One Sarasota Man Will Push Another in Gasparilla Races This Weekend

One Sarasota man will be giving another a push for a good cause in the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic races this weekend in Tampa, TBO.com reports.

Through his nonprofit charity Care2Tri, Greg Simony pushes people with disabilities through races around the country. Two years ago, he hooked up with fellow Sarasotan and photographer Alan Rodriguez in an effort to get some fresh pictures on his website, according to TBO.

Rodriguez is a survivor of Wilson's disease, "a rare genetic disorder that causes a toxic build-up of copper in the body and left him slurring his words, twitching involuntarily and fighting to swallow," TBO reports. So now, after a few years of working together, Simony plans to push Rodriguez in the Gasparilla 15k on Saturday and the 8k on Sunday.

Rodriguez told the news site he sees it as a chance to give Care2Tri more exposure, but also to make a statement:

"There are still times when I am viewed as being lesser, but I'm not. I have the same goals as everyone else in life, and I would like to leave a fingerprint impression on everyone I meet to inspire them to do the same."

Read more in TBO's feature story.

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