Bellingham Athlete Breaks Record, Raises $1M for Food Bank

A Bellingham athlete just turned extreme endurance into extreme generosity, and the results are staggering.

Ethan Hunger completed 22 super sprint triathlons in a single 24-hour period on July 25 at Bloedel Donovan Park. That's 22 rounds of a 400-meter swim, 10-kilometer bike ride, and 2.5-kilometer run, crushing the previous world record of 18.

But the real victory wasn't the record. His marathon effort raised $250,000 for the Bellingham Food Bank, pushing his five-year fundraising total past the $1 million mark.

"I hate the idea of anyone having to go through a single day of their life hungry," Hunger said. "I want to be a part of the solution."

Hunger founded the Hunger vs. Hunger project in 2021, challenging himself to increasingly wild physical feats each year to fight food insecurity. Last year, he rode 112 miles down Mount Baker, swam 10.5 miles across Lake Whatcom, and tackled multiple bike rides and runs in about 18 hours.

This year's challenge started at 6 p.m. on July 24 and didn't stop until the following evening. Community members volunteered to film and document every moment of the attempt for Guinness World Records verification, which is still pending.

Sixty-five donors contributed to the fundraiser, with more donations still rolling in through the Hunger vs. Hunger website.

The Ripple Effect

Hundreds of supporters showed up throughout the 24 hours to cheer Hunger on, with even more gathering at the finish line celebration. The wave of community support proved that people are hungry for ways to make a difference together.

"I think it just goes to prove that if you're passionate about something, and you give people an opportunity to support that passion, incredible things can happen," Hunger said.

For now, he's resting and planning next year's challenge. He's already scheduled a charity golf tournament for August 28 to keep the momentum going.

One million dollars, one community at a time.