IRONMAN Foundation and Challenged Athletes Foundation to Host the Fourth Junior Seau Adaptive Surf Clinic in Oceanside

March 30, 2022

Initiatives are part of $30,000 in charitable giveback at 2022 Athletic Brewing IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside triathlon

OCEANSIDE, Calif. / TAMPA, Fla. (March 30, 2022)/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – With the kickoff of the 2022 North America IRONMAN season at Athletic Brewing IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Oceanside triathlon on Saturday, April 2, the IRONMAN^® Foundation will distribute more than $30,000 in charitable giveback to nonprofit initiatives and groups in the greater Oceanside area. This year’s grant funding brings the total giveback to over $425,000 in the region since inception. During Saturday’s event, a Gold Star Family will also be honored through the Gold Star Initiative program. Closing out the event weekend, the IRONMAN Foundation will host its fourth annual Junior Seau Foundation Adaptive Youth Surf Clinic presented by Challenged Athletes Foundation^® on Sunday, April 3, 2022.

Gold Star Initiative

The 2022 Athletic Brewing IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside will again feature the Gold Star Initiative. Through the Gold Star Initiative, IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 athletes who have served in the U.S. military carry the American flag during the run portion of the event and present it to a Gold Star Family. This program allows athletes to play a part in the healing process of those families who have lost a loved one in the name of freedom.

Navy Lieutenant Commander Jondi Bernardo will serve as the Gold Star Initiative Athlete at Athletic Brewing IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside and race in honor of Army Staff Sergeant Bryan Burgess. Lt. Commander Bernardo served in the United States Navy from 1987 to 1992 and in the United States Navy Reserves from 1992 to 2010 as a Navy Surface Warfare Officer. Bernardo is a four-time IRONMAN finisher, a nine-time IRONMAN 70.3 finisher, a three-time ultramarathon finisher, and a four-time Marine Corps. Marathon finisher. He is the founder of Oceanside Multisport Group—an active multisport club for athletes of all levels. Lt. Commander Bernardo will carry the American flag during the run portion of the triathlon in honor of Army Staff Sgt. Bryan Burgess, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 29 after enemy forces attacked his unit in Afghanistan. The Texas native had been in the Army for nine years. His wife and two children will receive the flag following the completion of Lt. Commander Bernardo’s race.

Service Project

The IRONMAN Foundation will host its fourth Junior Seau Foundation Adaptive Youth Surf Clinic presented by Challenged Athletes Foundation^® on Sunday, April 3, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the South Oceanside Pier. The event will include specialized sessions for youth, women, and military/adults with physical challenges.

“The IRONMAN Foundation is thrilled to partner with the Challenged Athletes Foundation for the fourth year of this wonderful program,” said Audra Tassone-Indeck, Executive Director of the IRONMAN Foundation. “The surf clinic is a wonderful and rewarding experience for all participants, and it embodies the spirit of the IRONMAN Foundation.”

The clinic will host sessions that will total up to 30 children, women, and military/adults with physical challenges who will spend the morning learning to paddle and surf at Oceanside Pier with the assistance of volunteers, including professional and age-group triathletes and coaches. The Junior Seau Foundation Adaptive Surf Clinic presented by Challenged Athletes Foundation provides the opportunity for participants with physical challenges to learn how to surf, improve their skills, and ultimately share in a lifestyle sport that so many in Southern California enjoy. The clinic celebrates the legacy of Junior Seau, the former San Diego Chargers linebacker who lived in Oceanside and surfed regularly.

“The continuing partnership between the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), the IRONMAN Foundation, and the Junior Seau Foundation is so beneficial for local individuals with physical challenges who want to enjoy the stoke of surfing and learn new skills,” said Kristine Entwistle, CAF Executive Director. “The Challenged Athletes Foundation is honored to be a part of this community event where many of the volunteers returned to help out after participating in IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside the day before.”

To register for the 2022 IRONMAN Foundation Junior Seau Foundation Adaptive Surf Clinic presented by Challenged Athletes Foundation as a participant, surf coach, or volunteer, please visit www.ironmanfoundation.org/oceanside.

For more information on IRONMAN and the IRONMAN Foundation, please visit www.ironman.com and www.ironmanfoundation.org.

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About the IRONMAN Foundation

The IRONMAN Foundation creates positive, tangible change in race communities by engaging athletes and volunteers to participate in programs that demonstrate service through sport and commitment to the community. Since 2003, over $55,000,000 has been provided through giveback programs led by the IRONMAN Foundation to more than 10,000 local, regional, national, and global nonprofit initiatives. Through these partnerships, IRONMAN and Rock’ n’ Roll Running Series participants are powerfully linked to the community, and together help leave a positive legacy behind in race communities long after event day. For more information on IRONMAN Foundation programs, including Team IMF, Community Fund, Rock This Town^®, Your Journey Your Cause^®, and Race For Change^™, visit www.ironmanfoundation.org.

About the Challenged Athletes Foundation

The Challenged Athletes Foundation^® (CAF) is a world leader in helping people with physical challenges lead active, healthy lifestyles. CAF believes that participation in physical activity at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life. Since 1994, more than $134 million has been raised and over 35,000 funding requests from people with physical challenges in all 50 states and over 70 countries have been satisfied. Additionally, CAF’s outreach efforts impact another 60,000 individuals each year. Whether it’s a $2,500 grant for a handcycle, helping underwrite a carbon fiber running foot not covered by insurance, or arranging enthusiastic encouragement from a mentor who has triumphed over a similar challenge, CAF’s mission is clear: give opportunities and support to those with the desire to live active, athletic lifestyles. To learn more, visit https://www.challengedathletes.org/ or call 858-866-0959.

About The IRONMAN Group

The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® Virtual Racing™ (VR™) Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock’ n’ Roll^® Running Series, the Rock’ n’ Roll Virtual Running™ Series, IRONKIDS^®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and The Sun-Herald City2Surf^®, UTMB^® World Series events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events including Haute Route^®, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.

About Advance

Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, 1010data and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 17,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Discovery and Reddit. For more information, visit www.advance.com.

IRONMAN FOUNDATION MEDIA CONTACT

Julia Gray

Media Relations / Account Services

CLOUT LLC

EMAIL: julia@cloutllc.com