Bahati Inspires at the Bahati Foundation Launch Event
By Christy Nicholson, SoCalCycling.com

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3/14/10 - The Bahati Foundation Launch Event was held Friday evening at LA Live’s Club Nokia. The event was invitation only, but awarded many lucky fans the opportunity to attend through contests through the Bahati Foundation’s social media sites and select bike shops. The Launch was held at the trendy Club Nokia, which is located at the center of LA’s entertainment capital, LA LIVE, which will be the venue for Stage 7 of the Amgen Tour of California (Los Angeles Individual Time Trial).

Upon arriving, guests were treated to a VIP Experience and were able to GIVE BACK with a donation to the Bahati Foundation, as well as bid on a a one-of–a-kind hand painted Cannondale Super Six Hi-Mod that was created by Mike Giant and featured a graffiti design. The proceeds for the auction were donated to the Bahati Foundation. A second bike will be auctioned off on Ebay on April 23rd.  

The crowd waits for the start of the musical performance and the
Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team Introduction.
photo © SoCalCycling.com

As the evening went on, the event continued in the Nokia Theater for the Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team introduction, video presentation and musical performance. The musical performance was performed by the choir and band of Crenshaw High School, Rahsaan Bahati’s former high school where he played in the drumline. After an inspired performance by the band and choir, Tour de France Commentator Craig Hummer took center stage to announce the Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team and Amateur Team, which boasts 27 members. In the last week, Floyd Landis was added to the roster providing even more horsepower to the team.

When Hummer introduced, Rahsaan Bahati, the namesake and inspiration behind the Bahati Foundation, he was met with loud cheers and applause for several minutes that brought out the emotions in Bahati. He said, ”I had no idea I was going to react this way. I would like to first thank God, thank my parents, thank my brothers and sisters, and my beautiful and noble wife.”  

He continued, “This is definitely a dream come true for me. When I was in the band we didn’t have much for good equipment. We would go to schools and they had all of the top of the line drums and nice bus and nice uniforms. We didn’t have that, but we became a family and we enjoyed going to football games and hanging out after school to practice and hanging out with Mr. Tarver, who is a great individual.  I just had a vision that one day I could show up with a U Haul truck full of instruments and surprise all the kids. I just want to tell you that we’re almost there. That is one of the first things that I want to do with some of the money that was donated tonight is give back to you guys, because you deserve it. This has definitely been a dream come true!”

Bahati then went onto thank the staff at Raha Sports and his sponsors including Cannondale, Colorado Premier Training and Louis Garneau and said, “A big shout out to all of my teammates, who I talked to individually before they signed a contract to race for this team and I said “Are you ready to deliver the message for the Bahati Foundation and each and last one of them said “Yes“ and their here right in front of you. I am going to hold you guys to that.”

In closing Bahati said, “I am just going to end by saying I am really pleased and happy to be a part of this organization and something that God willing will last forever, so my kids and their kids and their kids can say they run the Bahati Foundation.”
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Rahsaan Bahati presents the team bike and kit with the help of Major Motion
Junior Development Team Members, Corey Williams and Aasin Taylor.
photo © SoCalCycling.com