NMITF raises funds for friend
While several of the regions’ athletic organizations are busy raising funds for the 2006 Micronesian Games, the Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation turned its effort to raising money for their friend Ely Wong.
The multi-sport mavens annually host their Off-Road Adventure XTERRA-Type Extreme Race Event, but this year the fourth running of the ORAXTERE gained a couple of extra letters in honor of Wong.
According to NMITF treasurer Michael Johnson, the EWORAXTERE racers challenging the 750-meter swim, 25-kilometer mountain bike, and 5-km trail run raised $526 in fees and donations on Sunday, March 26, but the good news continued from there as the NMITF is matching the food contribution from 2005 Coach of the Year Michael Stewart of the Saipan Swim Club to make the total monies raised $584.
Wong recently underwent a series of medical procedures that included the implementation of a life-saving defibulator. While a majority of the costs were covered by insurance, the Wongs were left to pay for the $35,000 price tag that the defibulator carried.
Donations are still being accepted, and anyone interested in helping to curb the cost for the family can make a check payable to the Saipan Community Church and write Ely Wong in the memo section. All funds will go directly to the family.
