Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Barney Rice update

Rice family and NA Sports announce the creation of the Barney Rice Memorial Fund and Foundation

BOULDER, Colo.-The Barney Rice family, in conjunction with North America Sports, has announced two ways for triathletes and others to honor him. The creation of the Barney Rice Memorial Fund and the Barney Rice Memorial Foundation will assist Mr. Rice's children and raise funds for underprivileged children.

Mr. Rice was 35-year-old resident of Kalispell, MT who passed away after competing in the 2006 Ford Ironman Florida triathlon this past November. Mr. Rice was married and the father of three boys. He was a member of the Vigilante Triathlon club.

The Barney Rice Memorial Fund has been put in place to assist Mr. Rice's sons, one of whom has medical condition that requires continual medical care. These funds will directly benefit the Rice family and also go towards the college education of Rice's sons.

NA Sports will match the first $10,000 raised for the Barney Rice Memorial Fund and urges athletes and others from the triathlon community to contribute to this fund.

"We urge the triathlon community to help us raise funds for the Barney Rice Memorial Fund," said NA Sports President and eight-time Ironman World Champion Paula Newby-Fraser. "This provides an opportunity for triathletes to help support a fallen member of the triathlon community."

Checks can be sent to the following address:

Barney Rice Memorial Fund

c/o DA Davidson & Co.
P.O. Box 128
Kalispell, MT 59903

Mr. Rice's triathlon club (The Vigilante Triathlon Club) has also set up a foundation in his memory, the Barney Rice Memorial Foundation. This long-term foundation will raise funds for underprivileged children in the greater Pacific Northwest.

A number of his fellow triathletes will race in Mr. Rice's honor in 2007 including a large contingent at Ford Ironman Florida. These athletes will race to raise awareness and funds for the Memorial Foundation. These athletes include:

2007 Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene

Jane MacDonald
Bob Morris

2007 Ford Ironman Florida

Mike Rydell
Jeff Jaraczeski
Jabby Young
Jose Desouza
Reed Malvick
Danny Mendel
Laura Nyhus

The club will also compete in a number of other triathlons, marathons and running races in 2007, honoring their teammate along the way.

"Barney had committed to a lifestyle which defines us all" said Mike Rydell, Barney Rice's cousin and fellow member of the Vigilante Triathlon Club. "Everyday he was forced to test his limits, to achieve them then surpass them. Barney knew the Ironman was not just a race, but rather a lifestyle, a lifestyle in which ordinary men and women can become extraordinary on a daily basis. Some people say you can tell a lot about a person by the way they look. I say, you can tell a lot about a person by the way they live. Barney lived his life to the fullest, and we (the
Vigilantes) are honoring that everyday."

To contribute to the Barney Rice Memorial Foundation, please send checks to:

Barney Rice Memorial Foundation
c/o JCCS
Attn: Steve Mehaffey
P.O. Box 989
Great Falls, MT 59403

For more information on the Foundation and the Barney Rice Memorial Fund, log onto www.vigilantetri.com.

Comments:
I swam past as they pulled Barney from the water. I feel a twinge of what if, but I know deep done, there was nothing I could have done, he was already being assisted out of the water when i actually saw him.

very sad
 
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