HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – Beijing Paralympic Gold Medalist Josh George (Fairfax, Virginia) and champion surfer Mary Osborne (Ventura, Calif.) are among the world-class athletes participating in the Surf City USA Marathon’s “Run for Mobility”, Sunday, February 1st in Huntington Beach.  More information is available at runsurfcity.com.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Surf City USA Marathon is teaming up with the Free Wheelchair Mission for a fundraising event that is directly responsible for changing the lives of 26,658 disabled people worldwide.  Surf City’s 17,000-plus runners are encouraged to use the Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K as a way to raise funds – via the Run for Mobility – that send specially engineered wheelchairs to needy and developing nations. 

George, a world renowned wheelchair athlete, is set to compete in the Surf City USA Half Marathon and is guest speaker for the “Run for Mobility” Dinner, held the night before the race.  Josh won a gold medal in the 100 meter race and the silver medal for the 800 meter race in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.  Josh lost the use of his legs at the age of four when he accidentally fell from his 12th story bedroom window (some 120 feet to the street).  Miraculously he survived the fall and went on to thrive academically and athletically.  Winner of the 2008 ARETE Honors Award and a 2007 ESPY finalist, he holds a degree in journalism from the University of Illinois.

An internationally renowned longboarder and tandem surfer, Osborne is running the 5K in order to call attention to the Run for Mobility.  Mary is widely known for winning the longboarding division on MTV’s “Surf Girls” and she’s a former Teen Choice Awards nominee as “Best Female Athlete.”  An author, Osborne co-authored “Sister Surfer: A Woman’s Guide to Surfing with Bliss and Courage” and produces the “Mary Osborne: All Girls Surf Camp” in Ventura, Calif.  She’s a frequent guest host on Fuel TV and has graced the pages of numerous magazines.

In early 2007 Mary traveled to Costa Rica with legendary surfer/shaper Robert August to participate in the distribution of 550 wheelchairs provided by the Free Wheelchair Mission.  “It was one of the most moving days of my life,” said Osborne.  “I will never forget the expressions on the receivers’ faces when they were ‘mobile’ for the first time in their lives.  It was truly an amazing day.” 

Since 2006, Surf City USA Marathon runners have raised more than $1,200,000 on behalf of the Run for Mobility, changing the lives of 26,658 disabled people worldwide.  Each of the wheelchairs distributed costs under $52.00, built and delivered.  These unique wheelchairs are made of mountain bike tires and durable outdoor furniture, built to withstand all types of weather conditions and rough terrains that would normally be navigable.  This year’s target is an additional $600,000 and 11,600 wheelchairs.  More information is available at http://www.runformobility.org.

ABOUT SURF CITY USA MARATHON
The Surf City USA Marathon is the largest oceanfront marathon and half marathon event in all of California, and the largest “winter” race in Southern California.  Formerly known as the Pacific Shoreline Marathon, the 13th annual event is held on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009.  Some 17,000 runners compete in three divisions – marathon, half-marathon and 5K.  More than 30,000 spectators from the 48 contiguous states and 19 foreign countries are anticipated to pack the downtown and outlying areas.  Weekend highlights include the two-day Active Lifestyle Beach Expo and Michelob Ultra Post Race Beer Garden.  Information is available at http://www.runsurfcity.com.

ABOUT FREE WHEELCHAIR MISSION
Free Wheelchair Mission is an international nonprofit 501©3 dedicated to providing the gift of mobility to people with physical disabilities in poor and developing countries. Currently, Free Wheelchair Mission has delivered 346,333 wheelchairs in over 70 countries throughout the world.  For more information, visit http://www.freewheelchairmission.org