Your support helps us save the lives of veterans and first responders.
The A² team is cycling over 3,000 miles across the U.S. to end our nation’s veteran & first responder suicide epidemic.
Help us reach our $1,000,000 goal by making a donation or becoming a sponsor.
Get in touch to discuss 2022 Team A² RAAM sponsorship opportunities.
Support Our Team
While our 501(c)3 filing process is underway, we are partnering with Guardian Revival, a 501(c)3, to receive donations until we are able to accept donations directly. All donations will be earmarked as part of A² RAAM. [More info at the bottom of this page.]
Email Rhonda with any Qs (or to coordinate donation by check).
A² is competing as a team in RAAM 2022
Race Across America (RAAM) is a nonstop bicycle race from Oceanside, California, to Annapolis, Maryland.
Team A² is made up of 8 incredible riders and 14+ amazing crew.
Fundraising Goal
$1,000,000
3070 Miles
Total distance
175,000 Feet
Vertical climb
Why
A² co-founders Rhonda Vetere and Monty Heath (a former SEAL) are dedicated to supporting veterans through sport — both participated in the 2021 Navy SEAL Swim in the Hudson River with the GI Go Fund.
Our fellow A² riders + crew have close personal connections to the issue of veteran & first responder suicide through personal experience as well as our families & loved ones.
An average of 18 military veterans die by suicide every day.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2020
With stigmas and other barriers to getting help, mental illness is disproportionately high among veterans, first responders, and federal agents in comparison to the general population:
Since 2018, military veteran suicides have increased to nearly 2x the rate of nonveterans.
Veterans ages 18 - 34 are 3x more likely to die by suicide than nonveteran counterparts.
More first responders die by suicide than in the line of duty every year.
- CDC, 2021
Together, we are cycling and fundraising to stop veteran & first responder suicide — one life at a time, via vetted, proven programs.
Sponsorship Opportunity
We are offering various sponsorship levels. Please reach out to A² founders Rhonda Vetere + Monty Heath to discuss opportunities.
Our A² team of 8 riders and 14+ crew have an audience of 1,000,000+ followers across various social media platforms.
Pre & Post Race
Videos + photos from individual at home training and team training trips
Product reviews + features
Press coverage
Social posts
Race Week
Logo placement: bus & vehicle wrap / decals on vehicles, logos on kit (cyclist gear), etc
Custom content from the road (photos, videos, social)
Press mentions, media video features, and more...
“Race Across America is one of the most respected and longest running ultra-endurance events in the world. RAAM is seen as a pinnacle of athletic achievement not only in cycling circles but the greater sporting community as well.”
Thank you for your help toward ending veteran & first responder suicide
We are currently filing for A² to become a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Our goal will be to have 75% going towards programming. We want to run a lean organization to keep overhead costs down, and we know that as a new organization, it is even more important to be transparent with our fiscal responsibility.
While this process is underway, we are partnering with another 501(c)3, Guardian Revival, to receive donations until we are able to accept donations directly.
As both A² and Guardian Revival share a united mission of helping veterans & first responders, we will be sharing 100% of donations with them, similar to if we used another platform to receive donations, but this way, your dollars go to a non-profit and not another vendor. Win win!
Guardian Revival is a a 501(c) (3) charitable organization, EIN 84-3585765 in accordance with IRS law. All donations are deemed tax-deductible absent any limitations on deductibility applicable to a particular taxpayer. No goods or services are provided in exchange for your contribution. Aligned Alliance is a team of civilians and veterans racing over 3,000 miles on bike across the United States to raise money & awareness to combat veteran and first responder suicide.