Triathletes for Hope

Gang,

I’ve been continually thinking, praying, and seeking guidance on this subject for several months now. For a number of reasons I think it’s best if we put our shoe collections and general operations on an indefinite hiatus. That includes this season. It’s possible that we might pick up the program again in 2009, but we’re just not sure yet.

Soles 4 Souls is doing an outstanding job of continuing our mission. I delivered our final batch of shoes – over 300 – to them this weekend. 

While I’m sad to say that we won’t be collecting shoes this year, we can all take solace in the fact that we did put nearly 3500 pair of shoes on the feet of people around the world in 2007 and early 2008.

Thank all of you for your help over the last year with this vision – we simply could not have done it without your kind support. I do believe it was a God appointed mission for us to carry out last year. I also believe that God guides us when it’s time to rest and be at peace.

These are pics from a recent mission trip to Kenya. Our friends distributed kids crocs and adult running shoes. Those smiles are what it’s all about.

Triathletes for Hope was started in July of 2007 as “Triathletes for Africa”. Our first collection was the Team Magic hosted event The Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon.

We quickly realized that our mission was much broader than just Africa. While we still give priority to shipments of shoes to Africa we also seek opportunities to bless people elsewhere.

We have collected well over 2000 pair of gently used running shoes, CROCS, and children’s shoes in 2007. All of those shoes have now been distributed. Shoes have gone to Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Sudan, Peru, northern Canadian provinces, and various homeless programs.

Thank you to everyone who donated shoes or helped us out in 2007. Very special thanks to Faye and Therese at Team Magic. Without the two of you this charity wouldn’t have gotten off the ground. Thank you to Jeff Wells at Fleet Feet Nashville and Mark Evans at Acme Multisport for you continued commitment to helping us collect shoes throughout the year. Thank you Laci Coppins and the kids of Hunters Bend elementary school who collected 700 of childrens shoes for us.

Hold onto those gently used running shoes. We’ll see you again in 2008!

 I love my new shoes.  Thank you! – Yonatan Araya, Eritrea   

Thank you for the shoes!  

- Abdi Moti, Ethiopia

 Thank you very, very much for sending to me these shoes!

 – Burqa Moti, Ethiopia

   Thank you guys so much for the shoes.  May God bless you.

-Alhaji Sasay, Sierra Leone

I just got off the phone with principal Laci Coppins. The kids at Hunters Bend Elementary School (”The Hound Dogs”) collected 750 pair of shoes for us this week. Thank you Principal Coppins and kids!

That brings our total since July to 1500 pair of shoes collected.

 We had another great weekend at my hometown race - The Old Hickory Lake Triathlon. Team Magic enjoyed yet another sold out race. Combined with a delivery of shoes from Atlanta we had over 200 pair delivered to the tent on Saturday.

We’ve already packed 100 pair of those for a shipment to Jamaica in early October.

Friends,

Triathletes for Africa / Triathletes for Hope collected over 100 pair of shoes at the 20th annual Mtn. Lakes Triathlon. Thanks to Team TFA/TFH members Chad and Karen Nikazy and Michael and Deb Moebes for working the drop off table.

Our current total collected since mid July is 350 pair. Shoes will go soon to earthquake victims in Peru and to Living Hope Centre in Capetown South Africa.

  Triathletes for Hope is the sister organization of Triathletes for Africa. While TFA focuses it’s education and charity solely on helping African peoples, Triathletes for Hope focuses on those in need of charitable gifts and support domestically in the United States and elsewhere in the world.

Triathletes for Hope will assist in domestic and global disaster relief, giving to depressed economic regions in the US and elsewhere, and in charitable partnerships for the poor, the old, the lonely, and the fatherless.