Ironman Hawaii Here I Come!!!!
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Most of you know who I am and what I'm trying to do for Cystic Fibrosis. By making a donation online you are helping support the Boomer Esiason Foundation who is earmarking this money for its Scholarship Program. This program gives scholarships to high school, college, and after college people who are suffering from CF. Most notably in my mind is the Athletic Scholarship that they have. Anything that can be done to encourage people with CF to exercise is something that I am very interested in. I truly think that all of the years that I played baseball, skateboarding, wrestling, and surfing are what kept me hanging on to life until I received my transplant. I personally feel that exercise should be a vital part of the medical treatment for people with CF. I recently became the first double lung transplant recipient to ever finish the Ironman triathlon distance of 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run this past November at Ironman Florida. Because of my efforts I have been invited to race at the Hawaiian Ironman Championships. This is the most prestigious race in triathlon and the pinnacle of most people's careers. It is the equivelent of the Tour de France, the Super Bowl, the World Series, and Wimbledon. I've accepted this challenge to try and inspire people with CF to try and make it through just one more day and to hopefully make exercise a part of their normal routine. Please join me in this effort.
I know that some people have had this question in the past but none of this money goes to me or my trip. All of it goes to the Foundation.
When I started this crazy journey a little over 5 years ago I never dreamed that I would get this far. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my organ donor and their family. There have also been several people along the way who have helped get me this far. My parents, my fiance Leanne, my brother Erik and his wife Sue and their kids Katy, Matt, and Grace who are my biggest fans, my best friend and training partner Terry, my coach Matt, my best friend for life Johnny, my transplant coordinator Becky, my transplant surgeon, Dr. Detterbeck, Tracey Richardson, Amber in New Zealand, Aaronman, Herbert Krabel, all of my sponsors, and all of the doctors and nurses that have cared for me over the years.
Please check out the Boomer Esiason Foundation website: http://www.esiason.org/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the footage from Ironman Florida on Youtube:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ngvkj3IAb-I
This was when I received the Ford Everyday Hero Award.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This email was just sent to my by Tracey Richardson. She is one of my personal heros. She is the mother of two children with CF and an Ironman.
"Hey scott....just in case you need a few more reasons to keep going in training and on the day.....
Do it to inspire
Do it to celebrate
Do it to see what you are TRULY capable of Do it for the 226 months that you would have spent in hospital in your life time Do it for every person out there with CF that wants to but can't Do it for every parent who grieves a lost CF soul, Do it for all those that waited for the gift of life but it didn't arrive, Do it for the DR's and Nurses to show them what they do is worthhile Do it for every person who every believed in you and never gave up Do it to honour a donor who can not Do it for the sheer fact that you CAN!
Scott..... Do what you have to do.
The true test of a person is what they do when they have to.
This is your "have to" time."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many thanks for your support -- and please forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
Scott Johnson - Double Lung Transplant Ironman
Email me at: scott.johnson@wilm.ppdi.com or if you want to check out my photos then click this: http://www.myspace.com/slowesttriathlete. You can also email me there.
PS....I plan on having t shirts made up for anyone who is interested. Not sure what the tag line will be yet. Any suggestions?