Star-Studded Field Raises More Than $1 Million at 2004 San Diego Triathlon Challenge
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Actors, Olympic, Paralympic and Ironman Athletes and Injured Military Heroes, Compete in Grueling Half-Ironman Fund-Raiser
Hugh Williams
SAN DIEGO, CA (November 1, 2004) – On October 31, 2004 the La Jolla Cove was once again taken over by an athletic event with humble origins that has grown to international prominence.
The 11th Annual San Diego Triathlon Challenge (SDTC) hosted some of the world’s top challenged athletes, celebrities and professional athletes who participated in this grueling half-Ironman. They joined more than 500 athletes from across the country in this non-competitive event that raised more than $1 million for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. All proceeds will help give people with disabilities the chance of pursuing a life full of physical activity and sports.
A Hero and Star-Studded Field
Celebrity guests that competed in this triathlon – a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run, all in succession – included Ironman champions Wendy Ingraham, Peter Reid, Scott Tinley and actor Robin Williams who has raced the SDTC for the last six years. The race was also attended by Olympic and Paralympic medallists from Athens, Survivor star Alex Bell and Baywatch star Alexandra Paul. Over a dozen American soldiers who incurred permanent physical injuries as a result of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan were also present. Included in this group was Mike McNaughton who lost a leg in a land mine explosion and who earlier this year made headlines when he jogged around the South Lawn of the White House with President George Bush.
This grueling event took place along the rolling hills of North County in San Diego – an unforgiving race for the able-bodied, let alone amputees or others with severe disabilities. “I’m always just hanging out with my buddies and working real hard when a guy on a handcycle comes cruising by me like it’s no big deal,” said movie actor, Robin Williams. “You meet all these great people with physical disabilities and then they rip past you on the course. It’s just great!”
Humble Beginnings
It was 11 years ago that Jim MacLaren was at the top of his game. As a below-knee amputee he was an endurance athlete who consistently placed within the top 20 percent of any marathon or Ironman in which he competed – an amazing feat even for someone that’s able-bodied, which inspired other amputees around the world. But in 1993 on a closed course triathlon, tragedy struck Jim for the second time when he was hit by a van and left him a quadriplegic. This spurred his friends to rally together to raise funds to help him and led to the first ever San Diego Triathlon Challenge. With 42 people descending on the Southern California coastline, they raised $48,000 to help Jim. Now, eleven years later, this event has led to the creation of the Challenged Athletes Foundation, which has raised almost $5 million that has been distributed to more than 1,300 challenged athletes from around the world.
For more information on the Challenged Athletes Foundations please contact the CAF office at 858-793-9293 or visit their Web site at www.challengedathletes.org.
Contact: Tabi King (858) 523-9073 or 312-988-2470
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