PLEASE NOTE: 'I' and 'me' in the message below refers to Randy Gehrke, who is organizing this great fundraiser.
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Message from Randy Gehrke:
Hello Everyone,
Please read this entire post as it relates to all and it could happen to anyone of us. Many of you know what happened to Danelle Ballangee trail running in Moab, Utah. If you don't, there is a good story at: http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20061222/NEWS/61222011&searchID=73267154070231.
Danelle's Road to Recovery
To make a long story short, she slipped while she was shortcutting up a canyon and fell over several cliffs and severely broke her pelvis. She was by herself with her dog, Taz, and she ended up laying in the desert for 52 hours before she was rescued by SAR. Taz had lead the searchers to her from the trailhead--about 6 miles in. She was lifeflighted to Grand Junction where they examined her and because of the seriousness of the injuries, she was then flown to Denver by airplane. After an extensive surgery and hospital stay, she is now with her parents in Evergreen, Colorado where she is confined to a wheelchair for 3 to 6 months and then she will have to learn how to walk again. Danelle faces an extremely hard road ahead but like with ultras and adventure racing, she says, "I'm just taking one step at a time." And as you can imagine, her medical bills are staggering. Even so, she is confident that she will come back and race again.
Fundraiser for You to Participate In
So.....I am organizing a national fundraiser for her via the first, "National 24 hour Treadmill Championships." Here is how it will work.
It is set to start at 9:00 A.M. (mountain time) on the 10th of March. The runner or runners can do at anywhere they please. I belong to a gym here in Hailey, Idaho and they will be staying open for 24 hours to do this. We have seven treadmills and since a lot of the runners can't fathom to run for 24 hours,they will be doing it in a relay. My goal is to shoot for over 100 miles but more realistic, it will be to stay upright and not fall off.
Entry Fee & Additional Details
My main goal is to raise money for Danelle but at the same time, this will provide a venue for 24 hoursof treadmill running. Those that would be going for a 24 hour treadmill record (I have no idea of what that might be) would have to have a witness present during their run. And if it came down to a small margin, I would assume that the machine would have to be certified.
I am asking for a $50.00 entry fee for solos and a $25.00 entry fee for each member of a relay team. Youcan have as many members as you would like. My vision is to do this at gyms across the nation and I am sure that other members of the gym and public would also contribute. I already have our gym and a lot of the people here in Hailey, Idaho behind this cause. I have done other fundraisers for those that have needed it over the years and I have found that people are very generous-they just have to know about it and be asked.
Danelle has been a teammate of mine and she is a very accomplished athlete and a great person and this is her time of need.
NATIONAL 24 HOUR TREADMILL CHAMPIONSHIPS
When: March 10 and 11th, 2007
Where: Anywhere where you can find a treadmill
Cost: $50.00 for solo runners and $25.00 for each relay member.
I will have certificates for everyone who enters with their time and place in the 24 hours. I am also working on getting shirts for the event. (if you know a source, please let me know)
You can send your entry fee and contributions to:
The Danelle Ballangee Fund
or Randy Gehrke
P.O.Box 745
Picabo, Idaho 83348
mtnwrunner@yahoo.com
Tel. 1-208-471-0021
THANK YOU!!!
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