Chris Paxton was born in Omaha, NE, and he now lives in Lee’s Summit, MO. While he was a student at the University of Central Missouri in early 1995, Chris’ kidneys began to fail due to Alport Syndrome.

After spending 8 months on dialysis, Chris received a kidney donation from his father on December 5th, 1995. Following his transplant, he picked up cycling, and traveled to compete in the US and World Transplant Games. Chris is now manager for Team MO-KAN, the Missouri and Kansas team for the Games. He currently works as Brand & Marketing Director for World Transplant Athletes.

Chris is ready to participate in honor of his wife Valerie, children Riley, Austin and Marisol, and grandchildren Avalyn and Thomas—all gifts made possible through the gift of life!

In 2003, Chris used $3,000 out of his own pocket to start the Chris Klug Foundation.

Chris was a professional snowboard racer when he was placed on the National Transplant Waiting List after being diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a rare degenerative bile duct condition. He spent six years on the waitlist, critical for the last three.

On July 28, 2000, Chris received his liver transplant, and said, “It was like a new engine was dropped in me!” Six weeks later, he was back on his snowboard, and had the opportunity to represent the USA at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he won a bronze medal.

During Chris’s time on the waiting list, he promised himself he would do everything he could to spread the message of organ, eye, and tissue donation once he was able.

This will be Chris’s second Unbound!

Troy has been riding with Team CKF since we became a charity partner of Unbound in 2024! Troy began riding bikes over 50 years ago, but after a major accident, he took a decade long break.

In 2024, Troy fell in love with gravel biking and raced Unbound with CKF. Bringing his positive outlook and energy to the team, Troy is passionate about raising awareness for CKF and our mission to eliminate the wait.

Troy has a personal connection to the donation and transplantation community, and that is why each year he chooses to make a difference and race with the Chris Klug Foundation.

Alex has been a long-time supporter of CKF for many years, and has raced repeatedly on the CKF teams for both Leadville MTB 100 and Unbound.

As Chris’s good friend, Alex has been continually inspired by the gift of life and the effect it has on not only the recipient, but also their loved ones and friends.

Alex is excited to take on the challenge again in 2025, following his a successful first Unbound Gravel race in 2024.

Justin has been a member of the CKF Board for over almost three years. But his involvement with the Foundation began long before that. Justin is a prominent member of the CKF family who has raced on nearly every CKF run and bike team.

He has been a member of the CKF Leadville 100 MTB Team twice, the CKF NYC Marathon Team twice, and has participated in Summit for Life multiple times.

Justin is the Managing Director of the new White Elephant Aspen, and has been living in the Roaring Fork Valley for over 20 years.

Justin is passionate about CKF’s mission and is always looking to raise awareness about the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation. This will be Justin’s second year racing Unbound with Team CKF.

Biking has been a cherished part of Stryder’s life for as long as he can remember. His journey began in childhood when his dad biked him to school in various contraptions, from a little trailer cart to a tandem where he rode up front. High school intensified his love for biking, as it connected him with the world through daily rides along the river path and into the city for tennis practice. After a five-year hiatus due to knee injuries, he is thrilled to be back on the bike.

Stryder’s college years at Pitzer College were marked by a deep commitment to environmental work and community engagement, balancing his studies in Spanish and poetry with hands-on projects in community gardens. He led 4-H youth groups, coordinated culinary camps, and spearheaded garden redesigns, all while nurturing a passion for youth development and the non-profit sector. This dedication to community and personal growth aligns seamlessly with his desire to ride the Unbound Gravel race, a challenge that has long been on his radar but was previously out of reach. Now, living in Chicago and having fully recovered from his injuries, Stryder found the perfect opportunity to pursue this dream.

Styder states “Racing with CKF is more than just a chance to bike through Kansas; it’s an opportunity to support a cause that resonates deeply with me.” Last summer, volunteering at MerryHeart Children's camp opened his eyes to the profound impact organ transplants have on young lives. CKF's focus on eye, tissue, and organ transplants is a mission he is passionate about supporting. He is eager to contribute to our work and build a lasting relationship with the organization. This race symbolizes more than a personal achievement; it embodies his values of empathy, courage, resilience, and curiosity, and represents a commitment to racing not just this year, but for many years to come.

Virgil has not had much luck when it comes to Unbound. In 2021 he suffered several mechanicals. In 2022, he suffered a bad injury in the lead-up. And in 2025, he was set to race Unbound with CKF, but unfortunately, he had to pull out due to another injury.

But now Virgil is back and ready to put the record straight in 2026!

Virgil was raised in New Mexico, and has a personal connection with transplant. His father recently received a cornea transplant after suffering a traumatic head injury.

Virgil is ready to race and advocate for organ, eye and tissue donation!

Reach out today to join the team

Reach out today to join the team

Reach out today to join the team

Reach out today to join the team