Here's Shocking News

I thought this was interesting, who else saw this article in the Journal Sentinel, it was next to the Obit's

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THIS STORY



Ford Ironman Wisconsin triathlon needs volunteers, sponsors
By TOM HELD
[email protected]
Posted: Sept. 2, 2008
Athletes will depend on determination and endurance to complete the Ford Ironman Wisconsin on Sunday.

How To Help
Volunteers have several options to sign up to help Sunday:

Contact Ed Koehl, the volunteer coordinator, at (608) 226-4780, Ext. 233.
Attend the volunteer meeting at Monona Terrace at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Show up at the volunteer tent on the Capitol Square, at Martin Luther King and Wilson streets, on Sunday.

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For their part, organizers for the Madison triathlon are counting on volunteers and sponsors.

The nonprofit Wisconsin Sports Development Corp. has put out a call for both to fill in the gaps, in people helping on the course and the cash needed to cover the $100,000 in expenses to put on one of six Ironman races in the North America Sports series.

"Local sponsorship is crucial to hosting the event," said Ron Vincent, chief executive officer of the corporation. "There's many that have come and gone that we'd like to get back.

"Businesses that are benefiting, restaurants and gas stations and all the stores, they aren't participating like they have been."

An influx of sponsorship donations from local businesses will be key to keeping the big-league triathlon in Madison beyond 2011, when the contract between Wisconsin Sports Development Corp. and NA Sports expires, Vincent said.

On the volunteer side, he estimated organizers could use another 200 to 300 people to devote a few hours Sunday to guiding athletes on the course, handing out food and drinks at the finish, and helping with registration.

As an incentive, volunteers at the 2008 event will be given priority for registration in the 2009 Ironman Wisconsin.

The race draws 2,300 participants and typically fills in less than an hour, once the online registration opens. Prospective participants are expected to stand in line Monday morning to secure a number to beat the cyber race for the online registration.