Shanghai Ex-pat, Shaun Tan, will be competing in the 2009 Australia Ironman Competition. He is not just doing this for his own health and fitness, but to offer his hard work and time spent training for a bigger purpose - he has generously offered to use this event to help raise awareness about Baobei Foundation and hopes to use it to raise funds to support some of the medical expenses for our babies as well. Shaun has been training for months for this grueling race. He will be pushing his body to the limit to help someone like Samuel overcome his physical limitations. If completed, the Ironman Triathlon consists of a 2.4 miles (3.86 km) of swimming, 112 miles (180.25 km) of bike riding, followed by a full marathon (26+ miles / 42.195 km) – a total of 140.5 miles / 226.3 km! If you would like to spur Shaun on and support the work done through Baobei, you can make a pledge for every mile/km that Shaun completes (eg. If completed, 1 RMB/km = 226.3 RMB, or $0.50/mile = $70.25, etc. – it is entirely up to you) or a lump sum donation if he completes the entire race. The event will take place on December 5th, 2009 in Busselton, Western Australia.

To make a pledge, you can contact Lara Olson at lara@baobeifoundation.org. We will also be featuring the Ironman race at the Baobei Thanksgiving Dinner on November 26th and people will have an opportunity to make their pledge at that time. We will post Shaun’s results as soon as we get them and let each person who pledges know their totals. The donations can then be given directly via our website (http://www.baobeifoundation.org/donation.html) or cash donations will be picked up at your convenience.

We thank Shaun for his support of Boabei and his innovative idea to help support the life saving surgeries needed by these precious children! If you have other fund raising ideas that you would like to use to support the neuro and G.I. surgeries done through Boabei Foundation, please contact Carol Hoag at carol@baobeifoundation.org.