Q&A WITH AMBER NEBEN
American professional cyclist Amber Neben has chalked up numerous wins in her career. She is an Olympian. She is the 2008 World Time Trial Champion. She is the winner of the 2005 and 2006 Tour de l’Aude (women’s equivalent to the Tour de France), the 2005 Pan American Time Trial Championships, and the 2003 U.S. National Road Championships. In addition, she has earned a master’s degree from the University of California in physiology and biophysics.
Getting to this level in sport and academia has not been easy and her achievements have all been hard-won. As a young child she fought through a case of spinal meningitis and recently won her fight against melanoma. Through all of this Amber has maintained an indomitable spirit – she is a success story, she believes, because she is a dreamer and a doer.
This holiday Amber hopes to pass on this belief that no one should ever give up on their dreams. She has chosen to partner with the Illumination Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps homeless and at-risk families. Over forty kids, housed at two shelters in Orange County, will receive new bicycles for Christmas.
Q: Why the IF Homeless organization?
AN: I mentor some young future cyclists in the area. The family of two of them volunteers at IF. I had this idea about giving away bikes for Christmas, but I didn't know where or who to start with, so I emailed the mother of these girls to ask about the kids in the program. She started the discussions with IF, and we moved forward from there.
Q: What is the motivation behind your donation:
AN: My motivation for doing this really starts with my faith and my desire to reach out and help others, unconditionally. For me there is a bigger purpose in life than winning races, and if I can do something that impacts lives, then I want to do it. I have been through a lot of adversity in my life. I have fought through it and succeeded. It has been far from easy.
Q: You mention you’ve been through a lot of adversity in your life – can you explain more?
AN: In a short sound bite, I would say that I have faced health issues, family issues, injury issues, heartbreak in key moments, failure, and even an assault on my integrity. I know that life (and sport) is hard, but I also know the rewards that come from persevering.
Q: Why kids?
AN: I think that’s an important message for these kids at this time in their life. Everything might look hopeless, but it is temporary, and they need to keep fighting, to not give up on life or their dreams. I want to do something and share something that gives them hope. Even if only one kid is impacted, it is one more who is motivated to continue to persevere and strive toward their goals and potentially impact others down the line.
Q: Why bikes?
AN: Well, there is an Arthur Ashe quote that says it well: "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." I am a cyclist who has achieved things in the sport. Those achievements allow me to make a phone call to Fuji or the others who helped and to have people listen. I also think everyone remembers the bikes they had as kids. The gift will mean something. How cool to be able to share a Christmas gift and to remind everyone involved about the real meaning of Christmas, and also that, and I will quote Ashe again, “From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life."
PRESS RELEASE
The holidays will be brighter for some of the homeless children in Southern California
PHILADELPHIA (Dec. 22, 2009) For Amber Neben, professional cyclist and 2008 Olympian, there is a bigger purpose in life than winning races. This week Amber will donate over 40 bikes to homeless children in Southern California. With help from Fuji bikes, SixSixOne helmets, Edge Cycle Sports of Orange County, and a volunteer crew of bike builders, the children will each receive a bike of their very own.
“I have been through a lot of adversity in my life and I have fought through it and succeeded but the journey has been far from easy,” said Amber. “I think that it is an important message for these kids at this time in their life. Everything might look hopeless, but it is only temporary. They need to keep fighting, to not give up on life or their dreams. I want to do something and share something with them that gives them hope.”
Partnering with the Illumination Foundation, a non-profit organization that addresses the homelessness crisis in Orange County, California, Amber will personally deliver the bikes to the kids and their families at two locations: Anaheim on Monday, December 21st and Costa Mesa on Wednesday, December 23rd at 4pm.
“Amber is one of those people who truly believes in paying it forward,” said Jason Neben, Amber’s husband. “Amber has had to work for every bit of success in her life. In turn, I think she appreciates how powerful it is to believe in yourself and follow your dreams. And, she wants to pass that message along.”
When asked about the gift of bicycles, Amber replied, “There is an Arthur Ashe quote that says ‘Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.’ I am a cyclist who has achieved things in the sport. These achievements put me in the position to be able to make a phone call to Fuji and others who can help. I also think everyone remembers the bikes they had as kids – it is a gift that will mean something. How cool to be able to share a Christmas gift and to remind everyone involved about the real meaning of Christmas.”
For more information on Amber Neben, visit www.amberneben.com. For more information on the Illumination Foundation or to make a donation, visit www.ifhomeless.org.