Friday, June 7, 2002
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Friday, June 7, 2002 |
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Local youth to run almost 200 miles to benefit youth hospice Mayor issues proclamation
Thirteen-year-old Rebecca Stokes of Peachtree City will be running 10K every day during the month of July on the 1,624-mile Pioneer Trail from Illinois to Utah to raise funds for her young friends at Hope House in Atlanta, Georgia. At the June 6 City Council Meeting, Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown will issue a proclamation of commendation for "Rebecca' Run." Hope House is a children's respite hospice that provides care to medically fragile children and their families. This care, given at no cost, for two hours to two weeks, helps families with children suffering from progressive life-threatening illnesses and severe disabilities. Their individualized programs provide an integrated blend of respite services for families across the United States at Hope House. In some Atlanta Counties they provide home-based care. Rebecca is running to raise awareness for the unique services offered to families at Hope House and to help them raise over $800,000 needed to pay for their new facility. She also has a message to the Youth of America, "Go out and play each day, have some fun, get some exercise" to help address the growing problem of youth obesity in this country. Rebecca says, "Hope House allows families some time off. Families need time to relax and recharge themselves from the 24/7 duties of taking care of children who have severe health problems." By providing a place where these children will feel right at home in a warm, friendly House, parents and other family members can get away knowing that their child is being taken care of by loving people who enjoy serving others. When asked how she came up with the idea of running a pioneer trail she replied, "I was joking one day with my mom and dad. My Dad was talking about the Pioneers who crossed the plains by walking, pushing and pulling handcarts or by covered wagons. He told me that some of my ancestors crossed the plains this way back in the 1850s and if our family crossed the plains as modern pioneers we would use a golf cart since we drive one all around our town. I said jokingly, 'and I'd run it.' Well I should have learned by now not to joke like that around my Dad. He thought I was on to something, that it was a great idea. A few months later he told me that a golf cart manufacturer was going to supply the golf cart and my run was on!" Rebecca is a Georgia State Champion in the 1600-Meter, 12U girls, and she has been running for 3 years. She is also the State runner-up in the 800M and in Cross-Country. She is a member of the Peachtree City Running Club, competes for the Peachtree City Flash Youth Track Team in Georgia, and runs with the Atlanta Track Club. She runs a 5:40 mile, 2:35 800M and a 49 minute 10K. Rebecca begins her westward run this July from the banks of the Mississippi River near Nauvoo, Illinois. The Trail crosses Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and into Salt Lake City, Utah. Her father will follow Rebecca while she runs using a new Yamaha sponsored Golf Cart. When she is not running, both will travel about 12 hours a day on the cart. They plan to arrive in Salt Lake on July 21 so Rebecca can get ready for her last 10K of the trip which starts at 6:15 a.m. on July 24, 2002. It is the big founders' day race in Utah commemorating the day the original pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, 1847. After that race these "modern pioneers" will load up their cart and weary bones and journey back to Georgia. Mayor Brown said, "The proclamation will formally extend the city's wishes for Rebecca to have a safe and successful Trek West this summer. She is taking on an amazing challenge and we commend her efforts on behalf of these worthy causes." The proclamation will be presented to Rebecca at the beginning of the regular City Council meeting this Thursday. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m., and the public is welcome to attend.
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