Runnin' down a dream
Joe Schmidt goes the extra mile. Make that an extra 199 miles.
Schmidt, a Chico State University liberal studies major, is going to run 200 miles, from San Francisco to Bidwell Park, in 10 days to raise money for the music program at Chapman Elementary School.
His goal is $7,500. A humble sum that would fund the start-up of a band program at the low-income elementary school. While working at the school last semester, Schmidt saw that the children really wanted to learn to play instruments. But the resources just weren't there.
So he laced up his size 10 Nikes and started training. Five to six days a week, 10 to 15 miles each day for the last six months. He knows he can do it.
"There's not a doubt in my mind," Schmidt said. "I want it so bad for these kids."
The "Bay to Bidwell" run will start at the polo fields of Golden Gate Park on May 29 and end at Bidwell Park on June 7, come rain or shine. For 22-year-old Schmidt, there won't be a back road between the Bay Area and Bidwell not taken. He, and some of his friends who are going to run alongside him on various legs of the journey, will jog through towns like Sausalito, Cordelia and Davis by day, and rest via camping or motels by night.
Thus far, Schmidt and a small group of business students who are helping him, have raised $1,500. For more information on the run or to contribute, visit www.geocities.com/BaytoBidwell.
Although there is only a little less than a month remaining until the run, Schmidt remains optimistic that he will be able to give Chapman Elementary a check for $7,500. His reward for running 200 miles in 10 days? Knowing that he helped bring music into the lives of children who may not have been able to experience it otherwise.
"Each person can make a difference, but you have to start out small," Schmidt said. "Change has to come one step at a time."
Literally.
Niesha Gates can be reached at:
managingeditor@orion-online.net
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