Wounded Warrior Project

Most of you know I am training for Ironman Florida on 7 November 2009. I am doing it for a purpose beyond just the elation I hope to feel when I cross the finish line. So, take a minute and read the following, it is something I put out to my family and friends on email.

I have embarked on the journey to become an Ironman. I will race on 7 November 2009 at Panama City Beach, Florida. The race is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run. Athletes have 17 hours to complete the course. Approximately 2000 triathletes will toe the start line on that day. However, for a race this big, and this demanding, training starts early. I’m not in specific Ironman training yet, but I am building a base. Part of that base is training for and running the Boston Marathon on 20 April! I am very excited about that as well, but I also look at it as another opportunity to get myself in shape for Ironman! It is definitely more than a race, it is a journey.

However, in pursuit of this journey, I decided that I wanted to do it for more than myself. I picked up the endurance sports bug while I was in Iraq. During that time, I ran and worked out to keep myself sane. Unfortunately, too many of our service men and women in harms went through more than some of us, and were wounded in the process. Their recovery and adaptation to the new challenges they face in life is not an easy task. That’s why the Wounded Warrior Project exists. The Wounded Warrior Project’s mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors with the following purposes:
· To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women.
· To help severely injured service members aid and assist each other.
· To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of severely injured service members.
Ironman has partnered with the Janus Corporation to sponsor the Janus Charity Challenge, an opportunity for athletes to raise money for their designated charity. I have signed up to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. My goal is to raise at least $2500. If you are interested in helping me out, please visit my donation webpage at http://januscharitychallenge.kintera.org/fl09/brittanymeeks?faf=1&e=2281148109. If you are not comfortable with online donations, I can accept checks made out to the Wounded Warrior Project and I have a contact with them to whom I will submit the offline donations to them. The Wounded Warrior Projected is a non-profit agency and you will get a tax deduction for the donation. If you’d like to know more about the Wounded Warrior Project, please visit their website at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/.

Please contact me with any questions. I will be updating this page with and adding a link to the donation page soon as well!! Thanks in advance for your support!