I wanted to let everyone know about a pretty cool thing that a friend of mine is doing, and he would like your participation. In an effort to raise awareness and help children with life threatening illnesses. It doesnt cost anything to participate, although if you want to make a donation to the cause it would be great. Info is below…
http://www.worldathlon.cc********
Imagine an international sporting event with thousands of participants from every continent. While they race as individuals, they compete as a global team.
They race without the motivation of a cheering crowd and race without rules, mandatory routes or distances. For two days in June of 2005, they will race the Sun as it travels around the planet with their eyes fixed on a single finish line…finding a worldwide cure for major life threatening illnesses affecting children.
The Worldathlon is an event like no other in history. The concept is simple: choose a sport you enjoy, participate in that sport on June 23 or 24, or any combination of those days and dedicate the participation to the Worldathlon. By doing so you will join others from around the planet racing with the purpose to celebrate life and help children with life threatening illnesses.
NOTE FOR ATHLETES: For Competitive Athletes ONLY: We understand you may have races on the weekend and do not want to disrupt your training schedules for this event. You may still participate in the Worldathlon by dedicating your sanctioned races on the weekend of June 25 and 26th to the Worldathlon, A Celebration of Life!
Cancer survivor’s father invites world to celebrate
By GAYLE PEREZ
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
Eric Miller wants the whole world to celebrate in the life of his son Garrett.
“We’re so grateful that Garrett is here and we want people all over the world to join in on our celebration of life,” said Miller of his son, 10, who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in June 2000.
“When Garrett was diagnosed, he was given a 50-50 chance of surviving five years and here we are.”
Garrett was diagnosed June 23, 2000, when he was 5. The following day, doctors removed a golf-ball-sized tumor from the back of Garrett’s brain, leaving him legally blind.
Then followed weeks of radiation and chemotherapy treatments, rehabilitation and plenty of support from his family, including his mother, Nancy and siblings, Ryan, Benjamin and Haley.
In an effort to celebrate Garrett’s life and to help other children who are faced with life-threatening illness, Miller said he wanted to do something special to honor his son’s fifth anniversary of his diagnosis and surgery.
“About two months ago, I was sitting on the couch thinking what could we do to celebrate Garrett’s five-year anniversary,” Miller said on Monday. “Then this idea came to mind of inviting people to race with us wherever they are in the world. Then I thought with the Internet we could make this a global event.”
So the idea for the Worldathlon was born.
“We want people to participate in an activity no matter where they are in the world,” Miller said. “We want people to get out and celebrate life and the fact that they can do something.”
On June 23 and June 24 (both significant days for Garrett), Miller is inviting people from all walks of life to participate in any activity they wish from team sports to individual events.
“We want to make it inclusive of everybody, regardless of their abilities,” he said. “That’s why we’re leaving it up to individuals to determine what they want to do. Really, they can do anything short of sitting on the couch and flipping channels.”
Miller said some people have complained that the event is inconvenient because it is being held on a Thursday and Friday.
“The point is, cancer isn’t convenient either,” he said. “But even if you are working, you can take time out to go for a walk or take your kids on a bike ride in the evening. Anything to celebrate life.”
Although it is not required, Miller said he hopes people will be inclined to donate money in support of those participating in the Worldathlon. All proceeds will be given to six foundations that support children with life-threatening illness or those with with physical disabilities.
Though the idea was conceived less than two months ago, Miller set up a Web site and already has people from all seven continents signed up to participate.
There are children in orphanages in Myanmar who are going to play soccer; a man on the South Pole who will run a mile; a breast cancer survivor in Paris who will be mountain biking; a group of Israeli paraplegics who will be handcycling one day and kayaking the next; and a group of cyclists in California who ride in memory of a young cancer victim.
Locally, Miller said he and Garrett plan to participate in a short triathlon, a tradition father and son have done every year on June 24 to celebrate Garrett’s successful treatment.
“Garrett also wants to play golf, so we’ll be golfing on one of those days, too,” Miller said.
He said the entire family will participate in activities from swimming and biking to running.
Miller said there also will be several amateur and professional athletes who will be participating in sanctioned competitions that will be dedicated to the Worldathlon.
He said six blind triathletes will be participating in an Ironman event June 26 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
As of Monday, Miller said there were more than 200 individuals or teams representing 15 states and 19 countries who have registered to participate in Worldathlon.
To register for the Worldathlon, log onto the Web site. Tax deductible donations also can be made on the Web site.
In addition to the donations, Miller said the Worldathlon organization will be auctioning a “Worldabike” to raise money. The bike is a custom-made chopper built by Mick Hodges of New Legacy Choppers in Canon City.
Miller said individuals can bid on the bike on eBay beginning Friday.