Book Olympics Sports Stories to Share!
As part of NOVA RIF's 2024 fund-raising initiative -- Book Olympics -- we have a "contest" of our own. Share your story about sports! It can be a personal story focusing on your own or a family member's athletic experience or a tribute to a real-life athlete you admire. Maybe you read a book about an athlete who inspired you. Anything relevant to sports can be included. Send your story and a photo to us at this address: [email protected]. At the end of the year, five winners will be chosen to receive a book store gift certificate!
You don't have to donate to RIF of NOVA to submit your story. Conversely, you don't have submit a story to donate! But we hope you will do both. A few people have already submitted stories about sports that are important to them. Think broadly about anything that is sports relevant as we will feature a wide range of submissions. Thank you!
And now ... Let the sports story games begin!
You don't have to donate to RIF of NOVA to submit your story. Conversely, you don't have submit a story to donate! But we hope you will do both. A few people have already submitted stories about sports that are important to them. Think broadly about anything that is sports relevant as we will feature a wide range of submissions. Thank you!
And now ... Let the sports story games begin!
Sixteen years. The number of years my youngest son, Matthew, committed himself to competitive diving -- first as a summer diver, then as a casual year-round diver, and gradually as a serious competitor...six days a week with three or more hours of training per day throughout high school. This led to becoming a Division 1 college diver at Cornell University.
The level of commitment was hard to fathom! Hundreds of hours of practice to prepare for meets -- then just one chance to do six dives on each board. Meets could be so gratifying at times but heartbreaking other times. So many things have to align to execute a flawless dive. The discipline, training regimen, and grit needed is hard to imagine. This year, 2024, was bittersweet for both of us as it was his last season. It was such a big part of our lives for so long. As a parent, I have been amazed to watch him grow as an athlete, and I am grateful for the wonderful experiences we had because of his passion! -- Sari Warren |
I was not a runner for most of my life. And a marathon runner? No way! I decided to give it a shot. I ran some 5K and 10K races followed by a couple of half-marathons. Finally, I felt I was ready! I ran the Marine Corps Marathon -- with my husband and children holding posters to cheer me on. I finished with a time of 5:50 in extreme heat -- not bad for a first-timer!
This marathon success led me to sign up for the 2024 Boston Marathon as nonprofit supporter. My nonprofit was 261 Fearless, a charity that empowers and unites women through the transformative power of running. The funds I raised will help provide women with access to running programs, coaching, and a supportive community. Together, we can break down barriers and inspire women around the world to discover their inner strength and fearlessness. I plan to do more marathons in the future. I learned from this experience that you never know what you can do -- until you try! -- Catie Martin |
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