can do this for one week. Also I have a hard time when we have to boil water because of something is wrong in the town, that is only for a day or so, how do people do it every day around the world. What will keep me moving forward is knowing we are helping people with each mile we go.
Plus seeing this great country will just add to it!
Josh Futrel, 21, Lima, OH
Are you a bike rider? If so, what does your cycling background include?
I am a cyclist, I’ve been riding since I was 4yrs old, I got into racing when I was 17 and have been racing ever since then, my dream has always been to race in RAAM and starting this year i am planning to race RAAM solo as apart of team hope.
What do you do for a living?
I am currently a student at The Ohio State University studying Pre-Med.
Have you crewed before?
RAAM 2011, Team Hope.
Why are you doing this?
I decided to join Team Hope because I saw this as chance to help make a huge difference in the peoples lives that were riding for, I’m going to school to be a Doctor because I want to save lives one day. And improve the quality of life around me. Just like Team Hope they’re trying to raise money to build a well in Uganda so those people can have clean drinking water every day and not have to walk 2 miles just to get water that’s not even clean! 80% of the diseases in our developing world are caused by contaminated water. To me this wasn’t a hard choice I have a chance not only to help these riders compete in RAAM but also to help potentially save many lives in Uganda.
The one thing that is going to keep me going when times get stressful and sleep debt is starting to set in is this, I remember why im doing this, why im becoming a Doctor its not about me anymore its about those people who need us who need the well in Uganda, those people who are counting on me and us to keep them going. This is about being the Hope that people can look to and say its going to be ok and we can make it. You just got to have Hope.
Ociel Villamar, 29, Los Angeles, CA
Are you a bike rider? If so, what does your cycling background include?
I do mountain biking and some “road cycling” on my cycle cross bike. Haven’t done any competitive cycling yet. Hopefully later this year or early next.
What do you do for a living?
I have a background in electrical engineering, my most recent job was in manufacturing.
Have you crewed before?
RAAM 2011, Team Hope.
Why are you doing this?
I am doing this because I believe in the cause, living in China for 3 years and I’ve learned to understand how privilege we are as Americans, such as not having to boil the water in our tap just to drink it, or walk miles to find a source of water.
If I can do 10 to 12 hrs in a cubicle, I can do more in a Van. The tornadoes will be motivation enough to keep on moving, I hope the bikers can keep up with van. 
Christian Rinaldi, 40, Los Angeles, CA
Are you a bike rider? If so, what does your cycling background include?
I am a Masters racer and Team Director for OTR Racing.
What do you do for a living?
I am a chef and do culinary work in the private sector in addition to work for Bon Appetit Magazine as well as being featured on the award winning television series Community Cooking.
Have you crewed before? If so, what type of event(s)?
No, but am excited to dive into this.
Why are you doing this? When you’re exhausted and we’re following a racer in the middle of nowhere and all you hear is the sound of the vehicle moving forward, what’s going to keep you motivated to keep the team moving forward?
I am doing this because last year our team made a donation and this year I want to up the level of support. Our teammate Alex Galindo is doing this again and I support the cause. Goals are what keep people motivated. Staying focused creates motivation. It’s a race so it shouldn’t matter being in the middle of nowhere or the Vegas Strip although the Strip sounds like more fun.
Rudy Van Prooyen, 62,
Raised in The Netherlands & living in West Bloomfield, MI
Are you a bike rider? If so, what does your cycling background include?
I enjoy hiking, camping, running and traveling but biking is my passion. I road bike, trail bike and enjoy adventure cycling. (www.tourdewater.com)What do you do for a living?
I am retired and now volunteer, fundraise and create awareness in support of the Blue Planet Network, an NGO to help support the 1 billion people that struggle every day because they lack access to safe drinking water.
Have you crewed before? If so, what type of event(s)?
I have been the beneficiary of a crew / support team when I participated as one of the relay runners on the Blue Planet Run, a 95 day relay run around the world.
Why are you doing this?
I like and whole heartedly support the RAAM event, the endurance challenge, and Team Hope’s efforts, in their zest to help solve the worldwide water crisis and make this world a better place for all to enjoy.
When you’re exhausted and we’re following a racer in the middle of nowhere and all you hear is the sound of the vehicle moving forward, what’s going to keep you motivated to keep the team moving forward?
Of course my first thoughts are with the safety and success of Team Hope and all the hard work and sacrifices they have made to prepare for this race. I want them to succeed in their athletic aspirations and in doing so help draw attention to their charity and all the good things that may come from that. Water is life. Pass it on!
Adam Wedekind, 22, Millersville, MD
Are you a bike rider? If so, what does your cycling background include?
I have been cycling for almost a year now. I started cycling as a form of exercise to lose weight and I haven’t stopped. I currently ride a Trek 2.1 Road Bike and I am have done a sprint tri on it and currently training for the upcoming tri season and Ironman Arizona in November.
What do you do for a living?
I am a student at the moment with computer science as my major.
Have you crewed before? If so, what type of event(s)? No
Why are you doing this? When you’re exhausted and we’re following a racer in the middle of nowhere and all you hear is the sound of the vehicle moving forward, what’s going to keep you motivated to keep the team moving forward?
I am doing this for the experience and to learn what RAAM is all about. I want to know if I would be interested in racing it myself one day. I am a big believer in team work and I know that if I do my job to the best of my abilities then the team can only benefit from it, whether it be 3am or 3pm doing this as something new and exciting will keep me motivated to keep going mile after mile.
