UNBOUND Gravel
Unbound Gravel - May 30th, 2026
UNBOUND is a 4-day biking event in Flint Hills, Kansas, and is considered the world’s premier gravel event. As a lottery event, these race spots are extremely coveted. Racers agree to fundraise and raise awareness for the Foundation, and in return become a member of Team CKF! The CKF Gravel teams allow us to reach over 16,000 individuals and introduce them to organ, eye, and tissue donation.
2025 was a huge year of growth for our Unbound Gravel Team. This was just the second year we had participated in the race. Team CKF saw 16 riders take up the challenge, and 14 made it over the line. Our riders and their supporters helped raise over $50,000 to help us educate, inspire, and register.
If you want to join the 2026 CKF Unbound Team, please click the link below and complete the form. Scroll down to see who is representing CKF next year!
Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors!
GOLD SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
Helmet & Eyewear Sponsor
Meet Team CKF for Unbound Gravel 2026 (200 Mile)
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Will Pfeiffer
Will Pfeiffer is a paramedic and medical educator in Durham, NC. He is also a coach for Ignition Coach Co, focusing on athletes targeting long-distance and off-road events.
Will grew up on the East Coast, running cross country and playing team sports year-round.
After he finished school, Will started competing in CrossFit in addition to running, but was looking for something more sustainable long-term. Then Will’s uncle got him on a mountain bike in 2014 and he never looked back.
Will raced with Team CKF in 2025. Unfortunately, he was involved in a crash and broke his shoulder. He did not plan on racing again so soon, but in his recovery, he rediscovered his passion for racing for a cause! So he is back for redemption in 2026!
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Suraj Yalamuri
Suraj is an anesthesiologist and critical care physician, specializing in heart and lung transplantation. His research includes supporting recovered hearts outside of the human body, so the donor pool can be expanded, and more individuals can receive a lifesaving heart transplant.
Suraj and his his team have also created technology to make beating heart transplants possible.His racing history began after a realization he needed to prioritize his health and get back in shape. Thanks to cycling, he lost 70 pounds and found a passion for riding!
Suraj has ridden many iconic races including Big Sugar, SBT Gravel, and The Rift, with Unbound Gravel, Leadville 100, and Mauna Kea as future goals! -

Jess Tucker
Jess has always believed in helping others and therefore the answer to “Will you be an organ donor?” was always yes.
She is a passionate volunteer in her community, and loves to donate her time and funds to great causes. Jess feels organ donation is the ultimate way to donate, and help someone live a full and meaningful life. She encourages others to consider registering.
Jess loves adventure, and there is hardly anything she will not turn her hand to. She started with running long distances, but has since taken up gravel riding and mountain biking. She always races in honor of her mom, Christine, who passed away from Multiple Myeloma at just 54.
Jess will ride Unbound this year for her mom and her lasting message that life is way too short not to go for it all!
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Trevor Stern
Trevor has been a registered donor since the age of 16 when he got his driver’s license. He remembers not fully understanding the question, but understood the impact he could have on someone else’s life.
Trevor had previously raced the Leadville 100 TR through a charity, and was inspired to continue racing and riding for a cause as it made the experience even better.
Trevor is an ultra-runner turned gravel biker. He has always wanted to tackle the Unbound 200, and this will be his first true challenge on a bike.
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TBC
Reach out today to join the team
Meet Team CKF for Unbound Gravel 2026 (100 Mile)
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Chris Paxton
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!
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Chris Klug
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!
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Alex Loeffler
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.
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Justin Todd
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.
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Stryder Rodenberg
Stryder’s cycling journey began when his dad biked him to school in various contraptions, from a trailer cart to a tandem bike. High school intensified his love for biking, through daily rides along the river path and into the city for tennis practice. After a five-year hiatus due to knee injuries, Stryder is thrilled to be back.
Stryder attended Pitzer College where he studied Spanish and poetry. He also led 4-H youth groups, coordinated culinary camps, and spearheaded garden redesigns. This dedication to community and personal growth aligns with his desire to ride Unbound Gravel, a challenge that has long been on his radar.
Living in Chicago and fully recovered from his injuries, Stryder has found the perfect opportunity to pursue this dream. According to Styder, “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.”
In 2025, Stryder volunteered at MerryHeart Children's camp, and saw firsthand the profound impact organ transplants have on young lives. CKF's focus on organ, eye, and tissue transplants is a mission he is passionate about supporting. -

Virgil Chavez
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!
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Brandon Hull
Brandon is 63 years old, and an avid cyclist. He has always wanted to ride in Unbound. And this year, other members of his family are riding in the race. When Brandon didn't get into the lottery, he saw CKF and thought that this would be a good way for him to support a good cause and ride.
Brandon is a donor recipient (ACL), and is very appreciative of donors and their families who honor their loved ones’ wishes. Therefore, rather than purchase a camp entry, Brandon thought a fundraising route would be a better way to contribute while achieving his dream to ride in Unbound.
Brandon is a 7-time Leadville 100 Mountain Bike participant. He has ridden the Triple Bypass, the Mount Blue Sky hill climb twice, Ride the Rockies twice, and Steamboat Gravel three times.
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TBC
Reach out today to join the team
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TBC
Reach out today to join the team
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TBC
Reach out today to join the team
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TBC
Reach out today to join the team!
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TBC
Reach out today to join the team!
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TBC
Reach out today to join the team!
Sponsor Our CKF Bike Team!
There are opportunities to sponsor our CKF Bike Team at the Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Community Level. Click the button below to learn about sponsorships.
UNBOUND GRAVEL 2025
UNBOUND GRAVEL 2024