Categorized | Multi-sport, Sports

Fourth Ironman Foundation eBay auction open

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The third Ironman Foundation eBay auction raised $43,400, which will benefit a variety of charitable organizations worldwide.

For a 10th consecutive year, The Ironman Foundation is conducting its annual auction with eBay, to benefit a variety of charitable organizations worldwide.

Since its inception in 2003, The Ironman Foundation has given more than $11 million in grants and donations to non-profit organizations around the world. The first auction raised $45,100.

More than 80,000 athletes vie for slots to the Ironman World Championship each year, while only approximately 1,900 make it to the starting line on race day. This year’s auction gives athletes the opportunity to bid on one of six coveted slots to the 2012 Ironman World Championship, taking place on Oct. 13 in Kailua-Kona.

The auction incorporates six phases with one slot available per week. Each slot begins with a minimum bid of $10,000 and 100 percent of the money from the final winning bids of the first five slots will go to support the efforts of The Ironman Foundation.

This year, a special sixth Ironman World Championship slot is being added to the eBay auction. Proceeds from the sixth slot will benefit a U.S. chapter of Variety – The Children’s Charity, an international organization with 43 chapters in 13 countries. Variety is dedicated to improving the lives of critically ill, at-risk, disadvantaged and special-needs children.

Each year, The Ironman Foundation selects groups within various Ironman event markets for donations including organizations located in the two World Championship host cities – Kailua-Kona and Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, Nev. The Ironman Foundation also recognizes a multitude of groups on a national and international level.

Some of last year’s grants and donations were received by the following: The American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boy Scouts of America, Boys & Girls Club and The United Way.

To date, more than $2 million has been raised through the annual Ironman Foundation eBay auction. Through the success of the auction specifically, The Ironman Foundation has donated to organizations like Team Blazeman, Hospice of Kona, C Different, Daniel Robert Sayre Memorial Foundation – with funds benefitting The Hawaii Fire Department on Hawaii Island, The Pediatric Cancer Foundation, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii (PATH) and The County of Hawaii Parks & Recreation Department.

In addition to receiving the opportunity to compete at the 2012 Ironman World Championship, Ironman Foundation eBay auction winners will receive private athlete registration in Kona and four VIP packages, including race-day passes and invitations to race-week functions.

Funding for the eBay auction does not have to be generated through one source, as fundraising efforts are acceptable; however, funds are due once the auction ends. All funds are tax-deductible in the United States. International bidders will need to locally verify tax deductibility.

All proceeds go to The Ironman Foundation, which in turn makes donations to the organizations. The Ironman Foundation covers all administrative costs to ensure all monies raised will directly benefit the selected charities.

All athlete inquiries should be directed to Kona@ironman.com.

To bid on the fourth auction, visit: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251081246392

— Find out more:
www.ironman.com
www.hy-veetriathlon.com

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