Death Race, with donations

Times Reporter  

 

Strathmore’s Scott Ball, along with his teammates, will be racing in the Canadian Death Race on August 4 and 5 – a 125 km course through the Rocky Mountains in Grand Cache, with 17,000 feet in elevation changes. The race began in 2000, and has the competitors race for 24 hours through five legs, ranging from 19 km to 36 km. Ball will be completing the last leg through the night of 22 km.

“This was kind of a life changing thing for me,” said Ball. “We started four or five months ago, training for this, and I was 189 pounds, I’m down to 155. Ninety-nine per cent of it is running, and then my diet as well has changed. I basically don’t eat fast food anymore. It’s actually been the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Ball was introduced to the race by good friend Scott Wismer, who had previously served in Afghanistan and ran the race last year. Wismer is doing the hardest leg of two mountain summits this time around.

Ball has been running anywhere from five to 30 km each day to practice for this weekend.

“Everyone’s kind of nervous and anxious and excited – kind of that funny feeling in your stomach. It’s going to be really good,” he said.

Ball’s team of his brother Luke and friends Wismer, Chase Dziatkewich, and Clay Dahl are raising funds for Project Hope in Strathmore. The latter’s brother was in the program for kids who are mentally challenged. Project Hope uses musical, physical education and speech therapies to assist the children involved.

The team of five chose Project Hope to support because it is completely funded by donations. It’s not mandatory to sponsor a charity for the Death Race, but it was something the group wanted to do.

“I’ve actually seen it, it does work for them. It helps them express something that they can’t express,” said Ball.

The group has a fundraising goal of $5,000. Anyone who would like to pledge to Project Hope can contact Scott Ball at (403) 669-9467.