Photo by M22 Challenge. The M22 Challenge is Northern Michigan’s version of the triathlon: during this sport event, athletes run across the sands of the Sleeping Bear Dunes, paddle through the waters of Glen Lake and bike over the roads of Leelanau County’s iconic M22 roadway.  The Northern Michigan event, now in its sixth year, will occur on Saturday, June 14th.


Approximately 900 participants have registered for this year’s M-22 Challenge.  The race course leads runners down M109, then up and down the Dune Climb, back to M109, and lastly to the Glen Lake Picnic Area.  Biking will require racers to circumnavigate Glen Lake via M22, M109 and various local roads, while the third stage, paddling, requires participants to paddle—using kayaks, canoes or stand-up paddleboards—2.5 miles on a course in Little Glen Lake.

Watch a Video Documenting the 2010 M-22 Challenge:

The M-22 Challenge raises funds for the Leelanau Conservancy and The Chordoma Foundation. In 2012, event co-founder Matt Myers, Jr. was diagnosed with chordoma, a rare form of bone cancer that forms in the skull and spine. He was given a 2–5 year life expectancy on what was deemed an inoperable tumor. Intense research by the Myers family led them to a surgeon who completely removed the tumor. With the high re-occurrence rate of this disease, M22 is on a mission to help find a cure. The Chordoma Foundation is led by a chordoma survivor and is comprised of leading researchers and surgeons in the cancer field.

Volunteers are still being sought to work the M-22 Challenge; volunteers receive a free shirt and access to a post-event party.  Click to register to volunteer for the M-22 Challenge.

Visit M22Challenge.com for more details.


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