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INLINE SKATING FOR A CAUSE: A TREK ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

By Dr. Brian Greenwood, Assistant Professor and Faculty Advisor for "The Report"

In an age where people circle the parking lots of retail stores just to get a few steps closer to the front door, one RPTA alumna is particularly inspirational. After graduating Cal Poly with a degree in RPTA in 2008, Kacie Fischer developed leg issues that prohibited her from engaging in her passion of running. For many, this may have led to inactivity. Not Kacie. She learned how to swim for exercise and soon was swimming for a mile or more at one time. Inspired and as her legs got better, she looked for other activities that did not involve the pounding of running; she found inline skating. After learning about the East Coast Greenway, a series of trails that provide a traffic-free route for non-motorized travel, Fischer decided to add inline skating the East Coast to her growing fitness-oriented "Bucket List." Then she thought, "Why not skate all the way across the country?"

That dream has become reality. On April 28, 2012, Kacie Fisher ('08) will lead a team of inline skaters across 18 states and 3800 miles, starting in the Los Angeles area and ending in New York City. The quest has been dubbed LiveGiveSkate. Soon after deciding to skate across the country, Fischer realized, "If I am going to do something this crazy, it has to be for a good cause." Through involvement with her cousin who has participated for many years with Special Olympics, she decided Special Olympics would be the beneficiary, so she formed a nonprofit organization entitled LiveGiveTrain Charities that is dedicated to putting on events such as LiveGiveSkate in an effort to give back.

Fischer says, "Giving is not just monetary donations; it can be giving someone a smile, opening a door for someone, or in our case...inline skating across the country to raise money for a good cause."

While being interviewed for this story, Fischer paused and said, "I hope you don't mind me breathing hard while we talk; if I waited until all of the business I have to do to prepare for this event was complete, I'd never have time to train, so I bought a hands-free headset to talk and make calls while working out." I laughed and reposnded, "When you're attempting to set five Guinness World Records, you're allowed to talk and work out at the same time!"

The five Guinness World Records being attempted during LiveGiveSkate include: longest distance covered on inline skates; fastest crossing of the United States on inline skates; first female to cross the United States on inline skates; greatest distance covered in 24 hours on inline skates; and farthest distance covered backwards on inline skates in 24 hours.

Fischer also added that she owed a debt of gratitude to a team of people helping to make LiveGiveSkate a reality, particularly her fiance Adam Cleveland, a Cal Poly graduate himself with an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters in Biomedical Engineering. Cleveland has been instrumental in helping to plan the logistical elements of the trip. It takes quite a lot of work to coordinate a team of skaters and support staff as well as manage sponsors and connect with Special Olympics. For those interested in following the trek across country, Special Olympics will be broadcasting a video blog at least weekly during the 90-day journey. And for those interested in donating to the cause, visit the LiveGiveSkate website.

Thanks Kacie for all that you are doing to support Special Olympics; your story is an inspiration and reminds us all to chase our dreams...no matter how big or crazy they might be!

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