West Newbury Police Officer to Participate in Bicycle Race Across America to Support Domestic Violence Awareness

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

Contact: 617-993-0003

West Newbury Police Officer to Participate in Bicycle Race Across America to Support Domestic Violence Awareness

WEST NEWBURY — Police Officer Brian Warne will be participating in a 3,000-mile bicycle race called RAAM (Race Across America) to raise money and support the cause of Domestic Violence Awareness.

This year’s race begins on June 14, 2015. Officer Warne will be cycling from Oceanside, Calif. to Annapolis, Md. in about six-days.

The race, now in its 34th year, raises millions of dollars each year for a wide variety of charitable causes.

RAAM is recognized as one of the world’s toughest endurance bicycle races. It remains one of the most respected and longest running endurance sports events in the world. During the race, Warne will be climbing more than 170,000 feet, which is roughly the distance from the ground to the edge of space and almost four times the altitude of Mt. Everest.

“Riding a bicycle for a few days is nothing compared to what victims of domestic violence go through every day,” Officer Warne said. “Domestic violence affects every community across the country, and I am proud to pedal my way across the nation calling attention to this issue.”

Racers come from all over the world to participate in RAAM. Competitors from 35 countries have participated in past years, from every continent.

This race serves as a platform for raising money. In the last five years alone, RAAM racers have raised well over $5 million for charitable causes. This year, race organizers are hoping to top that figure.

“I applaud the efforts of Officer Warne, both in terms of his athletic abilities and the cause he is supporting,” said West Newbury Police Chief Lisa A. Holmes. “I wish him the best of luck as he crosses the country raising awareness of domestic violence.”

Officer Warne, 53, has been with the West Newbury Police Department since 1998. He has been competitively racing bicycles with Riverside Cycles, located in Newburyport. He has placed in numerous traditional and cyclo cross races throughout New England and has even raced up Mount Washington on a bicycle, in a time of 1 hour and 24 minutes.

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