FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WORLD-CLASS SURFER MARY OSBORNE AND PARALYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST JOSH GEORGE
"RUN FOR MOBILITY" AT SURF CITY USA MARATHON
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – Beijing Paralympic Gold Medalist Josh George
(Fairfax, Virginia) and champion surfer Mary Osborne (Ventura, Calif.) are
among the world-class athletes participating in the Surf City USA
Marathon's "Run for Mobility", Sunday, February 1st in Huntington Beach.
More information is available at www.runsurfcity.com.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Surf City USA Marathon is teaming up
with the Free Wheelchair Mission for a fundraising event that is directly
responsible for changing the lives of 26,658 disabled people worldwide.
Surf City's 17,000-plus runners are encouraged to use the Marathon, Half
Marathon and 5K as a way to raise funds – via the Run for Mobility – that
send specially engineered wheelchairs to needy and developing nations.
George, a world renowned wheelchair athlete, is set to compete in the Surf
City USA Half Marathon and is guest speaker for the "Run for Mobility"
Dinner, held the night before the race. Josh won a gold medal in the 100
meter race and the silver medal for the 800 meter race in the 2008 Beijing
Paralympics. Josh lost the use of his legs at the age of four when he
accidentally fell from his 12th story bedroom window (some 120 feet to the
street). Miraculously he survived the fall and went on to thrive
academically and athletically. Winner of the 2008 ARETE Honors Award and a
2007 ESPY finalist, he holds a degree in journalism from the University of
Illinois.
An internationally renowned longboarder and tandem surfer, Osborne is
running the 5K in order to call attention to the Run for Mobility. Mary
is widely known for winning the longboarding division on MTV's "Surf Girls"
and she's a former Teen Choice Awards nominee as "Best Female Athlete." An
author, Osborne co-authored "Sister Surfer: A Woman's Guide to Surfing with
Bliss and Courage" and produces the "Mary Osborne: All Girls Surf Camp" in
Ventura, Calif. She's a frequent guest host on Fuel TV and has graced the
pages of numerous magazines.
In early 2007 Mary traveled to Costa Rica with legendary surfer/shaper
Robert August to participate in the distribution of 550 wheelchairs
provided by the Free Wheelchair Mission. "It was one of the most moving
days of my life," said Osborne. "I will never forget the expressions on
the receivers' faces when they were 'mobile' for the first time in their
lives. It was truly an amazing day."
Since 2006, Surf City USA Marathon runners have raised more than $1,200,000
on behalf of the Run for Mobility, changing the lives of 26,658 disabled
people worldwide. Each of the wheelchairs distributed costs under $52.00,
built and delivered. These unique wheelchairs are made of mountain bike
tires and durable outdoor furniture, built to withstand all types of
weather conditions and rough terrains that would normally be navigable.
This year's target is an additional $600,000 and 11,600 wheelchairs. More
information is available at www.runformobility.org.
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