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Tammy Rae Jackson, president of the Midwest Striders Track Club, presents commemorative plaques to Linda Cunningham, left, and Don Leuenberger. |
It was the largest team MSTC ever sent to the national meet, thanks, in part, to support from the University Medical Associates and UNMC’s Community Partnership.
More than 30 years old, MSTC has survived for decades on the backs of community volunteers, bake sales, raffles, car washes and the dedication of African American “soccer moms” in North Omaha. It takes a team effort to get through the regular racing season, which includes the Nebraska state championships and regional championship.
Raising funds
With the national Junior Olympics invariably half-way across the country and only several weeks to raise funds, MSTC has never been able to field such a large team of qualifiers. Two years ago, when the team qualified 12 kids for the Junior Olympics in Sacramento, Calif., only one of those athletes was able to attend. This year’s team raised $12,000 in three weeks so all of its qualifiers could go to Miami.
“The contributions from UMA and UNMC were truly a blessing,” said MSTC President Tammy Rae Jackson. “When Mr. Leuenberger brought a check to me from UMA, I told him that we were going to try very hard to bring some medals back to Omaha. He told me that the most important thing was for our children to know they did their best, and otherwise to really have fun and enjoy an experience of a lifetime.”
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Victor Demario Simmons earned a national medal at the Junior Olympics, placing fifth in the 400-meter run (top eight finalists earn medals). |
MSTC honors UMA
Don Leuenberger, UNMC vice chancellor for business and finance, accepted a commemorative plaque from MSTC on behalf of UMA. UMA is the physician group practice of UNMC and includes nearly 350 physicians/UNMC faculty members, who offer services in 50 specialties and sub-specialties ranging from family medicine to transplantation. They see patients at UMA/NMC clinical sites in the metropolitan Omaha area and offer a variety of clinical services in many communities in greater Nebraska.
“This is a group of parents and young athletes who worked so hard to qualify for the Junior Olympics,” Leuenberger said. “It would have been a tragedy not to be able to compete in Florida. It was fortunate that UMA was able to help see this hard work and ambition realized. The Midwest Striders have a long history in Omaha and have been kept alive through the dedication of parents and community members. We were delighted to help them realize their dreams as athletes.”
MSTC honors UNMC
Linda Cunningham, cultural competence coordinator, Community Partnership and Multicultural Affairs, accepted a commemorative plaque on behalf of Community Partnership. Community Partnership involves patients/consumers, health-care providers, outreach workers, community leaders and organizations, and UNMC students in improving the health of underserved communities throughout the metropolitan Omaha area.
“Community Partnership was very pleased to sponsor the Midwest Striders Track Club,” Cunningham said. “Physical activity is an important way to take personal responsibility for our health and this program encourages children to be physically active. This directly relates to the youth program Physically Healthy and Toned Kids (PHAT) that Community Partnership will begin this fall with Boys and Girls Club of Omaha and Girls, Incorporated.
“PHAT is designed to increase the level of physical activity of the participants, as well as provide nutritional education. We want all youth to feel good about themselves. The Midwest Striders provide kids just such opportunities and the training and competition builds stronger self-esteem and provides a sense of empowerment. We look forward to future partnerships with this group.”
Earning their way
Community Partnership not only provided vitally needed funds, but gave the kids an opportunity to earn them by participating in the youth exercise workshop at the South Omaha Health Fair after their return from Miami. “We constantly stress to our young athletes that nothing will be handed to them in this world, but if they are willing to work hard, they will find that people will recognize their efforts and find ways to help them,” Jackson said.
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The Midwest Striders Track Club. |
Leading the pack
Although only one member of MSTC earned a national medal — Victor Demario Simmons placed fifth in the 400-meter run (top eight finalists earn medals) — a trip to the Junior Olympics is priceless to children growing up in North Omaha.
The 2003 Junior Olympic Championships at Tropical Park Stadium featured a record participation of 7,306 youth athletes, aged 10 to 17, surpassing the 6,854 participants who came to Omaha last year. The Junior Olympics are a highlight for USA Track & Field each year and have produced a number of future Olympic gold medalists, including Marion Jones, Maurice Green, Tim Montgomery, Stacy Dragila, John Godina, Regina Jacobs and Allen Johnson.
No limits to those who keep running
MSTC had a total of 21 kids and eight adults (coaches and chaperones) on a chartered bus shared by 23 other qualifiers from Omaha and Bellevue and their chaperones. It was a 30-hour bus ride each way. The kids thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie and learned the values of sharing, compromising and getting along with others. Most of the youths never receive a summer vacation, so the week’s excursion was a memorable adventure, Jackson said.
“Even more important, they saw more of the world and their ambitions are so much higher now,” Jackson said. “On the bus ride home, one of the athletes asked me, ‘If I keep running, can I see the whole world?’ I told her ‘Yes, if you keep training and running and doing your best, there is no limit to what you can do and see in this life.’ “