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Paralympic Athlete Send-Off Celebration

Tuesday, August 17, 2004

“As in the daytime there is no star in the sky warmer and brighter than the sun, likewise there is no competition greater than the Olympic Games”. – Pindar, Greek lyric poet 5^th century B.C.

On August 17, 2004, over ninety friends, family and fans attended a Paralympic Athlete-Send Off Celebration to honor Matt King, Eric DeGolier, Matt's tandem captain, and Jeni Armbruster, 2004 goalball Paralympian at Zorbadillo's Greek Restaurant, in Colorado Springs, Colo. We successfully raised over $4,000 from the generosity and help of our friends and family. Thank you!

Friends, family and fans drove their chariots to an evening of Greek-style celebration and inspired our local Paralympic athletes to burn as bright as the sun as they prepared to depart for the ancient home of the Olympic Games, Athens, Greece. A special friend also flew in for the event, Kevin Kaneshiro from Portland, Oregon. Thank you Kevin for always being there and standing behind Team King! As friends and family encouraged these athletes with their presence and words, they were also engulfed in a bit of Greek culture and Olympic spirit.

As you can see from the photos on the right, several friends really got into the Greek spirit! (Photo of Alex (left) and Diana (right). Thank you ladies for making the evening even more festive.

Contributions from the send-off celebration helped Matt King and Eric DeGolier, by mitigating the overwhelming cost of race-quality tandem cycling equipment and improving the future of Colorado’s blind youth by funding a sports education program managed by another 2004 Paralympian, Jeni Armbruster.

If you didn't get to attend the event, and would like to make a donation, please send checks payable to the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA), memo Matt King ADA/Youth Sports. Mail to Team King, 619 North Hancock, Colorado Springs CO 80903. Contributions are tax-deductible. For more information go to - Want to help? on our website

The evening also included a silent auction item featuring items that were donated to help reach our Athens fundraising goals. Thank you to all the donors who contributed items. Items included the following:

1. 1984 Olympic Torch

2. Erik Weihenmayer Book and DVD

3. Alison Dunlap – World Champion & Olympic Cyclist

(Signed Poster and Jersey)

4. U.S. Olympic Committee – Golf package

(Golf bag, USA Hat, and Windshirt)

5. 2004 Athens Olympic Games Bag and T-Shirt

6. 2004 Athens Olympic Games Bag and T-Shirt

7. U.S. Association of Blind Athletes T-Shirt, Shorts, and Polo

8. Athens 2004 T-Shirt and Hat

9. Athens 2004 Roots Jacket

10. 2004 Athens Adidas T-Shirt and USA Mug