Team Tsunami

Back at the end of 2012, I decided to get my own wheelchair to help when I would be on my feet for too long. At the time, I could still walk (usually with a cane), just not for long... I now use crutches when I'm not in the chair. In my search for a chair, I found that usually they're fitted after an accident and/or during rehab. I hadn't been in an accident and I was beyond rehab.. I was simply the victim of a "medical fluke" that caused degeneration in one leg. Fortunately, I had a friend that was happy to talk to me and give his recommendations, and I found a wheelchair store that had the chair I decided I wanted. Next was getting myself a racing chair. I found a local community center that had one I could borrow and my friends led the charge in fundraising for me to be able to pay for my own... I call them my sponsors in regards to my chair: Tsunami

After two years of medical bills (and still no diagnosis or talk of treatment), then losing my brother and my job within 3 months, and now finding myself on unemployment and Medi-Cal I can barely keep my head above water, much less get the uncovered medical equipment I need (currently dreaming of better crutches so I can walk more) or be able sign up for and go to races with my pretty blue chair.

I would like to say that going to races is completely altruistic in trying to get more awareness for wheelchair sports and being able to more readily convince anyone that they can get out there as well.... but it also feels great to be able to still be out there. Training is great, but nothing beats the feeling of the start line, the athletes, the spectators, the volunteers, and hearing your name announced as you cross the finish line.

I have had Tsunami for about 9 months now, her first races were the Dopey Challenge in DisneyWorld... after only knowing each other a month, we managed to make it through a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and my very first Marathon in four days of running. Tsunami and I immediately became a team... we even have matching scars from a fall during the marathon. And so I started a t-shirt fundraiser through Teespring and Team Tsunami was born. If I can get at least 50 people to reserve a Team Tsunami shirt, tank top, or hoodie, they'll print the lot and send me the profits, which will go towards the previously mentioned crutches and races. There are performance shirts and t-shirts (unisex and women's), tank tops, hoodies, and a long sleeve in either royal blue or gray/white... and they all have my Tsunami logo!


During all my searches for a wheelchair, races I could participate in, good and bad experiences with race directors, and learning how to continue hiking on the trails that I love, I had decided to start a website with this information all in one place. That had been put on the back burner because of work and other commitments.. and being unable to decide on a name. With this fundraising effort, that desire has come back full force. It will be called Team Tsunami, with the tagline "Be a force to be reckoned with." My goal is encouragement and awareness for all athletes (wether you consider yourself one or not, we are ALL athletes!). I have been called an inspiration many times because I decided to find a way to keep going rather than become a spectator. While I don't like to be called an inspiration, it does make me proud that I may have convinced someone else to try something they didn't think they could do, just by showing up... most importantly with a smile on my face.

Please join Team Tsunami in being that encouragement as well. If you would like to get a shirt, please visit (this fundraiser ends on September 24th); http://teespring.com/teamtsunamikk_copy_1

Thank you!!