In the early start of 2013, I was still flying high on emotion after my successful completion to become, "Shawn's Ironman" at the Ironman Texas, and I knew my journey was not over. I was trying to figure out the best way to carry on the legacy and include other families in my training and journey since birth defects affect 1 in 30 children.
In all of the 30 races that I have completed, I have always carried Shawn across the finish line or if it was a event like Ironman that did not let me do so, I would carry something of Shawn's (Shawn's Pacifier, Favorite Toy, Etc). I decided to do that for every child I could get in touch with for the Ironman World Championship if invited.
By rule, Ironman does not allow family members run across the finish line like most other events. Even if they did, I would not have been able to carry so many people, or could I?
After being inspired by BethAnn Telford's finish at the Ironman World Championship, I decided to design a flag that I could carry across the finish line with me if I made it to the Ironman World Championship through the Kona Inspired program. The plan was to cover the flag with names of those that were born or lost their lives from birth defects. There is also a lot of symbolism about each part of the flag that you can read more about if you go to the H.O.P.E. Flag tab at the top of the page.
After discussion with some close friends and my wife, we decided that we did not want the H.O.P.E. Flag (Helping Others; Providing Education) to just be a digitally produced flag. We wanted the flag to be one of a kind and represent the journey of humanity bonding together as one voice to provide hope and awareness for the prevention and treatment of birth defects. I reached out to the founders of the Museum of Cultural Arts Houston (M.O.C.A.H) to see if they would help hand paint the flag. Rhonda Adams did something even better, by creating a workshop where volunteers & families affected by birth defects could personally paint the flag. It was an amazing experience:
After the initial creation of the flag, we started to place the names on it, and had the opportunity to take the flag to Texas Children's Hospital. Of course each name has a story. All are different in each way, had the same feeling and being the only family having to deal with birth defects because there was not information and the question that Rachel and I did: "Why did this happen?" Each time of placing the name on the flag or watching a family member or child place a name is special beyond words.
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| CiCi & Shawn (Shawn's Nanny) |
This has made the H.O.P.E. Flag develop a life of it's own that grows and changes all the time. I get emails all the time from family members that want their loved one's name placed on the flag. We have also had a lot of help along the way including the angel that Shawn's called "CiCi" for nearly 3 years of life as his nanny. CiCi helped by sewing the two sides of the flag together. It was a special moment for her too.
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| Shawn & CiCi After Flag Was Sewn Together |
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| The Staff at Gardner & Martin Preparing H.O.P.E. Flag To Fly www.gardnerandmartin.com |
Unfortunately, I did not receive the invitation to the Ironman World Championship, but that will not stop me. I will continue to enter the "Kona Inspired" program every year until we receive the invitation. I also plan to do at least one Ironman event a year. The Ironman Florida is my event this year, so I decided to give the families represented by the flag an option of watching the H.O.P.E. Flag be carry across the finish line with me at these events.
Not only was their a resounding request of carrying the flag with me at each Ironman event that I compete in, but any other major event and for the duration of the running portion of the event. This means, that I will carry the flag for the whole 26.2 mile run of the Ironman Florida barring that it is not raining (I don't want to damage the flag) and the Houston Marathon in January.
This will be tough, but I will thrive on the strength that I get from each name. I also have the advantage of having a custom running flag pole being constructed of carbon fiber that will help reduce the weight of the finished flag thanks to Adam Weeks of Carbon Fiber Tube Shop.
I am not sure what will happen on November 2nd. I hope for the the perfect situation of crossing the finish as the H.O.P.E. Flag proudly waves in the air, but I also have to be realistic. By the time I grab the flag for the first time, I would have already completed approximately 8 hours of strenuous exercise and covering 114.4 miles. I will need you as a follower and supporter of this journey to push me along.
On the days leading up to the race and race day, please send your messages via Twitter and Facebook using the hastag #HOPEflagchallenge. During the run, my wife will read your messages to me as I pass by. If you are at the event, please provide me with "MORE COWBELL"! This is not just my journey or Shawn's journey. You as a supporter are a part of the success of this journey. It depends on you sharing with all your friends and family. Each person that become aware is accomplishing Shawn's Anomaly mission of providing education, hope, and help to families affected by congenital anomalies.
To donate to the mission to fund research and provide families in the hospital with care packages, pleas to to www.hopeflagchallenge.com.
Thank you for your support and consideration!
