An elite Riverdale Park cyclist is raising money to go to the Deaflympics in Brazil in May.

Blake Herbold, who teaches American Sign Language at Streetcar 82 Brewing Co., got his start in biking with a circuit race in Greenbelt and has biked with the Route 1 Velo crew and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association.

He was selected for the USA Summer Deaflympics Team, which means he would compete in four road cycling events — the 1,000-meter sprint, time trial, road race and points race — this summer in Caxias Do Sul, Brazil.

Due to a lack of support from the U.S. Olympic Committee, each member of the U.S. Deaf Cycling team has to raise the $5,000 needed for travel expenses, meals and lodging and a race license and fees.

On Monday, Herbold announced that he has passed the halfway mark on his fundraising. Donations can be made online here.

Officially sanctioned by the International Olympics Committee, the Deaflympics have been  held since 1924, making them the longest-running multi-sport event other than the Olympics themselves. Unlike other Olympic athletes, athletes do not receive monetary compensation for winning a medal.

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