IRONMAN James
Donation protected
"IRONMAN is a statement of excellence, passion, commitment. It is a test of physical toughness and mental strength. IRONMAN is about perservering, enduring and being a part of something larger than ourselves. It shows the heights that can be achieved when we push beyond our boundaries and go the distance."
Those who know James, already know his incredible ability to perservere and overcome any obstacle in his path. On October 2nd, 2010, James was involved in a rollover car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. After spending weeks in ICU and rehab, James returned to school the following year and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Virginia Tech with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 2014. He continued his education at the University of Alabama where he is set to graduate in 2018 with a PhD in mechanical engineering.
As an All-American high school lacrosse player, varsity soccer player, and football player, James has always had and maintained a love of sports and competition. While the ability to play traditional sports was cut short, James has never let being confined to a wheelchair stop him from pursuing that passion. James is a current member of the University of Alabama wheelchair basketball team, plays wheelchair lacrosse with the Free State lacrosse team, and races with the Kennedy Kreiger handcycling team.
James quickly fell in love with handcycling and has been participating in marathons ever since. Last summer James finished his first century (100 mile ride) and soon set a new goal for himself: to compete in the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. In order to do that, James plans on altering his training to include swimming and also wheelchair pushing in a racing wheelchair. James plans to compete in the Miami 2016 Half IRONMAN, the 2017 Cambridge Half IRONMAN, the Buffalo Lake Half IRONMAN which holds several spots for the handcycle division IRONMAN World Championship, and eventually a full IRONMAN in late 2017 that consists of a 2.4 mile swin, 112 mile (handcycle) bike ride, and a 26.2 run (wheelchair push).
James was generously loaned a handcycle from Kennedy Kreiger that he has been using up to this point. However, James would be thrilled to have his own bike to take his performance to the next level. Additionally, returing the bike to the Kennedy Kreiger team would give another handicapped person an opportunity start to their handcycling journey. Because of the unique and custom-made nature of these bikes, they are expensive and unattainable for him to purchase on his own. While he has saved $4,500 to purchase special triathlon wheels, James hopes to purchase a Maddiline Carbide T1000 Aero Fork handcycle. The cost of the bike with necessary accessories and shipping totals is $15,000.
https://bike-on.com/handcycles/racing-handcycles/maddiline-carbide-handcycle
Handcycling has provided James a wonderful physical and mental outlet. I watch him log more than 100 miles every week for the pure joy of it, and because I know he would be too proud to ask, any donations towards a bike and his dream of becoming an IRONMAN would be so incredibly appreciated. James has never let anything stand in his way and I know this will be no different. Any donation no matter how small would be so wonderful; even if you are unable to donate I invite you to join in James' journey to Kona and cheer him on. Below are some of James' past race accomplishments and pictures from his journey thus far. Again, thank you so much and welcome to team IRONMAN James!
-Lindsay
*****With your generous donation of $100 or more you will recieve a FREE Team IRONMAN James t-shirt!! These are Comfort Color grey t-shirts in sizes S-XL, proof is below. If you are eligible to recieve a t-shirt, PLEASE make sure to fill in a current, correct email address at your time of donation that you can be reached at; we will email you shortly after to get your size and mailing address. If you don't hear from us within 48 or have any other questions, please feel free to email us at: [email redacted] *******
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Kennedy Kreiger website:
https://www.kennedykrieger.org/community
Race finishes:
2013 Baltimore Marathon: 2nd place
2014 Pittsburgh Marathon: 3rd place
2015 Los Angeles Marathon: 7th place
2015 Cleveland Marathon: 2nd place
2016 Hot Hundred Marathon
James' 2013 Baltimore Marathon finish, beating his competition for a 2nd place title
Logging miles practicing in Tuscaloosa, AL
2013 Baltimore Marathon, James' first race.
Those who know James, already know his incredible ability to perservere and overcome any obstacle in his path. On October 2nd, 2010, James was involved in a rollover car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. After spending weeks in ICU and rehab, James returned to school the following year and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Virginia Tech with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 2014. He continued his education at the University of Alabama where he is set to graduate in 2018 with a PhD in mechanical engineering.
As an All-American high school lacrosse player, varsity soccer player, and football player, James has always had and maintained a love of sports and competition. While the ability to play traditional sports was cut short, James has never let being confined to a wheelchair stop him from pursuing that passion. James is a current member of the University of Alabama wheelchair basketball team, plays wheelchair lacrosse with the Free State lacrosse team, and races with the Kennedy Kreiger handcycling team.
James quickly fell in love with handcycling and has been participating in marathons ever since. Last summer James finished his first century (100 mile ride) and soon set a new goal for himself: to compete in the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. In order to do that, James plans on altering his training to include swimming and also wheelchair pushing in a racing wheelchair. James plans to compete in the Miami 2016 Half IRONMAN, the 2017 Cambridge Half IRONMAN, the Buffalo Lake Half IRONMAN which holds several spots for the handcycle division IRONMAN World Championship, and eventually a full IRONMAN in late 2017 that consists of a 2.4 mile swin, 112 mile (handcycle) bike ride, and a 26.2 run (wheelchair push).
James was generously loaned a handcycle from Kennedy Kreiger that he has been using up to this point. However, James would be thrilled to have his own bike to take his performance to the next level. Additionally, returing the bike to the Kennedy Kreiger team would give another handicapped person an opportunity start to their handcycling journey. Because of the unique and custom-made nature of these bikes, they are expensive and unattainable for him to purchase on his own. While he has saved $4,500 to purchase special triathlon wheels, James hopes to purchase a Maddiline Carbide T1000 Aero Fork handcycle. The cost of the bike with necessary accessories and shipping totals is $15,000.
https://bike-on.com/handcycles/racing-handcycles/maddiline-carbide-handcycleHandcycling has provided James a wonderful physical and mental outlet. I watch him log more than 100 miles every week for the pure joy of it, and because I know he would be too proud to ask, any donations towards a bike and his dream of becoming an IRONMAN would be so incredibly appreciated. James has never let anything stand in his way and I know this will be no different. Any donation no matter how small would be so wonderful; even if you are unable to donate I invite you to join in James' journey to Kona and cheer him on. Below are some of James' past race accomplishments and pictures from his journey thus far. Again, thank you so much and welcome to team IRONMAN James!
-Lindsay
*****With your generous donation of $100 or more you will recieve a FREE Team IRONMAN James t-shirt!! These are Comfort Color grey t-shirts in sizes S-XL, proof is below. If you are eligible to recieve a t-shirt, PLEASE make sure to fill in a current, correct email address at your time of donation that you can be reached at; we will email you shortly after to get your size and mailing address. If you don't hear from us within 48 or have any other questions, please feel free to email us at: [email redacted] *******
***********************************************************
Kennedy Kreiger website:
https://www.kennedykrieger.org/community
Race finishes:
2013 Baltimore Marathon: 2nd place
2014 Pittsburgh Marathon: 3rd place
2015 Los Angeles Marathon: 7th place
2015 Cleveland Marathon: 2nd place
2016 Hot Hundred Marathon
James' 2013 Baltimore Marathon finish, beating his competition for a 2nd place title
Logging miles practicing in Tuscaloosa, AL2013 Baltimore Marathon, James' first race.Organizer and beneficiary
Lindsay Bouchard
Organizer
Tuscaloosa, AL
James Cook
Beneficiary
