Cool Breeze Cyclery is teaming with several local corporations to improve employee health and wellness while raising money for three Lake Norman charities.

The Cool Breeze Corporate Multisport Challenge will consist of three events:

• A 5K run on May 15 at Newell-Rubbermaid in Huntersville, supporting Girls On The Run.

• A 5K run and multi-distance bike ride, dubbed The Lake Norman Excursion, July 16 at Lowe’s Home Improvement corporate campus in Mooresville, supporting the American Red Cross.

• A Sprint Triathlon (500-yard swim, 14-mile bike ride and 5K run), on Sept. 11 at Ingersoll-Rand in Davidson, supporting the Ada Jenkins Center.
Organizers expect to raise more than $60,000 through entry fees and corporate donations.

The competition’s concept, conceived by Cool Breeze Cyclery and Trek Bicycle Store in Charlotte, is to provide employees incentive and structure to learn training habits and improve their health, while lowering the cost of health care for themselves and their companies.

An additional benefit is building camaraderie, as the major prize goes to the company with the highest percentage of employee participation. Newell-Rubbermaid won last year’s participation award, with 12 percent of its employees competing in the inaugural triathlon.

Lake Norman Regional Medical Center, Lowe’s, Ingersoll Rand and Newell-Rubbermaid are among the participants. The competition will field a small company division for teams with as few as six participants.

Additional companies, both large and small, are still welcome to enroll. Prizes will be given at each event for top finishers.

To register for the events, go to www.coolbreezecyclery.com and click on the “Corporate Wellness” tab.

Additional sponsors are welcome. Details: Steve Doolittle, steve@coolbreezecyclery.com; Leigh-Ann Mueller, leigh_ann@coolbreezecyclery.com; or Chris Vasiloff, chris@coolbreezecyclery.com.