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News: Skateboarders push 12 miles for wounded troops
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Story by Lance Cpl. Erica Disalvo
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SAN DIEGO - Skateboarders from as far
away as Colorado traveled to Robb Field
Skate Park in San Diego to skate 12 miles
to raise funds for wounded veterans.
HOLIDAY GREETINGS
Date Taken: 11.12.2011
Approximately 40 professional and
amateur skateboarders pushed through the
rain on a 12-mile course around Mission
Bay for the 3rd annual “Skate for the
Troops” event and raised $400 for the
Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, Nov. 12.
Date
11.15.2011 17:04
Posted:
Location:
SAN DIEGO, CA, US
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San Diego, skateboard,
non-profit, Calif., wounded
veterans, Mission Bay, Skate for
the Troops, long board, Abec
11 skateboards, Honey Board
Derek Smith, a former Marine and
professional skater for Honey Skateboards,
drove from Colorado to host the event.
“I always loved going to these kinds of
events and decided I wanted to host my
own a few years ago,” said Smith. “I wanted
mine to be different though, so I made it a
charity fund-raiser. Because I used to be in
the Marine Corps, I wanted to do a charity
that helped my brothers and sisters in the
military.”
After exploring multiple different
military-based charities, Smith chose the
Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund for its ties
to the Marine Corps and continued
assistance for the veteran community.
skateboards, veteran
assistance, Robb Field Skate
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Photo by Lance Cpl. Erica Disalvo
Derek Smith, right, former Marine and professional
skater for Honey Skateboards, hands out route maps
during the 3rd annual Skate for the Troops event at
Robb Field Skate Park in San Diego, Nov. 12.
Approximately 40 amateur and professional
skateboarders gathered to push a 12-mile course
around Mission Bay to raise money for the Injured
Marine Semper Fi Fund. Smith created the Skate for
the Troops event to aid wounded veteran assistance
programs. This year’s event raised approximately
$400, along with various corporate sponsor
donations from skateboard companies in the local
area.
“Our organization is a non-profit that helps
disabled veterans find adaptive housing,
vehicles and alleviates immediate financial pressures,” said Laura Castellvi, a community
outreach coordinator with the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. “We are so thankful Derek
created this event. It is amazing to see so many people whom are willing to help people
in need who they don’t even know.”
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While many of this year’s participants had joined the push last year, there were many new
faces present.
“I wasn’t able to make it last year, but there was no way I was going to miss it this year,”
said Ryan Rogotzke, a friend of Smith, who also drove from Colorado to participate. “This
is such a great cause, plus it’s fun. I am so thankful for everything those in the military
do, and this is a great way to give back. It is great to see so many people in the
community come together, too.”
In addition to the various corporate donations, Abec 11, a skateboard company with ties
to Smith, raised over $150 for the cause with an event kick-off party Nov. 11.
While last year’s Skate for the Troops event was a 24-mile push, Smith changed this
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11/16/11 8:57 AM
DVIDS - News - Skateboarders push 12 miles for wounded troops
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/80082/skateboarders-push-12-mi...
year’s course to a more convenient and well mapped 12-mile route throughout Mission
Bay area.
“We wanted to make it a little easier and prevent people from getting lost this year,” said
Smith. “We changed locations to a less trafficked area and ended up with more people
agreeing to take part this year.”
Skaters, after more than a two hour trek, ended the route back at Robb Field Skate Park
where they started.
At the end of the event, Smith held a raffle where participants won T-shirts, boards, and
other merchandise from the various corporate sponsors that donated to the Injured
Marine Semper Fi Fund.
“Over all I am really happy with the turnout,” said Smith. “The number of people keeps
growing each year we do this. It is really awesome that everyone came out to support the
Semper Fi Fund and everyone that it helps. I am just really grateful for those who serve
and am glad we can help out.”
Smith plans to continue hosting the Skate for the Troops event each year. For more
information about upcoming events contact him at [email protected] or to
donate to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund visit http://www.facebook.com
/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsemperfifund.org%2Fdonate.php&h=qAQHK7HvL.
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11/16/11 8:57 AM