Sportable Volunteer Dan Schmitt to be Honored October 6

RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, September 29, 2022) – Sportable will proudly honor volunteer Dan Schmitt on Thursday, October 6 at the Virginia War Memorial. Schmitt named Sportable the beneficiary of his 4,800-mile cross country bikepacking trek this summer, raising over $130,000 for the non-profit’s mission to make sports accessible and inclusive in Central Virginia.

“We are thrilled to cap off this summer’s Kon-Tiki Challenge by celebrating Dan’s incredible accomplishment,” commented Hunter Leemon, Sportable Executive Director. “We are blown away by the generous support of our community who helped us reach an unbelievable fundraising goal. Dan’s Kon-Tiki Challenge has provoked us all to think beyond our perceived limits and dream about what is possible.”

Schmitt will be the keynote speaker at next week’s reception. His former employer of 32 years, HHHunt, will be the presenting sponsor for the event, joining supporting sponsors CraftMaster Homes, LeGault Homes, Timmons Group, LifeStyle Home Builders, StyleCraft Homes, Hourigan, and C&F Mortgage. Invited guests, donors, and supporters of the Kon-Tiki Challenge will hear his presentation, “The Kon-Tiki Dream: Impressions from 4,800 Miles Across America” which will focus on setting and achieving big goals and perseverance. The presentation will be livestreamed and recorded with access available at Sportable.org.

Inspired by the true story, The Kon-Tiki Expedition: By Raft Across the South Seas, which documents the journey of six men who sailed 4,300 miles from Peru on a balsa log raft across the Pacific to the Polynesian islands, Schmitt’s cross-country trek was similar in time and distance. His ride commenced on May 21 in Anacortes, Washington and traversed over 4,800 miles through 12 states and Canada before arriving in Boston, Massachusetts on August 1.

“I feel so lucky and grateful to have had such an incredible journey across the country on my bike,” said Schmitt. “The places and landscapes I saw were amazing, but it was the goodness and kindness of people along the way that made the deepest impression on me. I am looking forward to sharing my stories from the road with the many generous donors, friends, and community members who supported me along the way.”

Over 70 individuals accepted Schmitt’s “Kon-Tiki Challenge” this summer. Participants were encouraged to log virtual miles equivalent to portions of Schmitt’s journey, or to take on the entire distance.