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Gasparilla Distance Classic – Saturday, February 9, 2008 - Tampa
The Gasparilla Distance Classic is one of the most successful road races in the country, and a destination winter race for many throughout the eastern United States. Held the second weekend in February, the event includes a weekend of races including a 5K, 15K, half-marathon and marathon. These events support youth programs throughout the Tampa Bay area.
For years, one of the traditions of Gasparilla was the highly competitive 15K Wheelchair Division, which at its peak attracted well over 100 of the greatest wheelchair athletes in the world, all vying for a prize purse of some $15,000. But in 1997, all prize purses were eliminated as a matter of operational strategy, and while the other events continued to thrive with local competitors, the Wheelchair Division disappeared.
But it’s back in 2008! Challenged Athletes Foundation - Florida is bringing back that exciting Wheelchair Division at the 2008 Publix Super Markets Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K. CAF-Florida has guaranteed a new prize purse, and wheelchair racing guru Scot Hollonbeck has more than two dozen competitors steering their racing chairs to Tampa this February.
Join Team CAF Gasparilla:
Those registered to compete in any of the four Gasparilla events can join Team CAF Gasparilla 2008 by raising a minimum of just $100 for CAF. Here what they will get for their efforts:
- An invitation to attend a meet-and-greet, challenged athlete training clinic Friday afternoon for aspiring competitors, taught by some of the best challenged athletes in the world!
- An opportunity to meet and get a photo with legendary father-son duo Dick and Rick Hoyt (Team Hoyt!), who are multiple Ironman and Boston Marathon finishers (meet them here).
- An invitation to a Friday night reception at Expo Hall with the Hoyts and other world class wheelchair athletes from the United States and beyond!
- A chance to race the 15K as a member of Team CAF Gasparilla 2008, complete with a specially designed team racing shirt to let everyone know where your heart is on race day.
Sign up for Team CAF Gasparilla 2008 at www.raceforareason08.kintera.org/gasparilla08. It’s a heartwarming opportunity to help physically challenged adults and kids discover the athlete within.
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