iTRi4Sue Foundation & 2012 Xterra Triathlon World Championships Fundraiser
Welcome to the fundraising site for the 2012 iTRi4Sue Foundation and Xterra Triathlon World Championships! The fundraiser will end the day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday, November 21), so that the iTRi4Sue donation can be gifted to the recipient on Thanksgiving day. For more detailed information about the fundraising proceeds and background story, please feel free to check out the information below!
THE RACE
Footage from last year's World Championship race!
Copy and paste link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZcZrlx_Rhk
WHY I'M "HERE"
On April 29, 2010, my wildly active, healthy, lively mom, Sue Erickson (aka. "Mama Sue"), was diagnosed with advanced (stage 4), non-operable, non-treatable liver and pancreatic cancer. My brother, sister, and I were stunned when we were told of her diagnosis; she didn't look sick, sound sick, or act sick. It couldn't be true. Surely, not MY mom. Setting doubts and disbelief aside, the three of us immediately moved back home to share together what would become the last few months of her magnificent and beautiful life.
At the time I moved back home to Amherst, Wisconsin, I had been living and running trails in Portland, Oregon. Like many of the fresh and hesitant post-collegiates trying to figure out that ever-so-elusive "next step," I was unsure of which direction to take my life. The endless opportunities presented were the epitome of the double-edged sword: it was exciting having so many avenues to follow, but equally as overwhelming when trying to decide which one to pursue.
Ironically enough, once I moved back in with Mama Sue and was forced to stop, think, and discuss what I really wanted to make of my life (or, at the very least, make of the next few years ahead), I found myself coming closer to the answers that I had been actively seeking in other places. It's a strange thing, spending time with someone who knows that their time on earth is soon coming to an end. Conversations become uniquely honest -- not for the sake of being honest -- but because there is nothing left to lose. People constantly seem to be asking one another, "If you could be doing anything in your life right now, what would it be?" In general, we have become desensitized to the question; its overexposure has pushed it into the realm of hypotheticals and daydreams. But when my mom asked me this question, I knew she was asking it with pure and genuine wonder. There was nothing hypothetical about it: "What. Do. You. Want. To. Do."
Exactly ten years before this discussion, I remember Mama Sue coming home from work one day in a particularly excited mood. Before I could even say hello, she asked me if I would like to do a triathlon with her that summer. Having no idea what a triathlon was, I agreed to do it. After several weeks together of spontaneous conversational jogs, cruiser bike rides, and water-noodle lake "swims," we competed in (or rather, completed) our first triathlon together. After that day, we were both hooked to the atmosphere and variety that the race had to offer. It became a summer ritual to do a triathlon or two together. Being a competitive cross country and track runner since 7th grade, I found I had a lot of natural talent in the sport. Although I never full-on trained for any of my races, I eventually found myself placing well amongst a good majority of triathlon veterans. As a result, I told myself I would make a serious attempt in the sport once I finished my collegiate running career.
So as I sat staring into my mom's hopeful eyes two years ago, searching for a real and honest answer to her real and honest question, I remember thinking about the nagging fact that I hadn't yet begun to pursue triathlon like I had planned to do. After I told her this, I hurriedly followed up my answer with a list of all my reservations: becoming elite is a long shot, it's not a "real" job, getting to the highest level takes time, patience, and money. The list continued on. When I finally exhausted my negative efforts, Mama Sue paused before she replied with such simplicity, "How will you ever know how far you can go unless you try?" Her response was so easy and uncomplicated; even after hearing variations of the phrase for years, the reality of her words had never resonated so clearly with me until then. What was I waiting for? At the very worst, I would fall short, but I would never have to wonder what could have been.
So here I am today, nearly two years after Mama Sue's passing (October 27), in Boulder, Colorado. One of the (if not "the") most popular triathlon-training meccas of the world, Boulder has not yet disappointed in holding unparalleled training motivators and opportunities. Although I've already had my fair-share of setbacks during my 16 months here (including a torn lung, an air-trapped heart, a pair of broken ribs, a destroyed $5,000 race bike, a visible shin bone and stitches, a concussion, a fractured forearm, several nights in the ICU, and more new scars than I can count), I've also already had my fair-share of successes over the past year: I had the fortune of being named a 2011 Triathlon All-American, finished top-2 age group in all 6 race attempts, earned "Elite Amateur" status in my first Olympic, managed a 4:46 debut Half-Ironman, acquired six new triathlon sponsors, and gained a wealth of experience to use as a base as I continue to move forward in the sport.
But perhaps my most exciting accomplishment in triathlon to-date came this past July when I competed in my first Xterra (off-road) triathlon and raced to a 2nd-place age group finish, which qualified me for the 2012 Xterra World Championships held in Maui, Hawaii. Because I had only picked up mountain biking by default three months prior to the race (after wrecking my road/time trial bike in a nasty crash up Flagstaff Road in February), I was blind in what to expect. I'll admit that my intimidation level was soaring, for multiple people had recommended that I start on an easier course for my first off-road race. However, my stubborn "go-big-or-go-home" mentality took over and I made the decision to enter the Xterra Mountain Regional Championships. After all, if these were the people I wanted to be competitive with, why not see where I currently stacked up against them? Although it was physically the most challenging race I had ever battled, I was able to overcome a few rookie race mistakes and grab the last World Champs qualifying spot. Therefore, on October 28, I will get the amazing opportunity to compete against the very best from around the U.S. and world!
**For more information about Mama Sue's personal journey, please visit the CaringBrige website below to read her story (written by mom under the "My Story" tab), and daily accounts of her final months, weeks, and days (documented by me in green/blue text, and by mama in black text, under the "Journal" tab).
Copy and paste link:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/sueerickson1
2012 iTRi4Sue FOUNDATION
As soon as I made the decision to move to Boulder to pursue triathlon at a professional level, I knew I wanted to incorporate my mom and her positive influence in some way. After many discussions with other individuals attempting to use competitive triathlon as a platform for doing "good things" for others, I came to the conclusion to begin a foundation in Mama Sue's honor. Aside from including her name, the foundation will also relate on a personal level by donating the funds each year to a lower-income family affected by cancer.
Because the foundation is in its first year, the goal amount will not be substantial ($500); the money will be gifted to the individual or family to use in any way they see fit. Whether they use it to put toward a hospital bill, toward groceries, or toward a family day trip together, the idea behind the donation is that it will help to ease the pressure of their awfully unfortunate situation in some small way. After all, I've learned through our experience with Mama Sue that it's the small things that allow a family affected by something like terminal cancer to make it through the days, one day at a time.
**iTRi4Sue donation will be gifted to the family on Thanksgiving 2012
WEBSITE (currently under construction): www.itri4sue.org
iTRi4Sue AND TRIATHLON PROCEEDS
The time to venture over the Pacific to Maui for the big race has nearly arrived. Despite personally trying to set aside money for the race and picking up a handful of triathlon sponsors for product/equipment support, the financial investments of such an endeavor are plenty. Therefore, I have decided to incorporate fundraising for some of the triathlon costs with the iTRi4Sue Foundation fundraiser.
As I continue to progress in the sport of triathlon and am able to get more financial support through larger sponsors, race awards (fingers crossed), etc., 100% of the proceeds will eventually go to the iTRi4Sue Foundation recipient. For this year, however, the proceeds breakdown will be as follows:
iTRi4Sue Donation: $500
Race Entry Fee: $450
Plane Ticket: $850
Bike Transport/Tune-up: $200
= TOTAL GOAL: $2,000
(*If I have the incredible fortune of acquiring enough supporters and surpassing the goal amount, the extra proceeds will go directly toward the 2013 iTRi4Sue Foundation and Triathlon Fundraiser)
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For more regular updates, pictures, etc., check out my Facebook page!
Copy and paste link:
https://www.facebook.com/dickbrittany
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I genuinely CAN NOT thank all of you enough for your support!!! Whether you have donated $1 or $100 to the fundraiser, have pushed me through tough workouts, or have simply encouraged me through words, you are each appreciated in ways that could never be fully expressed. I couldn't do this without all of you!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
