Challenge yourself to a display of strength, determination, and heart and take part in ‘Lift for Athletes’.  Or walk the TART Trail in ‘Miles for Medals’ to help Special Olympics Michigan athletes in your community!  Join us at one of two fun, fitness fundraisers on one day, for Special Olympics Michigan.  Money raised will help fund year round athletic training and competition for more than 250 children and adults with intellectual abilities in the Grand Traverse Region.

Lift for Athletes was created by Jeff & Vern Gauthier of Fit For You Health Club. Fit For You and Special Olympics Michigan invites other area gyms, students, athletes, companies and community members to join this friendly competition!  Participants get pledges and then compete to see who can bench press the greatest percentage of their body weight.  Each participant gets three attempts.  Awards will be given to top finishers in each age division for men and women.  Awards will also be given for participants who do the most push ups in one minute and the participant who raises the most amount of money.  A special award is also presented to the gym and/or organization with the most participants and most funds raised. Lift for Athletes will take place on Saturday, October 3 at Grand Traverse Mall in Traverse City.  Registration and warm-up starts at 11 a.m.  Competition begins at noon. 

Miles for Medals involves individuals or teams made up of people from their place of employment, senior center, community organization, neighborhood, family or friends.  Participants get pledges and share in a community walk.

The 2009 Miles for Medals walk in Traverse City is one of more than 19 Miles for Medals events in Michigan slated for September and October. 

Participants in either event can also set up a First Giving online donation page by going to www.firstgiving.com/somi.

Help us carry on Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s vision.  If you want to participate in ‘Lift for Athletes’ or ‘Miles for Medals’ or make a pledge call 800-644-6404 or go to www.somi.org.  We hope you will join us! 

Lift for Athletes is sponsored by Fit for You Health Club, JenTees, Grand Traverse Mall and Today’s Country Music WTCM 103.5/93.5 FM.