This selfie was taken in 2013. I was at my peak to complete World Peace Run, North America. It 3 years later before finally standing at my starting line… 21 JUN 2016!
In 1984, needing to challenge myself to break free from an over indulging lifestyle, I entered the lottery to compete in the Kona Ironman Triathlon World Championship. Picked, and representing Oregon as a resident, I went to Kona, Hawai’i in September 1984 for the October race. For economical reasons my wife and son remained in Portland.
I was alone preparing to do something I really didn’t know the depth of while dealing with the insecurities of my life and the challenge I committed to complete. As I searched for my truth, my inner strength, I witnessed famine in Ethiopia on a 13″ TV in the little studio I rented in Kona. I remember returning to the studio each night, and while settling in watching the news, crying every time Ethiopia was reported on. I wondered how it was possible I could be in such a way with my abundant life while seeing the reality in Ethiopia, death and suffering of such magnitude, I was humbled and started thinking beyond myself.
After completing the 1984 Kona Ironman, and the scares of Ethiopia on my heart, over time the GIST Fund was conceived, GREATER International Services Trust Fund, herein referred to as GISTFund, an International Community and Disaster Relief Organization. For 25 years I’ve visualized the GISTFund participating in international peace through community service and disaster relief. Always thinking how to achieve its notoriety internationally, some 20 years ago the GIST Run was born here in Kona and evolved over time to what is now World Peace Run, Inc (WPRI). Someday WPRI will bring attention to evolving peace and the need for more international community service and relief.