Why would a 56 year-old man enter a
cycling ride over 114 grueling miles climbing from Redlands to Onyx
Summit 8,443
feet and back, including 12,000 feet of climb?
Santa Ana Kiwanian, Gary Drake brought this project to
the Santa Ana Kiwanis club. Gary wanted to involve the City of Santa
Ana and the Community to raise $100,000 to build the Sports Court.
Since the inception of this project, Gary has set the bar
by completing a 114 bike ride to the of of Big Bear. The Kiwanis club
of Santa Ana pledged $25,000 in matching funds in support of Gary's kick
off effort. The City of Santa Ana has partnered with The Kiwanis Club
of Santa Ana and developed and produced a high quality brochure that has
been distributed to thousands of businesses and individuals with
excellent results. In addition, the City of Santa Ana has also applied
for a sizable grant from the State of California for funds which would
be used for this project.
Gary Drake at 56 years young, successfully completed the
first stage our project to build a wheelchair accessible sports court at
the Kiwanis Barrier Free Park by riding the 114 grueling miles in
slightly over 9 hours. As you know, Gary rode his bicycle to Onyx Summit
(the top of Big Bear Mountain). The ride was called “Breathless Agony”
and for Gary, breathless agony was a grueling test of physical and
emotional endurance. However, Breathless Agony also represents the
struggle that numerous handicapped children in wheelchairs face every
day of their lives. It is a struggle shared by these children's parents,
who take their own grueling test of agony by taking care of their
children.
This ride is considered one of the toughest in bicycling. Robert Kahler,
owner of Santiago Cycling and founder of the Breathless Agony Century
Bicycle Ride, says “On a difficulty scale of 1 to 5, this is a 6.”
Gary’s ride to Onyx Summit has attracted the attention of many
businesses and individuals who today along side Gary are committed to
join in a community effort to build the Sports Court. While the first
phase of our project has been successfully completed, we are now moving
forward with several planned events that will raise additional funds.
There have been television news stories and a current documentary in
progress that will tell the story of this project. The media attention
has been outstanding and has kept the momentum going.
Events
will and have included:
1. A Tamale Sale has been completed where over 1,100
homemade tamales were made and delivered.
2. Future commitment has been planned for an organized
Basketball Game between handicapped and non-handicapped kids in
wheelchairs. This event is being organized by Ray Roman of
netz4Life.org.
3. Crystal Catering has agreed to cater a spaghetti
dinner in late September or early October.
4. An additional Tamale Sale is being planned.
Gary, a
local entrepreneur, cycling enthusiast and member of the Kiwanis Club of
Santa Ana says “Its for the kids.” Gary is dedicated this
endurance-taxing ride to help raise funds for a Sports Court for the
children of Santa Ana in the Kiwanis Barrier Free Playground in Thornton
Park, Santa Ana. Gary, shown with his buddy, Raul Ayala, a student at
Valley High, looks at Raul and says “I've got an easy day on my worst
day.”
The court will be designed so handicapped kids can participate in sports
activities. Although many are confined to wheelchairs, they love to
participate in sports. Paula Sandoval, Teacher of Special Education at
Valley High, says the kids love to play sports and “get wiggly” when its
time to play. The new Sports Court will be equipped with items seldom
found in normal play and sports venues, such as adjustable height
basketball backboards. This is in keeping with the purpose of the
Kiwanis Barrier Free Playground, created in a partnership of the City of
Santa Ana and the Kiwanis Club to provide a facility where children,
regardless of their physical condition, could play together. The
Playground is now used by thousands of Orange County children.
Investment in the project through tax-deductible contributions will give
every sponsor the reward of being a part of this exciting project as
Gary CLIMBED for the KIDS. Please contact John Karpierz, (714)480-6880,
who will be happy to answer any questions. Please see
www.climbing4kids.info
