WINTER VINECKI
- AMAZING KID -
G'day folks,
This is part one of a series I will feature on amazing kids who put us adults to shame. Trust me. these kids featured are exceptional. Today I feature an outstanding girl from Michigan - Winter Vinecki.
Sitting
on the sofa in her family’s Michigan home in 2009, thumbing through the Guinness World Records,
10-year-old Winter Vinecki was surprised to find that the record for the
youngest person to complete a marathon on every continent was held by a
27-year-old man.
“I can
beat that,” she declared. “For Dad.” And she had every reason to believe she
could.
A natural
athlete since the age of 5, Winter had been keeping stride with her mom and
uncle, both triathletes, and competing in races across the country. Soon, her
name was appearing at the top of the leaderboard in national competitions.
Trophies lined her walls.
But in
2008, at the age of 9, Winter stopped racing for medals. In May of that year,
her father found out he had an aggressive form of prostate cancer. To raise
awareness and funds to fight the disease, Winter started a nonprofit called Team
Winter. Just 10 months after his diagnosis, her father passed away.
Over the
next three years, Winter placed first in 20 of the 37 races in which she
competed, including four Junior Olympics Cross Country Championships, two USA
Triathlon Youth National Championships, and three IronKids U.S. Championships,
all while maintaining a 4.0 grade average at Stanford’s prestigious online high
school. Along the way, she raised over $400,000 to help find a cure for prostate
cancer.
Now 13,
Winter is working on her world record to win her cause a place in the Guinness
World Records. She recently completed her first marathon in Eugene, Oregon,
a race normally limited to runners over 16, finishing in an amazing 3:45:04.
“I’m used
to racing with adults, and I think it’s kind of fun to race past them,” said
Winter before the race.
With six
continents to go, Winter has just begun a journey that will take her two years.
Next, she’s headed to Africa to run the Amazing Maasai Ultra in Kenya on September 29.
“Every
time I step to a starting line,” Winter says, “I have one thought in mind:
keeping my dad’s spirit alive.”
To support Winter along the way in her mission—to beat prostate cancer and set a world record!—visit Team Winter’s Marathon Tour.
Clancy's comment: Go, Winter! Sorry to hear about your dad, but more power to you. Love ya work! So, to all of you guys out there who have not had your prostate checked - DO IT! Don't be a wimp. If Winter can run her legs off for prostate research, you can help yourself.
I'm ...
Think about this!
R.I.P WINTER'S DAD
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