FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

11.01.03 - SCOPe Participates in the 2003 Challenged Athletes Foundation Triathlon Challenge

As the smoke cleared from the worst firestorm in California history, the sun rose over La Jolla Cove shining on 550 athletes of all shapes and sizing, but with one common goal: the physical challenge of the miles ahead.

Ten years ago this event began with a small group hoping to raise $25,000 to buy their friend, Jim MacLaren, a van that he could drive with his hands. They raised $48,000. This year the San Diego Triathlon Challenge made the million plus mark! As Jim MacLaren wrote, “When you see the images of the Challenged Athletes Foundation, now ten years young and all that it holds, you will see as I do, that the image is deep. It is an event, yes. But more: it is an experience, something felt, and something lived.”

From the athletes whose simple courage inspires, to the tireless work of the many volunteers and the sponsors who give more than can be measured-the whole of this event is the sum of all the individuals who take part through their passion and determination.

Some of the challenged athletes include Roderick Sewell, 11, who swam a portion of the 1.2-mile swim with our Jim MacLaren Award winner, Steve Diggs.

Ryan Gonzalez, 16, was born with a skin condition so severe; doctors did not give him past a year to live. On Sunday, he swam the 1.2 miles.

Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who was born in Ghana with a right leg that dangled behind him, In 2002, Loma Linda University Orthopaedic & Rehabilitation Institute wanted to see if amputation and the fitting of an artificial limb would benefit Emmanuel. Turns out it would. This year, Emmanuel shaved three hours off his time.

Rudy Garcia-Tolson part of Team Braveheart with Robin Williams and Scott Tinley. Scott is part of the Original 6-Pack along with Ray O’Dell, Dr. Stephen Doyle, Brian Lorenz, Robert Kaplan and Jack Berghause. These six guys have participated in the SDTC every year since its inception.

Over it’s ten year course, the SDTC has raised over 4.8 million and distributed over 1,000 grants to challenged athletes around the world and the number keeps rising. In addition to the triathlon challenge the Spin de Cove, lead by team leaders, Colleen Blackmore and Heather La Casse, and Spinning® creator Johnny G, the Spin de Cove sold out three weeks in ad vance and raised $55,000 on its own.

Participants came from all over the world to take part in this wondrous event. A testament to the fact that helping people heal is healing for everyone. Click here to see more images from the San Diego Triathlon Challenge.

Click on the link below to view a video of the event. Quicktime is required to view the video. Click here to Download Quicktime.

Challenged Athletes Foundation Triathlon Challenge

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