Forget “Survivor.” The race a San Diego team is competing in next week would blow the folks on the television series out of the water on the first day. The four-member team along with one alternate is the sole local entry in this year’s Eco-Challenge, a race of more than 300 miles across the jungles of Malaysian Borneo starting Aug. 21. More than 70 teams from some 25 nations will race around the clock, through dense rainforests, across rivers and through caves, using only human-powered transport. Teams that finish the race are expected to take between seven to eight days, but in the past, about half haven’t made it. The local team is being sponsored by Enosus, a subsidiary of San Diego-based Daou Systems Inc., to the tune of $35,000. The entry fee alone for the competition is $12,500; the rest of the funds will go for equipment, supplies and expenses. Why did Enosus, a 30-person company that provides Internet services, decide to back the group?
“The race demands unrivaled commitment, a strong will to succeed, teamwork, and mental and physical endurance. These are the same traits that characterize our company,” said COO Eric Ringwall. “In fact, the word Enosus in Greek means to unite or unify.” Team Enosus is made up of two former Navy SEALs, Jamie Monroe, 24, and Steve Prescia, 27; David Potter, 23, and Elise Harrington, 44, from Michigan. Megan Smith, 21, a former team member who is now designated as an alternate. Team members all have regular jobs but have been training full-time for the competition, which has attracted international media attention, including updates on the USA Network and the Discovery Channel, and a segment on “48 Hours.” Though Team Enosus knows the odds are stacked against them, they’ve already made a promise to donate any prize winnings and all the proceeds from the sale of shirts and other apparel to the San Diego chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
To find out more about the challenge and an update on their progress in the race, check out (www.teamenosus.com).
