Tri For Kids!

Saturday was the Tri For Kids.  It is a triathlon for children that takes place in Rome, Georgia. They have a special division just for children that they referred to as physically challenged.  Last year was the first year my children participated in it.  My children take part and are sponsored by, the clinic my children have therapy at, Advance For Kids.  Antonio and William were to old to participate but Carolyn, Zeke and Elizabeth participated last year. 

Tri For Kids 2012 (Carolyn, Zeke and Elizabeth participated!)  They were so happy to participate and all felt like winners for working so hard!

Last year Zeke got third.  We went to just have fun and never even thought one of the children would place.  He got a very nice hand painted ceramic plate as his award and all the children got metals and also gifts from all the businesses that sponsored the race.

This year Zeke and Elizabeth participated in it.  All the children have to have a capable partner with them thru the whole race for help if needed.  William shadowed Zeke last year and this year.  An assigned person shadowed Elizabeth.

This year it was supposed to be very hot on the day of the race.  Antonio gets violently sick when he gets to warm.  So this year I stayed home with Antonio and Carolyn. I let them do a few fun things at home while Tim and William took Zeke and Elizabeth to the triathlon.

When they got there they were marked with a number on their arm with a sharpie and had to wear a corresponding numbered ankle chip that times them from start to finish.

Then a safety and bike check.

The first part was swimming.

Zeke with William shadowing him.

Elizabeth doing the swimming part.  I was able to crop out the person that shadowed her.


The second part was biking. Elizabeth was so happy to have her own bike this year.

The last part was running.  That is the hardest part for Elizabeth because of her heart.

Tim didn't get any pictures of William and Zeke running as he had to stay very close to Elizabeth in case she started having trouble.  She often turns blue and needs her inhaler or oxygen when she over does it.

Upon crossing the finish line all the kids got a medal!  With Zeke and  his autism it is very hard to get a picture of him smiling.  We have to ask him to smile and sometimes he does and sometimes he does not.  We usually take several shots and hope for at least one good one.  This was the best one.  :)

Waiting for the awards ceremony.   Zeke was about done by now.  Bless his heart.

This year Tim stayed for the awards ceremony.

 Zeke got second!  You can see he is ready to go home.  Believe it or not he is happy here.  He looks like this much of the time.  He said he had a great day and was happy to place.

 And to everyone's surprise........................ Elizabeth placed 7th!

They all had a great day!!!!  God is so good.  I am so glad for opportunities like these for the children.  So often they feel like they are less. People don't realize they are making them feel this way.  Or they just see all the things others can do so well and they just know they can't.  So often they work so hard day after day to do what some people do easily.  Days like this are great for them.  They all came away feeling like the winners they are!

May God give you the strength and endurance to run the race He has set before you!
Blessings,
susan

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,