USA BMX: Race for Life 2025 // Oregon & Washington

By White Lotus Sports on April 30, 2025 • ( 0 )

Updated Friday, March 21st, 2025 – 12:15pm PST

What is the Race for Life all about?

It all started in 1981 when an avid 12 year old BMX racer from Michigan discovered he had Leukemia. Todd Kingsbury was his name, and like many BMXers, he had dreams of someday becoming a top pro in the sport. Unfortunately, this dreaded disease would keep Todd from fulfilling his dream. When Todd’s friends and the American Bicycle Association learned of his diagnosis, it was decided that an organized effort should be made to help in Todd’s “Race for Life.”

The Todd Kingsbury Story

Like most 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 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 (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 USA 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.

Each year, every USA BMX track holds a “Race For Life”, with all proceeds going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. At these special events, racers can win a ton of cool prizes depending on how many donations they bring in from a wristband or a T-shirt, to a $500 travel stipend, one FREE hotel room, entry fees for the Race of Champions and Grand Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma over Thanksgiving weekend.

OREGON

🏁 Race for Life Single
May 13th, 2025
Smith Rock BMX – Redmond, OR

Registration Begins: 6:00pm
Registration Ends: 7:00pm
Race Time: ASAP
Entry Fee: $10.00 USD

🏁 Race for Life Single
June 14th, 2025
River City BMX – Grants Pass, OR

Registration Begins: 5:30pm
Registration Ends: 6:30pm
Race Time: ASAP
Entry Fee: $10.00 USD

🏁 Race for Life Single
June 23rd, 2025
Bend BMX – Bend, OR

Registration Begins: 5pm
Registration Ends: 6pm
Race Time: ASAP
Entry Fee: $10.00 USD

🏁 Race for Life Single
July 1st, 2025
Chehalem Valley BMX – Newberg, OR

Registration Begins: 5:30pm
Registration Ends: 6:30pm
Race Time: ASAP
Entry Fee: $10.00 USD

🏁 Race for Life Single
July 19th, 2025
Rogue Valley BMX – Medford, OR

Registration Begins: 11:00am
Registration Ends: 12:00pm
Race Time: ASAP
Entry Fee: $10.00 USD

🏁 Race for Life Single
August 1st, 2025
Molalla River BMX – Molalla, OR

Registration Begins: 6:30pm
Registration Ends: 7:30pm
Race Time: ASAP
Entry Fee: $10.00 USD

🏁 Race for Life Single
August 3rd, 2025
Klamath Falls BMX – Klamath Falls, OR

Registration Begins: 11am
Registration Ends: 12pm
Race Time: ASAP
Entry Fee: $10.00 USD

🏁 Race for Life Single
August 16th, 2025
Columbia River BMX – Saint Helens, OR

Registration Begins: 10am
Registration Ends: 11am
Race Time: ASAP
Entry Fee: $10.00 USD

WASHINGTON

🏁 Race for Life Double
June 13th, 2025
Moses Lake BMX – Moses Lake, WA

Registration Begins: 6:00pm
Registration Ends: 6:50pm
Race Time: 7:00pm
Entry Fee: $20.00 USD

🏁 Race for Life Double
June 14th, 2025
Columbia Basin BMX – Richland, WA

Registration Begins: 2:30pm
Registration Ends: 3:45pm
Race Time: 4:00pm
Entry Fee: $20.00 USD

🏁 Race for Life Double
June 15th, 2025
Spokane BMX – Spokane, WA

Registration Begins: 10:00am
Registration Ends: 10:45am
Race Time: 11:00am
Entry Fee: $20.00 USD

🏁 Race for Life Double
August 15th, 2025
Bakerview BMX – Mt. Vernon, WA

Registration Begins: TBA
Registration Ends: TBA
Race Time: ASAP
Entry Fee: $20.00 USD

🏁 Race for Life Single
September 6th, 2025
Bigfoot BMX – Everett, WA

Registration Begins: 10am
Registration Ends: 10:45am
Race Time: ASAP
Entry Fee: $10.00 USD

🏁 Race for Life Double
September 6th, 2025
Seatac BMX – Sea Tac, WA

Registration Begins: 2pm
Registration Ends: 3pm
Race Time: ASAP
Entry Fee: $20.00 USD

🏁 Race for Life Double
September 7th, 2025
Lincoln Park BMX – Port Angeles, WA

Registration Begins: 11am
Registration Ends: 12pm
Race Time: ASAP
Entry Fee: $20.00 USD

📌 Please check with USABMX or the participating tracks social media or websites before making plans. These are your sources for the most accurate and up to the minute information. All dates and fees are subject to change.