For over 30 years, USABMX has held Race For Life events throughout the country to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Since the inception of the ABA Race For Life series in 1981, BMX riders and tracks have raised more than $3.3 million in support of the Society’s mission. The races began in 1981 in memory of Todd Kingsbury, a young BMX rider from Michigan.
At these special events, racers can win a ton of cool prizes depending on how many donations they bring in – from a patch or a T-shirt, to a free all-expense-paid trip to the ABA Grand National in Tulsa, OK over Thanksgiving weekend.
You do not need to be a USABMX member to participate. Anyone can participate.
Bring your bike, helmet and a $10 fee/donation ($20 for a double point event) and have some fun, all while giving to a great cause. Tell your friends, your neighbors, anyone you can think of!!
Ask for a donation envelope (at registration) prior to an event and start collecting!!
Dates
Race for Life Double
March 19, 2016
Peninsula Indoor BMX – Port Orchard, WA
Race for Life Single
April 16, 2016
Emerald Valley BMX – Eugene, OR
Race for Life Double
April 30, 2016
Columbia Basin BMX – Richland, WA
Race for Life Single
May 14, 2016
Walla Walla Valley BMX – Walla Walla, WA
Race for Life Single
June 12, 2016
Rogue Valley BMX – Medford, OR
Race for Life Single
June 12, 2016
Moses Lake BMX – Moses Lake, WA
Race for Life Single
July 15, 2016
Umpqua Valley BMX – Dillard, OR
Race for Life Single
July 24, 2016
Klamath Falls BMX – Klamath Falls, OR
Race for Life Single
July 28, 2016
Bakerview BMX – Mt. Vernon, WA
Race for Life Single
July 29, 2016
Spokane BMX – Spokane, WA
Race for Life Single
August 02, 2016
Smith Rock BMX – Redmond, OR
Race for Life Double
August 04, 2016
North Seatac BMX – Sea Tac, WA
Race for Life Single
August 07, 2016
Molalla BMX – Molalla, OR
Race for Life Double
August 13, 2016
River Valley BMX – Sumner, WA
Race for Life Single
August 13, 2016
Columbia River BMX – Saint Helens, OR
• All dates are directly from USABMX.com.
The Todd Kingbury Story…
Like many kids his age, 11-year-old Todd Kingsbury lived and breathed bicycle motocross (BMX) 24 hours a day. In the early part of 1980, he was the leader in the American Bicycle Association’s BMX district points competition. However, as the year went on, Todd went from winning the district-wide events to just barely qualifying for local BMX championship events. Something was wrong.
At a Michigan state championship race in July 1980, Todd crashed and had to get his arm checked out. Like most BMX accidents, everything checked out fine but Todd’s arm continued to hurt the following week. After getting bumped at school, his arm swelled up to the size of a grapefruit. The Kingsbury family became very concerned and decided it was time for a thorough examination.
Todd would spend the next nine days in and out of the hospital, enduring many tests and exams, while at the same time dreaming of someday becoming a BMX Pro. Finally, the doctors completed their diagnosis and explained to Todd and his parents that Todd had leukemia.
Todd was now faced with the biggest race: his race for life. In July 1981, when the American Bicycle Association (ABA) staff learned of Todd’s diagnosis, the organization and the “family-like” sport of BMX decided to pitch in and help by launching the “Race For Life” series, with all the proceeds going to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s efforts to help find a cure for kids such as Todd. An amazing $223,000 was raised that first year, with 130 ABA tracks putting on Race For Life events.
Although weakened by leukemia, Todd continued to ride and worked harder than anyone to support the Race For Life event at the Waterford Oaks, MI BMX track. Todd was to be the honorary race director for that race and told a reporter, “This (event) might help other people from getting it (leukemia).”
Todd passed away on Sept. 13, 1981 and was laid to rest in his Powerlite BMX uniform, taking with him a part of the sport he loved. In his 12 years of life, Todd touched many parents and racers. He is remembered in the hearts of all BMXers each year, as every ABA BMX track holds a Race For Life in the hope that someday, there will be a cure for leukemia and a deserving boy such as Todd can live a full life.
Permanent link at https://bmxoregon.com/2016-usa-bmx-race-for-life-oregon-washington/
BMX Oregon 
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