The Ride For Red
A 40-day humanitarian cycling tour supporting the Canadian & American Red Cross
The Ride for Red was a landmark cross-border cycling and fundraising initiative supporting both the Canadian Red Cross and the American Red Cross. Founded by Shannon Smadella, the tour spanned 40 days, traveling from Calgary, Canada to Santa Monica, California, and crossing major terrain including the Rocky Mountains.
Designed to elevate humanitarian awareness and mobilize community support, Ride for Red became a highly visible demonstration of leadership, endurance, and service — bringing people together around a shared mission of compassion, emergency response, and community resilience.
The Ride For Red: Quick Facts
Founder: Shannon Smadella
Duration: 40 days, Sept 26th - Nov 4th, 2010
Route: Calgary, Canada → Santa Monica, California
Terrain: Rocky Mountains + long-distance endurance route
Supported Organizations: Canadian Red Cross + American Red Cross
Riders: Shannon Smadella (Miss Canada 2009) · Christina Smith (Canadian Olympic Bobsledder) · Brock Kreitzburg (U.S. Olympic Bobsledder) · Billy Schauffenhauer (U.S. Olympic Bobsledder)
Support Team: Travis · Michael
Special Thanks: Marcia Caldirola + the Santa Monica Red Cross community
Celebrity Support: Brian Bassett · David Joyner · Mark-Paul Gosselaar · Bridget Marquardt & More
Special Thanks to:
Los Angeles Red Cross · Santa Monica Red Cross · Santa Barbara Red Cross · San Jose Red Cross · Portland Red Cross · Seattle Red Cross · Calgary Red Cross · Kelowna Red Cross · Burnaby Red Cross
The Mission
Ride for Red was created to elevate humanitarian awareness and mobilize support for the Red Cross — reinforcing the importance of emergency response, disaster relief, and community resilience across borders.
Community Support & Santa Monica Finish
The tour concluded in Santa Monica, California, with meaningful support from the local community. Special recognition is owed to Marcia Caldirola and the Santa Monica Red Cross community for their involvement and support at the finish.
The Canadian Red Cross and American Red Cross continue to provide life-saving support in emergencies and long-term recovery efforts.
Learn more:
[Canadian Red Cross] · [American Red Cross]
