Welcome to the Official
Desmond Campbell Marathon Fundraiser
Lucky Number Thirteen
My name is Desmond Campbell and my two greatest passions in life are fundraising for charitable causes and running marathons. A little about me is that I immigrated from Ardara, Co. Donegal (Ireland) to Chicago in 1964.
I work 7 days a week between two different jobs but that does not stop me from staying in shape in order to continue my dreams of running marathons for worthwhile causes.
I am excited to announce that October 13th, 2013 I will be running my 13th marathon with a fundraising goal of $13,000 in celebration of my 35th year of fundraising!! If that is not enough I am also 69 years old! This year I will be participating in the Chicago marathon which happens to be the home of my charity of choice, The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC).
RIC is the #1 Rehabilitation Hospital in America and offers outstanding athletic programs for children, which I fully believe and enjoy helping expand and flourish. Let's put these 13s together and make October 13th a lucky day for both me and the folks at RIC that it is intended for!
RIC's Junior Competitive Sports Program
The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago’s Junior Competitive Sports Program is an outstanding resource for children with disabilities. It provides young athletes with an array of opportunities that they would otherwise miss out on due to lack of resources. Some of the sports offered include, but are not limited to, wheelchair basketball, track and field, softball, karate, and golf. The program is composed of weekly practices, tournaments both in and out of the city, and social events with children from other organizations. RIC not only teaches children how to play sports but also provides a safe social environment for them to meet friends, gain experiences, and mature into young adults.
A majority of junior athletes in Chicago come from low-income families, which means they have a difficult time finding transportation, buying their own equipment, and continuing their education beyond high school. The RIC sports programming staff addresses these needs by going above and beyond what is expected of them in order to ensure equal opportunities for all of its athletes. Some ways they do this are by providing transportation to and from all athletic events, supplying each child with their own athletic wheelchair, and helping the athletes receive scholarships to college.
The Junior Competitive Sports Program is a nonprofit organization that functions solely on community support, which is why reaching my fundraising goal each year is so extremely important. Please visit the RIC Junior Competitive Sports Program page for more information.
Running in the Chicago Marathon is more than just a workout for me; it is a passionate experience. Being able to take part in the same marathon as the hand cyclists from RIC makes me appreciate all that the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago does for its athletes. I think the marathons are a great way for all athletes to connect with their passion and it is even more visible when able-bodied athletes and athletes with disabilities are participating together.
I would like to thank each and every one of you who have donated in the past. I appreciate your generosity and want to remind you that no dollar amount is too small and each donation is tax deductible. Every donation helps me move one step forward and keeps the RIC junior athletes active!
Don't forget to ask your place of business about matching your donation. Visit my Facebook event page to post words of encouragement.
Sincerely,
Desmond Campbell
