Toughin' it out for Children's
TX Tough challenges participants in more ways than one
On Sept. 20, hundreds of bikers took to the streets of Dallas for the TX TOUGH 2009 Bike Bash. The 6.2-mile, traffic-free bike ride started at Victory Park and ran through downtown Dallas. The event featured three different cycling events, each with a different audience in mind: everyday bike riders, cycling enthusiasts and fans of professional cycling.
All participants made individual pledges and each team had the opportunity to choose the program, service or clinic they wanted to support at the hospital.
"You don't need to be an accomplished athlete to be a part of TX TOUGH — all you need is to care about children," said Joel Williams, TX TOUGH founder. Williams has been involved at Children's for more than 30 years, currently serving on the Children's Medical Center Foundation Board of Trustees.
More than 7,000 people kicked off the Bike Stage at the TX TOUGH Grand Prix II on Sept. 17. Designed to raise awareness of Children's and TX TOUGH's fundraising events, the event featured some of the world's top professional cyclists. The international field competed in what is known as a criterium or "crit," reaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour as they navigated through the streets around Victory Park and American Airlines Center for more than 60 laps. The TX TOUGH Grand Prix II is the only professional bike race produced in Texas and the final showdown before the USA CRITS series finale in Las Vegas.
A reason to rise up to the challenge
Bikers and supporters toughed it out at the event for patients like Tatum Null. Tatum had always been the picture of health until March 2005 when she suddenly couldn't keep food or water in her stomach and went into a coma. After undergoing tests at Children's, Tatum's parents were told she had acute liver failure and would need a new liver to survive. Tatum received a liver transplant three days after being listed and is now a healthy 11-year-old who loves to support the place that saved her life.
Something for everyone
The TX TOUGH Bike Stage, with its "something for everyone" approach was designed by executive director Geoff Godsey, a former competitive cyclist.
"We want everyone to know there's a way for them to get involved with helping children through TX Tough, no matter how athletic they are or aren't," Godsey said. "Bottom line, TX Tough is about having fun and making winners out of the kids at Children's."
TX TOUGH held its Run Stage, including a fun run and relay, at the Cotton Bowl in March and its Swim Stage, featuring North Texas' first open water swim and relay, at Irving's Lake Carolyn in June. The final event of the Bike Stage, the scenic 23rd Annual Autumn in Bonham Bike Rally, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 26 in Bonham, Texas. The event is designed for local cyclists who take a more athletic approach to biking. Ride lengths include 14, 28, 44, 54 and 64-mile options. The fundraising component for the 2009 series will continue through Nov. 15, allowing each participant as much time as possible to fulfill their pledge to support Children's.
Run, Swim and Bike Stages are already being scheduled for the 2010 TX TOUGH Tour with the next Run Stage already planned for Saturday, March 27, 2010. For more information, visit www.txtough.org.
The Null family, from left, Sherry, Hannah, David and Tatum, cheer on cyclists at the TX Tough Grand Prix II on Sept. 17. Tatum underwent a liver transplant at Children's in 2005.
