Ryan Heisler's Fundraiser:

Why I'm Racing in 2017:

The last time I tried to race an iron-distance event ended disastrously. I fractured three vertebrae in my thoracic spine, had a severe concussion, and eventually was treated for whiplash in a massive bike wreck in 2014.

I began my recovery, got back to racing, and was looking forward to what I could do going forward in 2015. Then something more devastating happened.

My son, Owen, was born. And he was tremendously sick despite being full-term. We got 24 hours and 15 minutes with him as a human baby. We wanted to be able to take him everywhere, but we couldn't spread his ashes everywhere as I had originally hoped. Enter #OwenOtter. Owen Otter is an embodiment of Owen, our way of honoring him and keeping him present through our lives.

I have been trying to find ways to help families in any situation similar to mine. And because the High Peaks region is so special to me and my family, I've decided to race to fundraise $10,000 for the Adirondack Medical Center's New Life unit at Saranac Lake.

Due to current resources, little ones in a similar state to Owen would need to be life-flighted to either Albany or Burlington, VT to receive critical care. I want to help make sure that, at least, families can take comfort in some type of security in the High Peaks region. Although the amount we fundraise is a but a fraction of the funds necessary for even one-night in the hospital for a critically ill infant, I hope that it is the start of something greater.