For some folks, exercise for the sake of a healthy heart, lungs, cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass, etc. is hum-drum. They see how it would be beneficial to them, but that, alone, is not enough incentive to get them exercising. If you fall into that group, here’s what you’ve got to do: turn the focus off of yourself. There are so many organized athletic events that raise funds for noble causes. Your participation in that event may help fund research that develops a cure or treatment for a disease that, until that point, was untreatable! The impact of your run, bike ride, triathlon, walk, dance-a-thon… may change lives! Register for the event well in advance, then obligate yourself to train for it- not to get first place (but you might) or to lose weight (but you will, unless you compensate by eating more)- obligate yourself to train for it because you are THAT passionate about cause that you are supporting.
Tomorrow, on June 5, 2010, fifty-three University of Texas students will climb on their bikes and start a 70-day, 4,687-mile journey. This trek benefits cancer research. This ride was created by Chris Condit, a former UT student and cancer surviver. This year marks the 7th year that this ride has been conducted; it goes from Austin, TX all the way to Anchorage, AL. The riders persevere, come rain or shine. Last year, they endured 3-weeks of rain! It’s not unusual for them to ride 100 miles in a day, followed by another 100 miles the next day. “The ride itself is a metaphor for cancer,” says Jamille Ruebsahm, executive director for the non-profit org, “They have to get up and fight every day.”
Talk about making physical exercise impact so much more than just the physical body! This is exercising for a cause!! Events like this positively affect the world, and participating in them may change you as a human being.
To find athletic events that benefit causes that are meaningful to you, contact the foundation for that cause and ask for their calendar of events.
The Texas 4000 for Cancer, mentioned above, has raised $1,500,000. This year’s goal is to raise $400,000. You can see more information about this ride at www.texas4000.com.