WAILUKU, HI – 06/07/2005
by Ilima Loomis - Maui News
Skateboarders from all over Maui will come together
Saturday for a “Skate-A-Thon” to benefit one of their
own.
Eighteen-year-old Evan Strong of Spreckelsville, who lost his
left leg in a motorcycle accident last year, will receive money
raised by the event.
“We threw this together more as a friend thing, and then it grew
beyond that,” said Blaze Anderson, deputy director of the Paia
Youth and Cultural Center.
The event, to run from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Paia center,
will feature eight hours of skating, DJs playing music, a silent
auction and a “win a date with Evan” raffle.
Participants must raise at least $50 to join in. The money will
be used to cover medical and living expenses for Strong, who
plans to move to California this fall to attend college.
More than 50 skateboarders have already signed up to raise funds,
and Anderson hopes to have 100 by Saturday.
Strong was hoping to become a professional skater before he
lost his leg. After months of recuperation, he traveled to
California in May to be fitted with a special, high-tech prosthesis.
The flexible foot mimics natural movement, and it is equipped
with shock absorbers to take the high impact of running or skating.
Strong called the device a “sports leg” that would let him
return to some of his old activities, including skateboarding.
He’s already made a few trips to the skate park to test it out.
“It feels really good to be able to roll around,” he said.
San Diego organization Challenged Athletes donated the foot
portion of Strong’s prosthesis. But because Strong had no
medical insurance at the time of the accident, his recovery
and the prosthesis were a financial hardship for the family,
said his father, Roger Strong. The fundraiser will help offset
some of those costs, he said.
“Future care is covered (by insurance), but there’s
a large amount of medical expenses,” he said.
Evan Strong said he no longer expected to turn pro,
but that he was sure he’d be able to skateboard again
at a level that would make him happy.
And in addition to starting college this fall, Strong will be
starting an internship at NHS/Independent, one of his skate
boarding sponsors that markets skateboard parts out of Santa
Cruz.
“Being a professional skater isn’t the only career in skating,”
he said.
Anderson said the idea for the fundraiser came about
because Strong’s friends felt “helpless” after the accident.
“After something like that happens to one of your friends . . .
there’s not much you can do,” he said.
He said Strong is respected by the Maui skating
community because of his positive attitude.
“He’s already been on the skateboard,” he said.
“He’s really inspired and motivated, and he’s going
to inspire tons of people.”
Strong said that in addition to working with younger skaters,
he hoped to raise awareness about motorcycle safety and the
importance of wearing a helmet.
“I’m living proof that helmets save lives,” he said.
Roger Strong said his son makes no effort to cover
up his prosthesis but uses it to help educate others.
“It lets people see what can happen in a motorcycle accident,
and people tend to listen to him,” he said.
Evan said he appreciated the effort of the skating
community to help him and his family.
“I’m so grateful with the community, wanting to help me with
my medical bills, physical therapy, the prosthesis, and just
getting me back on my feet,” he said.
by Ilima Loomis - Maui News
Skateboarders from all over Maui will come together
Saturday for a “Skate-A-Thon” to benefit one of their
own.
Eighteen-year-old Evan Strong of Spreckelsville, who lost his
left leg in a motorcycle accident last year, will receive money
raised by the event.
“We threw this together more as a friend thing, and then it grew
beyond that,” said Blaze Anderson, deputy director of the Paia
Youth and Cultural Center.
The event, to run from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Paia center,
will feature eight hours of skating, DJs playing music, a silent
auction and a “win a date with Evan” raffle.
Participants must raise at least $50 to join in. The money will
be used to cover medical and living expenses for Strong, who
plans to move to California this fall to attend college.
More than 50 skateboarders have already signed up to raise funds,
and Anderson hopes to have 100 by Saturday.
Strong was hoping to become a professional skater before he
lost his leg. After months of recuperation, he traveled to
California in May to be fitted with a special, high-tech prosthesis.
The flexible foot mimics natural movement, and it is equipped
with shock absorbers to take the high impact of running or skating.
Strong called the device a “sports leg” that would let him
return to some of his old activities, including skateboarding.
He’s already made a few trips to the skate park to test it out.
“It feels really good to be able to roll around,” he said.
San Diego organization Challenged Athletes donated the foot
portion of Strong’s prosthesis. But because Strong had no
medical insurance at the time of the accident, his recovery
and the prosthesis were a financial hardship for the family,
said his father, Roger Strong. The fundraiser will help offset
some of those costs, he said.
“Future care is covered (by insurance), but there’s
a large amount of medical expenses,” he said.
Evan Strong said he no longer expected to turn pro,
but that he was sure he’d be able to skateboard again
at a level that would make him happy.
And in addition to starting college this fall, Strong will be
starting an internship at NHS/Independent, one of his skate
boarding sponsors that markets skateboard parts out of Santa
Cruz.
“Being a professional skater isn’t the only career in skating,”
he said.
Anderson said the idea for the fundraiser came about
because Strong’s friends felt “helpless” after the accident.
“After something like that happens to one of your friends . . .
there’s not much you can do,” he said.
He said Strong is respected by the Maui skating
community because of his positive attitude.
“He’s already been on the skateboard,” he said.
“He’s really inspired and motivated, and he’s going
to inspire tons of people.”
Strong said that in addition to working with younger skaters,
he hoped to raise awareness about motorcycle safety and the
importance of wearing a helmet.
“I’m living proof that helmets save lives,” he said.
Roger Strong said his son makes no effort to cover
up his prosthesis but uses it to help educate others.
“It lets people see what can happen in a motorcycle accident,
and people tend to listen to him,” he said.
Evan said he appreciated the effort of the skating
community to help him and his family.
“I’m so grateful with the community, wanting to help me with
my medical bills, physical therapy, the prosthesis, and just
getting me back on my feet,” he said.
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