May 11, 2008 – A fund has been set up to support Fausto Esparza Munoz (Tecos-Trek), who was badly injured after a serious high-speed crash in last Sunday’s final stage, the 106-mile Gila Monster race, at the Tour of the Gila in Silver City, New Mexico. Apparently it’s the most serious accident at the Gila in its 22-year history.

According to a Toyota-United release the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team announced on Friday that its riders and staff had donated $5,000 cash to assist Esparza. The donation consists of the riders’ prize money earned over last weeks 5-day Tour of Gila and staff donations. In addition, Toyota-United will auction off a team jersey signed by all 14 riders on eBay beginning Monday in order to provide the general public with an opportunity to show their support for Fausto and his family.

Esparza 33, a former Mexican Nation Champion and father of three children, is in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit of El Paso’s Thomason Hospital in Texas with a broken back which has left him paralyzed from the waist down. “He is very depressed and not sure what to make of this terrible situation. His wife, three children and parents have all come to El Paso to be by his side for the next three weeks until he gets out of the hospital” said Jose Manuel “Chepe” Garcia a Toyota-United rider and personal friend of Esparza.

Supporters in Silver City have established an account for Esparza – donations can be made to:

Wells Fargo Bank
1201 N. Pope St.
Silver City, NM 88061
Attn: Fausto Munoz Esparza Donation Fund.

Letters can be sent to:

Patient: Fausto Esparza, ICU/12
c/o Thomason Hospital
4815 Alameda Ave.
El Paso, TX, 79905

Supporters may also visit the Toyota-United website beginning Monday, May 12 to link to an auction of a team jersey signed by all 14 members of the team to raise additional funds at www.toyota-united.com.