Osawatomie resident Duane Spears is getting in shape to live out his dream — to be in charge of a charity fund-raiser. He is training to attempt to break his school-record time of 1 minute, 57 seconds in the 800-meter run by 2010. A coworker’s story inspired Spears to organize his fund-raiser. (Photo by David Wolman)
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Spears takes a stab at record for charity
Osawatomie High School record holder, 64, tries to break old mark to raise money
By David Wolman, davidwolman@miconews.com
For years, Duane Spears dreamed of organizing a charity fund-raiser. He just couldn’t find the motivation.
In 1996, one of his co-workers at USANA Health Sciences held a fund-raiser to help raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She came up with the idea after dealing with tragedy within her own family, as her two daughters had battled cystic fibrosis.
What became an emotional roller coaster for one family had become Spears’ motivation for organizing a charity fund-raiser of his own.
But he wasn’t exactly sure what type of fund-raiser he wanted to do. After juggling ideas around for several months, Spears ultimately decided he wanted to break his school record of 1 minute, 58 seconds in the 800-meter run.
Spears set that mark in 1961 as a senior at Osawatomie High School.
When Spears came up with this idea in 1996, his intention was to break his record several years ago. However, injuries have slowed him down.
Spears said once the Miami County Family YMCA opened its doors in February 2007, he trained there three or four hours each day to prepare for his record attempt.
But, a foot injury suffered at the end of last August temporarily put him on the shelf.
“I was the first member to sign up, the first one at the door at the YMCA,” he said. “With all the training I did, I thought my knee was going to get better, but it progressively got worse. On Aug. 30, I realized something was wrong with my knee. I found out that I had (a tear in my patella tendon).”
After being on crutches for several months, Spears, 64, is on his way to accomplishing his dream.
With the help of an orthopedic pad in his shoe and rigorous training regimens set out by the YMCA and Dr. Tudor Bompa, a Toronto, Canada-based sports fitness specialist, Spears is progressing in his training.
He said he will look to break his record by 2010, assuming no further injuries occur.
Spears’ Web site stated, as of Wednesday, that he planned to break his record this month at the Sunflower Games in Topeka.
In addition to working out three times a week, Spears said that he is currently training with the Miami County Family YMCA Running Club for the Oct. 18 Kansas City Marathon.
“By that time (Kansas City Marathon), I will be able to see how far I’ve progressed,” he said.
After the marathon he plans to compete in Senior Games events until he plans to break his record, Spears said.
All along, Spears has said that his goal has not only been about raising money for charity, but inspiring others to work out.
Back in the early 1980s, while working as a motorcycle officer with the Los Angeles police department, his partner told him that there’s no way Spears would be able to get back into the shape he was in high school.
Even today, “nobody thinks that I can be able to get back in shape,” he said.
He is starting to prove people wrong. He also hopes to be an inspiration for other people, especially for those close to his age.
Money for the fund-raiser is raised through pledges.
Those interested in making a pledge can log onto Spears’ Web site, www.billiondollarrun.com/pledge/forms/form1.html, fill out the form, print out a copy, and mail it to their favorite charity.
On the form, there is a calculator to determine how much each pledge will amount to. If Spears does not break his record time, pledgers will only mail a donation in the amount of their minimum pledge. For example, if a pledger wanted to make a minimum donation of $4, that would be the amount they would send to their favorite charity.
But for every one-eighth of a second Spears shaves off his record, the amount of the pledge will double. However, the pledge will not double more than eight times. So, if he finishes in 1 minute, 57 seconds or less, the most a $4 minimum pledge can amount to is $1,024.
After Spears makes his attempt at breaking his personal record, the charities will call their respective pledgers and tell them where to mail their donation to. None of the money raised goes to Spears.
“None of it goes to me,” he reiterated. “All of it goes to charity.”
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In 1996, one of his co-workers at USANA Health Sciences held a fund-raiser to help raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She came up with the idea after dealing with tragedy within her own family, as her two daughters had battled cystic fibrosis.
What became an emotional roller coaster for one family had become Spears’ motivation for organizing a charity fund-raiser of his own.
But he wasn’t exactly sure what type of fund-raiser he wanted to do. After juggling ideas around for several months, Spears ultimately decided he wanted to break his school record of 1 minute, 58 seconds in the 800-meter run.
Spears set that mark in 1961 as a senior at Osawatomie High School.
When Spears came up with this idea in 1996, his intention was to break his record several years ago. However, injuries have slowed him down.
Spears said once the Miami County Family YMCA opened its doors in February 2007, he trained there three or four hours each day to prepare for his record attempt.
But, a foot injury suffered at the end of last August temporarily put him on the shelf.
“I was the first member to sign up, the first one at the door at the YMCA,” he said. “With all the training I did, I thought my knee was going to get better, but it progressively got worse. On Aug. 30, I realized something was wrong with my knee. I found out that I had (a tear in my patella tendon).”
After being on crutches for several months, Spears, 64, is on his way to accomplishing his dream.
With the help of an orthopedic pad in his shoe and rigorous training regimens set out by the YMCA and Dr. Tudor Bompa, a Toronto, Canada-based sports fitness specialist, Spears is progressing in his training.
He said he will look to break his record by 2010, assuming no further injuries occur.
Spears’ Web site stated, as of Wednesday, that he planned to break his record this month at the Sunflower Games in Topeka.
In addition to working out three times a week, Spears said that he is currently training with the Miami County Family YMCA Running Club for the Oct. 18 Kansas City Marathon.
“By that time (Kansas City Marathon), I will be able to see how far I’ve progressed,” he said.
After the marathon he plans to compete in Senior Games events until he plans to break his record, Spears said.
All along, Spears has said that his goal has not only been about raising money for charity, but inspiring others to work out.
Back in the early 1980s, while working as a motorcycle officer with the Los Angeles police department, his partner told him that there’s no way Spears would be able to get back into the shape he was in high school.
Even today, “nobody thinks that I can be able to get back in shape,” he said.
He is starting to prove people wrong. He also hopes to be an inspiration for other people, especially for those close to his age.
Money for the fund-raiser is raised through pledges.
Those interested in making a pledge can log onto Spears’ Web site, www.billiondollarrun.com/pledge/forms/form1.html, fill out the form, print out a copy, and mail it to their favorite charity.
On the form, there is a calculator to determine how much each pledge will amount to. If Spears does not break his record time, pledgers will only mail a donation in the amount of their minimum pledge. For example, if a pledger wanted to make a minimum donation of $4, that would be the amount they would send to their favorite charity.
But for every one-eighth of a second Spears shaves off his record, the amount of the pledge will double. However, the pledge will not double more than eight times. So, if he finishes in 1 minute, 57 seconds or less, the most a $4 minimum pledge can amount to is $1,024.
After Spears makes his attempt at breaking his personal record, the charities will call their respective pledgers and tell them where to mail their donation to. None of the money raised goes to Spears.
“None of it goes to me,” he reiterated. “All of it goes to charity.”