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Tempe's Anuual Courage Awards Celebrates Athletic Heroism; Benefits Scholarship Programs
March 02 , 2008 by EditorTempe, Ariz. – Athletes, community leaders, businesses and residents will gather on March 3, 2008 to honor outstanding men and women in sports who have overcome physical challenges and hardship. Olympic gold-medalist Scott Hamilton overcame a serious childhood illness and later bout with testicular cancer, but emerged stronger than ever and remains an ice-skating legend. Jeff Lewis, a Mesa teacher who has overcome two near-death experiences, continues to participate in athletic events and inspire the student-athletes at Mountain View High School. Tricia Downing became paralyzed following a tragic bicycling accident, but continues to participate in Ironman and marathon events. These inspiring athletes will be honored at the 15th Annual Courage Awards on Monday, March 3, 2008 at The Buttes, a Marriott Resort in Tempe, Ariz.
"Life is only 10 percent what happens to you, but 90 percent how you respond," said Jeff Lewis, a quadruple amputee being honored at this year's Courage Awards. "I hope that I can serve as an inspiration to people going through rough patches in life and looking for a reason to keep going and accomplish the goals they have for themselves."
The Tempe Sports Authority Board, a group of prominent business owners who originally came together in 1988 to support the bonding for the Arizona Cardinals’ (then called the Phoenix Cardinals) training facility, selected the following athletes for the 2008 awards:
Scott Hamilton: When Scott Hamilton was two years old, he contracted a mysterious illness that caused him to stop growing. For six years, doctors prescribed a variety of unsuccessful treatments until at the age of 8 Scott was able to overcome his illness and begin his career as an ice skater.
Hamilton’s seemingly natural ease on the ice and hard work paid off , winning Scott four consecutive U.S. championships, four consecutive World Championships (1981-1984) and the 1984 Olympics. In 1990, Scott was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Hamilton has also created his own professional ice revue, The Scott Hamilton America Tour, which evolved into the touring spectacle Stars on Ice.
In 1997, Scott’s life and career were again threatened by illness. Scott was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery as well as 12 weeks of chemotherapy. Treatment was successful and within only a few months he was back on the ice, in top form once again. In 2004, Scott had another challenge as he battled a benign brain tumor. Despite everything, he has managed to keep on skating and believing that "The only disability in life is a bad attitude."
Jeff Lewis: Jeff Lewis of Mesa, Arizona is a quadruple amputee who teaches math at Mountain View High School and Mesa Community College. He has survived two near-death experiences some twenty years apart. First, he nearly died after falling victim to an accidental shooting that destroyed his spleen. Then, more than two years ago, he developed a circulatory infection—usually taken care of by the spleen—that necessitated amputating his hands and feet to save his life.
Neither of these life-threatening conditions has stopped Jeff from returning to teaching, walking in races including the Pat Tillman 4.2 Mile Race, or numerous other activities including bowling, golfing and dancing with his wife, Carol.
Before his amputations, Jeff bowled with a local team and won $100,000 in the Pabst National Team Bowling Championship III. Determined not to let his accident rule his life, Jeff returned to bowling with a special prosthesis he helped to design. He is also a coach for his high school’s sports programs and currently works as a spotter during football games. He’s an inspiration to his students in the classroom and to other amputees. He and Carol routinely visit rehabilitation centers, including Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Tricia Downing: Tricia “Trish” Downing is currently a high school teacher at CEC Middle College in Denver, Colorado. In the fall of 2000, Downing was hit head-on by a car while training for an upcoming bicycle race. Trish sustained a T-4 (chest level) spinal cord injury and was paralyzed from the chest down upon impact. Doctors had to re-build Downing’s back, and she knew she would never walk again.
In recent years, Downing has participated in and won several events. She won first place in the Loveland Lake-to-Lake Triathlon, the Salt Lake City Marathon and the Honolulu Triathlon. She has also participated in the Redman Ironman, the New York City Triathlon Physically Challenged National Championships and Hawaiian Ironman Qualifier. Trish is a spokesperson for the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
The March 3rd Courage Awards event, produced by the Tempe Sports Authority and presented by Irwin Union Bank, includes speeches and stories from each of the award recipients in addition to dinner and a silent auction. Daron Sutton, the Arizona Diamondbacks play-by-play announcer, will serve as emcee of the event. Proceeds from the Courage Awards are used to fund community non-profit organizations and scholarship programs for minority students at Arizona's three state universities and selected community colleges. For additional information, tickets or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.tempe.gov/courageawards or call Judi Yates at 480-940-8666.
“The Courage Awards have raised more than $1 million dollars since the annual event began 15 years ago,” said Dick Neuheisel, President of Tempe Sports Authority. “It is a win-win situation providing inspiration and an uplifting spirit as well as funds for those in need.”
About the Courage Awards
The Courage Awards celebrate the inspirational courage and heroism of athletes who have overcome obstacles to achieve far beyond the norm. The annual event honors exceptional men and women from the following categories: professional, college, amateur or local Arizona athletes. The Courage Awards were established in 1994 through the volunteer efforts of the Tempe Sports Authority, benefiting Tempe youth sports and educational programs.
About Irwin Union Bank
Irwin Union Bank and Trust Company and Irwin Union Bank, F.S.B. (http://www.IrwinUnion.com) are wholly owned subsidiaries of Irwin Financial Corporation (NYSE: IFC) which is headquartered in Columbus, Indiana. Irwin Union Bank and Trust Company was founded in 1871, and today operates locally-managed banks in Indiana, Michigan, Nevada and Utah. Irwin Union Bank, F.S.B. operates locally-managed banks in Arizona, California, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico and Wisconsin. Both companies specialize in providing a broad array of personalized financial services for the owner-operated business, entrepreneurial and professional markets.
