Fayetteville Cares Ironman Team 2009

10 Athletes racing the world’s most demanding event to support the families of our brave Armed Forces.

The Ironman: a 2.4 mile swim, followed by 112 miles on the bike; then you run a marathon. For most, an unimaginable feat. This is what 10 athletes in Fayetteville, NC have chosen to undertake to show their support for the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

The plan began in 2007, when father-son combo, Christopher and Michael Fletcher raced the Ford Ironman Florida. At the prerace dinner, they were exposed to the world of Ironman fundraising and idea of racing for a charity. Being from Fayetteville, the choice was obvious - support the Army. Michael sought the assistance of Fayetteville Cares and established the team under the banner of the non-profit charity organization. The next step was to recruit the team members and bring on a coach. Lora Lewis, USA Triathlon level 2 certified coach, had provided area coaching for a number of years and was immediately called on to prepare the athletes. In all, 7 other athletes traveled to Panama City, Florida in November of 2008 to register for the 2009 edition: Nicole Hodges, Matt Harmer, Seth Traylor, David Allen, Kyle Motley, John DeGreef, and Sarah Kraxberger joined Michael, Christopher, and Coach Lewis.

Our goal is simple - by doing something we love, we aim to raise awareness and financial support for our troops and their families. We will condition our bodies throughout the year and put ourselves on the line to meet our goals.