Run4Dre
Andre “Dre” Travis is 38 years old and was born with Cerebral Palsy. He receives full time care from Growing Wings Adult Services, but that hasn’t limited him to a full life. He doesn’t take no for an answer, and will continue to push himself and others to what he defines as success. Dre is a motivational speaker who instills in kids to not let anyone define their limits. That anything is possible. Alongside motivational speaking, he’s a poet, and also will be releasing an album soon. Dre started competing in races back in 2013 with the assistance of Jason “Zeke” Petrie. Zeke was a caretaker/driver for Dre and wanting to get into better shape, decided to start pushing Dre in his wheelchair for additional fitness. Dre fell in love with the freedom of going fast. He often said he felt like flying. Dre and Zeke competed in multiple marathons and triathlons together over a 3 year span.
In 2016, Zeke, along with 4 other Barberton High School graduates started pushing Dre as a relay team. Run4Dre was formed and consisted of Duane Milford, Brian Bidlingmyer, Dean Jones, Zeke Petrie, and Alan Bittinger. In 2019, Mike Mattingly was added to the mix as an alternate when Zeke could not compete. The team has been blessed to be a small part of getting Dre across finish lines in the jogging stroller being used, but wanted something better for him. However, funding just wasn’t falling into place. Leading up to the 2019 Akron Marathon, the team was introduced to Brent and Lucas Ransom. Brent would be pushing his son Lucas in a wheelchair for the marathon. When the team saw the Blade Hoyt racing chair that the Ransoms were going to use, admittedly, we became a bit jealous and knew that we needed to get one.
After the Akron Marathon, and leaning a bit on the funding success that Brent and Lucas received, funding for a new chair took shape quickly. With the assistance of leftover funds from Brent and Lucas, additional help from The Barberton Community Foundation for allowing some funds to transfer, and a quick fundraising sprint, money for a new Blade for Run4Dre was secured. The Blade was christened at the Youngstown Marathon where Jeff Chalmers, a 9 time Boston Marathon veteran, would attempt to qualify himself and Dre as a duo team for the 2021 Boston Marathon. Jeff had previously pushed Dre at the Akron Marathon in 2015, but hadn’t pushed him since. Qualifying and racing in the Boston Marathon has been a dream of Dre’s, and knowing that Jeff would be his pusher gave him the confidence that this could be the year that it finally happened. With a finish time of 3:17:04, Dre and Jeff posted a qualifying time for the 2021 Boston Marathon. Jeff will be running Boston for the 10th time in 2020 on his own, but will return in 2021 as Dre’s engine. Run4Dre looks forward to being there to support and cheer them on in 2021! Jeff said after the Youngstown race that the qualifying time would not have happened if not for pushing the Blade. With the Blade on hand, our team looks forward to more runs, more marathons, and more inclusive running in general. Being a small part of Dre’s journey is a blessing for all.
Team Run4Dre
Dre and Jeff Chalmers Qualifying for Boston Marathon 2021!
Dre and Lucas
Dre and Jeff Chalmers Youngstown Marathon 2019
- Published in Share Your Story
Deb and Preston
Most of my adulthood was spent walking for exercise. I actually walked everywhere. When my boys were young I would push them in a jogging stroller and we would sing, count daffodils, learn Spanish… this was our quiet time. My son, Preston has Mitochondrial Disease and we knew he may be in that jogging stroller a bit longer than our older son Alex was. But it was okay because Preston enjoyed our walks together. When he was 9 years old he was invited to run with Team Hoyt Virginia Beach. This was much better than walking with mom, now he found speed. While I was walking the half marathons he was running with Team Hoyt and finishing much quicker than I was. This was great for Preston but I wanted to be the one to cross the finish line with him.
In the summer of 2012 I decided to run. February of 2013 I ran my first 14K with Preston. When we crossed the finish line together we were both hooked! Not only were the races fun but the training was fun too. Preston has his bluetooth and we both sing together and laugh at funny things we may see. We stop to take pictures of special things or even just pics of us having fun. Gummy bears are a must for our races, Preston says that the purple ones make me run faster.
In May, 2015 my friends surprised me with a Hoyt Blade Running chair. This totally changed our way of running! First, Preston loved it because there was more room for him and much more comfortable. He also loved it because it allowed me to attempt to run faster, which Preston loved. It also opened another world to us and that was biking together! Our Blade has a bike boom that attaches to my bike and we were now able to ride together. In July 2015 Preston and I joined 2300 cyclist and rode from Philadelphia to Atlantic City to raise money for children of fallen police officers and fire fighters. We didn’t know anyone and were such novices to the cycling world. We had each other to get us through the 65 mile journey and that is exactly what we did.
Yes, crossing the finish line or accomplishing the miles you set out to conquer are important but the most important part is being together. This is something Preston and I do together. Mother and Son! Something we can both do. Preston’s Legs may not cross him over the finish line but his heart is big enough for both of us to get to that finish line. His strength is what he gives me to push my body a little harder. Our passion is what hopefully may inspire others to run for someone else, who cannot, or ride with someone, who’s legs cannot pedal. What is important is you are together, accomplishing something so big and creating memories, they may never have had.
Submitted by Deb Markley Buenaga
- Published in Share Your Story
100km de Millau Marie Jo and Phil
On Saturday September 24, 2016, Phil Kaminski and his wife, Marie Jo, will compete in the 100km de Millau, France’s most famous and oldest 100 km race! The two of them will race along the Tarn, make a round trip between Millau and Saint-Affrique, and pass under the Milau Viaduct. They will take in all the sights, and experiences together, as Marie Jo is pushed in a Team Hoyt Running Chair by Phil.
- Published in Our Friends
Les P’tits Potos
Les P’tits Potos is a one-of-a-kind team in France. Les P’tits Potos translates to “The Little Buddies” and they are located just along the France / Luxembourg border.
We knew they were a special team even before meeting them over the summer of 2015. In any picture, whether running or posing, the members of Les P’tits Potos always look like they are having a great time! They are a team of around 200 members (growing over the span of 1 year) and in any race they work together and stay together as a pack.
- Published in Our Friends