The phrase "student-athlete" is grossly overused by pr flacks for the NCAA, but when I use it on this blog I mean it. An example of that is these students from Union College in Schenectady, NY.
Dan Tartar, a recent graduate from Union College, was inspired by his brother, who has behaviors in the autism spectrum, to do something to help him and others dealing with that condition. He recruited a few of his buddies, and they have set out on a 2,000 mile rollerblade journey that will cover the east coast from Florida to Maine. The funds they raise from this venture will benefit "Rolling for Autism," a non-profit organization Tartar created.
The group had lots of help planning the journey, but they still needed to train for the physically grueling excursion.
“We worked with the Union athletic staff when we started training in the fall, and tried to get an idea of what our days would be like skating and what kind of toll it would take on the body,” said Tatar. “Over the last three months we started training with low mileage. Two weeks ago, we were creeping up to 30-mile skates to really get used what we’ll be doing on the road.”
Tatar and the other main skaters expect to rollerblade approximately 30 to 50 miles per day, stopping in cities along the way to meet with various groups about programs for autism. He also expects about 100 others to join the group along their route for a little as a couple miles to as long as four weeks.
“The route we constructed is one that we could work with the most organizations throughout different cities and see what we’re they are doing for autism,” said Tatar.
Click here to read the entire story on the NCAA's official website.
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