What is RAAM?
The Race Across America (often shortened to RAAM) is one of the world’s longest and toughest endurance bicycle races. Riders race across the continental United States — from the West Coast to the East Coast — covering 3,065 miles in less than 12 days for solo competitors.
Jeff Koontz will be racing the 2026 Race Across America as a solo competitor raising money for the KDKA TV Turkey Fund.
I’ve been racing bicycles since 1995, and over the years, improved training and finding the right coach have helped me realize a level of potential on the bike I never imagined possible.
In 2020, I began venturing into the world of ultra-distance cycling. The Great Allegheny Passage — a crushed limestone trail that starts in Pittsburgh and connects to the C&O Canal Towpath in Cumberland, Maryland before continuing to Washington, D.C. — is most often ridden as a multi-day bikepacking trip. During the pandemic, I frequently passed the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, located alongside the trail, and saw long lines of cars waiting for food distribution.
That inspired me to attempt something different: a nonstop ride from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. in under 24 hours — 330 miles of crushed limestone and towpath terrain — while raising money for the food bank. I completed the ride in 21 hours and 35 minutes, setting the fastest known time on the route at that point, and raised more than $12,000 for the food bank. More importantly, the experience showed me that I was capable of riding extreme distances without sleep, opening the door to an entirely new set of possibilities.
I plan on racing RAAM for the same cause, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, through the KDKA TV Turkey Fund. My goal is to raise awareness for the food security issues that exist in our community and hope to raise funds to provide thousands of meals to families in need.
About Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
More and more people in southwestern Pennsylvania face tough choices between food and other essentials like prescription medication and rent. Higher costs paired with reduced SNAP and Medicaid assistance create a tough combination.
In order to continue to support our neighbors who experience food insecurity during the holiday season, Jeff Koontz has chosen to dedicate his Race Across America cycling race to neighbors in southwestern Pennsylvania by fundraising for the KDKA Turkey Fund. Thank you in advance for your support!