Team TRIMac
Team Mates of both Team TRIMac and IRONMac agree to pay an upfront "membership fee" that guarantees each Team Mate a kit (jersey and shorts) for competition and training. Team Mates also agree to train and compete in aminimum of at least one (skill appropriate) triathlon every six months. Team Mates will be given opportunities totrain together, "play" together, fund raise together, and yes – COMPETE together.
Fund raising goals will be attainable and age appropriate. Children willbe asked to recruit "event" sponsors, while older youth and adults will beasked to more aggressively canvas their neighborhoods, families, friends,and social networks. Fund raising incentives will be useful and fun:Headsweats visors, YANKZ! multi-sport laces, transition bags, event entryfees, and more.
What is Team TRIMac?
Team TRIMac is a collection of people of ALL ages and ability, not all of them athletes, from theBig Bend Area of North Florida and South Georgia. Team TRIMac is a group of kids, teens, andadults all connected by the desire to serve the Special Olympics community, train, compete,fundraise, and honor the memory of Mac Crutchfield. Currently Team TRIMac consists of athletesranging from first time kids' triathlon competitors all the way to Ironman veterans.
Who was Mac Crutchfield?
High school sweethearts Charlie and Maggie Crutchfield fell in love, married, and were living theAmerican dream. They had two wonderful children: 12 year-old Mac and 9 year-old Savanah. MacCrutchfield was everything a parent could want in a son: He was loving; he was a good fishing buddy; hewas good in school; he made good choices; he was growing into a person who would some day be a verygood man.
He was everything you could want in a friend: He was funny, he was thoughtful, he wasalways ready to give away his "Vitamin M" ("M" for Mac hugs), he would tell you when you were right,and he would tell you when you were wrong. Mac was everything a coach could want in a swimmer: Hewas dedicated, hard working, committed, passionate and honest about his effort. One day after practiceMac even apologized to his coach for not paying attention and not giving his best effort. When is the lasttime you heard a kid apologize to a coach? When watching the Olympics he would watch how the athleteshandled defeat and how they interacted with teammates and opponents alike. Mac more than admired theeffort that the swimmers in the Special Olympics program had to put forward and was always encouragingand giving hugs.
Most importantly, Mac was strong in his Christian faith and even at swim meets it mattered to him how people carried themselvesoutside the pool. During Tropical Storm Faye, August 23, 2008, the family's life was sent into a spiral. Mac Crutchfield was outhaving a blast playing in a downpour, running around with his mouth wide open - drinking straight from God's water faucet - whentragically he slipped, hit his head, was knocked unconscious, then drowned in a drainage ditch. A boy who loved water andswimming so much drowned playing in the rain. What cruel irony is that?
What is the Mac Crutchfield Foundation?
The Mac Crutchfield Foundation was established to honor the life and passions of Mac Crutchfield. It is an IRSregistered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The focus of the Mac Crutchfield Foundation centers around astream of giving to a segment of the swimming world that is frequently "left at the blocks" – The SpecialOlympic Athletes, particularly the swimmers.Special Olympics Swim Meets – Mac had a special place in his heart for his Special Olympicsteammates. He cheered extra loudly for them and he always had a hug for their efforts. Mac said thathe was so impressed with how hard these Special Olympians worked. Mac would be proud that we areputting so much effort into annually organizing and hosting a first class swim meet for his SpecialOlympics friends!
Youth Triathlon – Mac's sister, Savanah, is developing into a fine triathlete. It is her wish to have a"dream" team made up of people of all ages who desire to be a part of something bigger. She andTeam TRIMac welcome all potential triathletes to join the team and grow together through communityservice, fundraising, training, fellowship, and yes - competition in honor and memory of her brotherMac.
We hope you will find it in your heart to help keep Mac's passions and desires alive and thriving by donatingto The Mac Crutchfield Foundation (http://www.maccrutchfieldfoundation.com).
Donations may be made by check (payable to the MacCrutchfield Foundation) and sent in care of 3354 Foley Drive;Tallahassee, Florida, 32309.
For more information on joiningTeam TRIMac, or IRONMac please emailLori .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).