medals for mettle

I just read this article last night in bed. I teared up, then went downstairs to my "sports wall" and took all of my medals from doing three summers of triathlons (worthlessly hanging on the wall) and brought them with me today. I've yet to look into it enough to see if they take any kind of finishers medal, but if they take tri medals, mine are gone to someone figthing a tougher fight than me training and waking up early on race day.

I think this doctor has started something special.

I've got 8 or so mary medals I'm going to be sending. No Disney unfortunately, but the Country Music Marathon medal was in the shape of a guitar..Someone might like that.

I read that. Thought it was a decent idea after thinking about it for a minute. Selfishly speaking, there are some medals I am willing to give away, and some I am not. Not sure I want to part with my Y2K Disney Medal. It was my toughest marathon ever, and yes, I topped out over 5 hours. I had the REAL Flu / Influenza over the prior two weeks. Was not a good idea to run. My lungs were destroyed. Anyway.. perhaps that's why it might be a good idea to give it away. It symbolizes a tough battle. I'll give it some thought.

What a great idea!  I have sent this onto my friends and hopefully can send some from our neck of the woods!!!  Thanks for sharing this story!

I emailed them this morning to see if they would in fact be interested in Triathlon medals. I also asked if they were doing anything in Atlanta and how we may contribute.

I also emailed them today asking the same thing, and just got a reply that they would be happy taking triathlon medals.
I'm in!

Not all of my races have a story behind the medal, but a few do, so I'm just going to give a quick write up about them. I agree it is a tough question, because my reasons for getting the medals will seem very petty compared to the story of the child who'll get the medal. But I guess that's the point...that child deserves it more than I do.

Even my seven year old is into this once I told him about it. He's got three medals from kid's triathlons that he's giving up.

Greg, let me know what they say.

Not to say that my medals are meaningless to me, but it is the experience that I want (not the medal). Besides, I collect race numbers as trophies anyway.

And what a cool story and great thing to do.