Hello, I am Barry Dmitruk of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I will be participating in the Ironman World Championship Triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on October 10, 2009. Each year, approximately 75,000 triathletes from more than 50 countries attempt to qualify for the world’s most famous single day endurance event. Only 1,800 make it to the start line.
The Ironman is a gruelling event consisting of a 3.86 kilometre ocean swim, a 180.2 kilometre bike ride through the Hawaii lava fields, and finally, a 42.2 kilometre run (the traditional marathon distance). I qualified for this event by finishing 4th out of 303 in my age group and 85th out of 2,250 overall at Ironman USA in Lake Placid, New York on July 26, 2009 in a time of 10:18:55.
I have competed in Hawaii Ironman on five previous occasions. In 2004 I raised funds for a young lady stricken with Colitis and dedicated my race to a person who had recently passed away from cancer. On a previous occasion I dedicated my race to an Ottawa athlete who was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident. This year I am again competing for a very special purpose.
Evan McDonald lives in Avalon East District, Newfoundland, Canada and is waging his own personal battle as he suffered a serious accident in August 2007. Evan was involved in a life-changing dirt bike accident, resulting in a spinal cord injury/paraplegia. It is one of the most devastating events that can happen to a person, taking not only their ability to walk, but also their independence and ability to accomplish some of life’s most fundamental tasks. Evan was 14 at the time of his accident.
Since then, Evan has gone to Philadelphia; Canton, Massachusetts; and Cologne, Germany for therapy.
Evan’s ultimate goal is to walk again. However, his immediate goal is to stay healthy and in good physical condition - which is vital in the prevention of serious secondary complications that often result from a spinal cord injury. To achieve this goal, it is imperative that rehabilitation and physical exercise be performed on a daily basis. Local services are very limited in what they can provide to Evan. Accordingly, his parents sought out any and all possibilities of paediatric facilities for their son.
Their search lead them to a one-of-a-kind program located in Canton, Massachusetts known as Journey Forward. This approach is aggressive in implementing the latest advancement in terms of exercise. Journey Forward accepted Evan for a one week physical fitness and performance program in June 2009. It soon became apparent that he would greatly benefit from continuing with an exercise/physical fitness program at home. However, in order to participate in such an at-home program, various pieces of exercise equipment are required.
This family has made major adjustments, including - but not limited to - the sale of the family home and the construction of a new one-level wheelchair-accessible home.
The McDonalds require funds in the tens of thousands of dollars to cover the purchase of specialized exercise equipment and expand their garage to transform it into a rehabilitation facility.
I am competing at my own expense and 100% of the funds raised will go directly to the McDonald family. Realizing and respecting that donating to a cause is a personal matter, please consider donating to assist this young man and his family. To make a donation, please contact me at any of the following:
Barry Dmitruk
1611 Westport Crescent
Ottawa, Ontario K1C 6E1
Telephone (613) 834-6182 E-mail konaexpress@gmail.com
Donations can also be made at any branch of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, to the Evan McDonald Rehabilitation Fund, quoting transit #01106, account #68-07615.
Thank you.
Barry Dmitruk aka: “The Kona Express”