Editor's Note (That would be me): What seems like decades ago now I had a bit-o-fun with a post where I came up with some...uhhh...creative ideas to do with all of the race schwag that I had accumulated over the years.
You can read all bout it HERE.
Well it seems that a nose and throat doc came up with a much better idea for what to do with all of your race medals. But I'll let Danielle explain in this email that she sent me:
Good morning, Roman,
My name is Danielle and I am a fellow triathlete who reads your everymantri blog regularly. I really enjoy your posts and wanted to thank you for sharing all your thoughts, wisdom, and sense of humor with everyone!
I was waiting in line to retrieve my bike from the NYC Tri transition area this past weekend and started talking to the folks next to me. A man near me said that he didn't know what to do with all his old race medals, so he often threw them out. The first thing I thought of was your dog bling idea ("What to do with all that stuff" entry) - which is a hilarious post by the way. Another man next to me had a great idea I thought I'd pass along, because I know how many medals you have by now and you may only have one dog! (kidding - I know your dog isn't walking around your hood all blinged out).
The man next to me said there's a great charity - midwest based (Chicago/Indianapolis) - that collects race medals from individuals and donates them to children in hospitals. It's called Medals4Mettle. Here's the web page in case you're interested: http://medals4mettle.org It seems like a really easy way to get more miles out of those medals piling up in all our homes - and a way to make a race more meaningful. Many of us race because we can, but there are plenty of people who wish they could race with us but are unable to do so. For many, just living is a marathon, and everyday those people display the same mettle, or courage, as athletes during competition. The donated medals encourage recipients to keep fighting and honors their every day accomplishments. They should almost have drop boxes at the end of races so we can leave the medals there after a photo or two! I'm going to email them now and suggest this!
Sometimes a race doesn't go as well as planned - but many times we finish anyway and end up with some medal we aren't thrilled about wearing or don't feel like we deserve. That medal can make a big difference to someone else so why not donate it - or donate one you are really proud about and include the story with it as well? (they provide a form you can submit with the race story if you'd like).
Anyway - thanks for reading if you got this far! Keep up the good work and keep smiling!
All the best,
Danielle