Steve Larsen, Hometown Hero

Hawaii Ironman Triathlete, Lydia Delis-Schlosser joins with the  Davis High Blue and White Foundation to raise funds for the Steve Larsen Memorial Bike Parking Area

A passion for sports and for encouraging an active, healthy  lifestyle is what brings together the efforts of the Davis Blue and White  Foundation and myself, an Ironman Triathlete, to create the Steve Larsen  Memorial Bike Parking Area at the newly renovated high school stadium in Davis, California.

Steve Larsen, a tremendous inspiration to me and a great motivator for many local athletes, passed away this year. Steve was  the most versatile professional cyclist of our time, and the only American known to compete in the  world  championships for road, mountain bike, track, cyclocross and triathlon.  He died tragically of a heart attack at age 39, leaving behind his wife, Carrie, and their five children.

Steve’s passion for life and competition, his love of his family and community have all inspired me to honor his memory through my participation in this year’s Hawaii Ironman World Championships on October 10th.  After the jump, read more about how you can join me to honor Steve’s memory.

The 2009 Ironman World Championships takes place in Kona, Hawaii, and requires competitors to swim 2.4 miles in the open ocean, complete a 112-mile bike ride
along windswept lava fields and, finally, under the blazing Kona sun, complete  a 26.2-mile marathon. Sound like fun? Competition at this level requires intense  discipline, grueling workouts and a complete love of the sport. Steve Larsen exemplified these traits, was a consummate professional, and eagerly shared his enthusiasm and love of the sport. I am honored to join forces with the Blue and White Foundation to create  a lasting tribute to Steve’s passion for cycling and community.

The Blue and White Foundation is the alumni association for the high school in Steve’s hometown of Davis, California.  This non-profit foundation recently launched a campaign to raise funds to complete renovation of the school’s  50-year-old stadium.

My hope is to inspire all of  you to contribute towards my goal of raising $25,000 for the Davis High School Blue and White Foundation.  The funds will be used to sponsor a wonderful bike parking area for the newly renovated  facility and will be named in Steve’s memory. This will be a fitting tribute to an avid athlete, cyclist, husband, father and community member.

Thank you for your contributions to help fund the Steve Larsen Memorial Bike  Parking area. Stay active, be healthy and have fun!

Click HERE to join Lydia in honoring Steve Larsen.

She can be reached via email at shredmama@comcast.net