Some incredible – and unique – triathlon gear is up for grabs in a raffle for two fantastic causes which is being held until the end of November.
Endurance athlete Sam Holness, who was the first openly autistic athlete to complete the IRONMAN World Championship, asked his partners to team up to help create a unique charity fundraiser ahead of his participation in the recent IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Marbella.
And the likes of Canyon, Hoka, HUUB, Maurten and SunGod have come up trumps in some style.
Super heroes
Running until the end of November, the fundraiser is supporting:
- Ambitious About Autism (www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk) provide specialist education, employment, and support services for autistic children, young people, and adults, alongside raising awareness, campaigning for change, and sharing information to help them “learn, thrive, and achieve” fulfilling lives. The charity runs specialist schools and colleges, offers national programmes for employability and youth participation, and hosts the online forum Talk with Autism.
- Superhero Sports foundation (www.superherosportfoundation.org.uk) work to remove the barriers to participation for 14.1m people in the UK living with disability – their ‘Everyday Superheroes’. Projects include supporting sport in schools, enabling amateur sports participation, and creating events such as the Superheroes Triathlon, where Sam has previously participated.
It was launched following Sam’s participation in the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship where Canyon customised the graphics on his Speedmax CFR triathlon bike, HUUB created a stunning custom trisuit, and Sam’s Fizik Kunee TT helmet received a matching custom paint job. Sam’s race kit was completed with design-matched SunGod eyewear and Hoka training tops for his support crew.
“It was amazing to ride this incredible special bike and I am excited that it will go to one of the people that will support this fundraiser,” says Sam. “I hope people will get behind this and support these amazing charities who help other people with disabilities and autism find their own superpowers and live their own super lives.”
The prizes on offer – and how to enter
The raffle already features 20 prizes worth more than £15,000 and includes:
- A fully built Canyon Speedmax CFR Di2 triathlon bike with a retail value of £10,199 (in size small, as ridden only once by Sam at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship. Canyon will service the bike and ship to the lucky winner).
- £1,000 HOKA product voucher prize (comes as 2 x £500 single-use vouchers)
- 10 x HOKA £195 footwear single-use vouchers
- 2 x £300 SunGod vouchers for performance or casual eyewear
- 1 x HUUB Anemoi trisuit plus wetsuit of choice (worth over £1,000)
- 5 x euro 150 Maurten nutrition vouchers
- Maurten have also arranged for athletes to donate items including;
o Gustav Iden – signed pair of shoes
o Lucy Charles-Barclay – winning trisuit from IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman this year and signed IRONMAN World Championship 2025 swim cap - More prizes are being added all the time
Tickets cost £10 each, 3 for £20 and 10 for £50. If you’d like to buy tickets and support the fundraiser please click here.
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