Mira Mesa High students volunteer to help challenged athletes

The Mira Mesa High School Challenged Athletes Foundation club has supported numerous events around San Diego.

The students at Mira Mesa High decided that this organization is one that they wanted to support and help by attending organized events such as the San Diego Triathlon Challenge, Del Mar Mud Run, and other various events. The students talk to spectators and athletes at the different events and teach them about the mission of the foundation.

The Challenged Athletes Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics. The Foundation believes that involvement in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life.
Students helped with building awareness, and supporting our challenged athletes (first responders and veterans). Together as a club, the students have volunteered more than 1,000 hours to the Challenged Athletes Foundation: Operation Rebound.

During the summer, the students were thanked for all their time and help at the Foundation building in Sorrento Mesa. The students -- Elizabeth Tieu, Kristen Guzman, Brittney Trinh, Navid Rakei, Stephanie Tran-Rojas, Clarissa Punzel -- were given a tour of the facility and given some goodies.
Most recently, the students have helped at the foundation's San Diego Triathlon Challenge at the La Jolla Cove. These students -- Navid Rakei, Jasmine Doctolero, Kaitlyn Trinh, Brittney Trinh, Elizabeth Tieu, Michelle Le, Stephanie Tran-Rojas, Ann Doan and Thien-an Pham -- worked the silent auction, set up, and clean up. In addition, the following students -- Thien-An Pham, Jocelin Vazquez, Elizabeth Tieu, Brittney Trinh, Jasmine Doctolero, Michelle Le -- attended the Del Mar Mud Run and helped raise $10,000.

The following are athletes that the students have supported since the club began last year:

• Lance Weir: USMC Sharp ShooterQuadriplegic
• Rudy Garcia-Tolson: Paraolymic AthleteAbove knee-bilateral amputee
• Eric McElvenny: Kona Ironman Finisher/Combat injured: below knee amputee

The next event the Mira Mesa High students will participate in will be Buddy Bowl at Camp Pendleton. The students will be playing in flag football event to help raise money for CAF: Operation Rebound.

For more information regarding the club, contact adviser Denise Hughes, DHughes@sandi.net or visit the Challenged Athletes Foundationhttp://www.challengedathletes.org/site/c.4nJHJQPqEiKUE/b.6449023/k.BD6D/Home.htm