From an outside perspective, it’s very easy to see how
athletes at this level and higher can be viewed as rather selfish. In order to achieve
a professional sports career, an athlete is committing themselves at a very
young age to years of self-interest. How can one give back to the greater
population when their priorities are to become solely the best they can be? How important is it for one nation to have a faster
skier than another nation? At a certain point in our sports careers, we realize
that there is as much invested in us athletes by sponsors, organizations, and
support staff as we have personally invested in ourselves. It’s a type of “alternative
lifestyle” that is very hard to sustain, and even more stressful when salaries are performance-based through sponsorship and charity.
My sporting career is in no way political, and never will
be, and I take pride in believing that I maintain a fair amount of perspective,
humility, and practicality in my endeavors towards and after my professional
sports career. However, I do believe that for the past few years I have been so
absorbed in my quest for support and progress that I have been ignorant of those in need around me in the communities I identify closest with.
As my blog has just passed 4,500 views, I would like to use my publicity to plea for the support of two particular Alaskans.
The first individual is Matt Kenney. While Matt probably
doesn’t know me, I know him as the tattoo clad man that I have followed up
countless mountains over the past couple years in the Alaska Mountain Running
Grand Prix races. In every race, he and I have always gone back and forth in
results, usually passing and re-passing each other multiple times in a race. We’ve
never spoken a word to each other, but as most mountain runners can attest to, racing
up a mountain with someone can tell you more about a person than a week of
conversation. Matt was severely injured in the very prestigious and dangerous Mt.
Marathon Race this year, where he suffered traumatic brain injury, a broken
leg, and other wounds after a fall off the final cliff at the base of the
mountain. As usual, Matt was just a few seconds ahead of me during that race,
and I was one of the first racers to encounter him immediately after his fall. I
will never be able to describe the feeling of seeing a fellow mountain runner
in that state. Matt was immediately helped by on-call paramedics, and was
medevaked to Anchorage. After that incident, I no longer cared about the race,
the prestige, or anything about Mt. Marathon. All I cared about was getting off
that mountain as fast as possible. The thousands of spectators at the base of
the mountain, who are famous for cheering in the racers from the final cliff to
the finish, were dead quiet as I ran by. It was incredibly eery, and will
forever be in the back of my mind during my decision process of doing the race
next year.
Matt is continuing to recover from his injuries at a
rehabilitation center in Colorado, and I implore you to help him on his road to
recovery so I can race him again one day. Matt’s family and friends have provided
a donation avenue at the link below, and I ask that you consider donating any
amount possible.
The second individual I would like to publicize is Mary
Robicheaux. Again, while I do not know Mary personally, her story has still
impacted me greatly. Mary is a promising 15-year-old Nordic skier on the APU ski
team. I have many friends on the APU team, and the Alaska Winter Stars (the team
I race for) and APU have always been extremely close. While biking home from a
friends house this August, Mary was struck by a driver who failed to stop for
the flashing red crosswalk light. Mary suffered fractures in her skull as well
as in both legs. She was wearing a helmet. After coaching a group of junior
skiers this summer for biathlon, many of whom are members of APU and close
friends and training partners of Mary, I feel horrible knowing that the
Anchorage ski community is undeservedly short one member. Mary is recovering
from her injuries at a children’s hospital in Colorado, and I ask for you to
consider donating to her recovery efforts at the link below.
I hate writing on a somber note, but I am comforted knowing
that every dollar given to these individuals will bring them back to where they
belong, and will strengthen us all. It’s a harsh reality that someone’s life
and goals can take a turn for the worst in a most unsuspecting way, and both of
these individuals’ recovery and continued return to normality have given me a
new found appreciation for my situation in life and they provide an inspiration
for me this season. I compete this year with these two in mind, and I hope
others join in the effort of helping those around us.
-Sam
No comments:
Post a Comment