A unique endurance race across Alaska is facing tough times after the loss of its largest sponsor.
Challenge Alaska, an Anchorage nonprofit group that organizes the Alaska Challenge handcycle race, announced this week that longtime title sponsor Sadler's Home Furnishings decided to end its sponsorship after providing financial support for nearly two decades.
"It's a long time for a local business to give that much money," said Challenge Alaska CEO Beth Edmands.
The parting of ways is far from acrimonious. Edmands said the furniture company has provided more than $800,000 in cash and in-kind support since coming aboard un 1996. In its press release announcing the sponsorship loss, Edmands credited the race's longevity to Sadler's.
"Sadler's saved the race from extinction," she said.
Sadler's president Dave Cavitt said the sponsorship was a rewarding way to give back to the community.
"It's wonderful to have been a part of it," he said.
The race began as the brainchild of Don Brandon, who in 1984 convinced his friend, Tom Carnahan, to race the 365 miles from Fairbanks to Anchorage. From there it blossomed into a world-famous wheelchair -- and eventually handcycle -- stage race that attracted some of the top athletes in the world.
Brandon, a longtime advocate for Alaskans with disabilities, died in June.
Cavitt said he's proud of his company's contribution to the race. Over the years, he said, many people made the race a goal that helped them recover from life-altering injuries.
"I think we touched people all over the world with this race," Cavitt said.
Cavitt said he and his family were personally invested in the event, volunteering their time at aid stations and even cooking breakfast for participants.
"It was a really great thing, but I think I would like to put our resources toward something else," he said. "It's just time."
The race was held annually between 1984 and 2007 (with the exception of 1994) and has been held every other year since. Edmands said the race -- which in 2013 covered 267 miles over several stages -- is world famous.
"There is no other tour-style handcycle race in the world," she said.
In 2013, the race began with a stage in Anchorage, then moved to Fairbanks for several stages in the Interior before wrapping up with a grueling hill climb on the Hatcher Pass road. A pair of Paralympic medalists claimed victory -- Poland's Rafal Wilk won the men's race and California's Thea Rosa won the women's race. Each took home $3,000 in prize money.
The next race is scheduled for next summer, and Edmands said she is "very hopeful" it will happen.
"This race means so much to so many people," she said.
Edmands said Challenge Alaska needs to come up with about $50,000 by Jan. 31. If it can't, she said the organization will regroup and aim to hold a race again in 2017. She said the organization can't afford to let race funding interfere with the group's mission of providing recreational and other opportunities to disabled Alaskans.
"We serve over 1,000 people a year with disabilities," she said. "We can't allow this [race] to influence those programs."
Edmands said Challenge Alaska has raised more than $5,000 since announcing the funding crisis. She thinks the loss of Sadler's could be a blessing in disguise, because it might allow more businesses and individuals to get involved.
"I'm actually hoping we get a group of individuals and companies at varying levels to make that up," she said.
Edmands said she doesn't think relying on a single sponsor for so much support is necessarily the best way to fund the event for the long term.
"It's great to have one big sponsor, but when you lose that one big sponsor you're in a bind," she said.
She said it would be a shame to see the race disappear.
"It is an incredible inspiration to children, adults, to veterans of what's possible in their lives," she said.