Summer 2009 INSIDE THIS EDITION: TWO FOR THE ROAD Alumni Awards Banquet 3 By LEE ELLIOTT [email protected] Anthology for Poetry .....7 (printed by permission of The Times Reporter) Athletic Director ............6 When Mark Luikart (C '81) was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease last year, he and his twin brother Scott (C '81) decided they wanted to do something together that they Board of Trustees ........18 would always remember. Bob McCullough Recognition 11 The New Philadelphia residents Bricks ........................18 chose to raise awareness for Buddy Program ............6 Parkinson's Disease research by Camera Grant .............15 riding in the prestigious ultra distance cycling event, Race Across America. Claymont Alumni Band 11 The Luikarts set a goal of raising Claymont Classic 5K ...19 $250,000 to fund a study by Jay Claymont Connection Staff .18 Alberts of the Cleveland Clinic's Claymont Powerlifting .12 Lerner Research Institute on the effects of assisted exercise on Contact Us .................18 Parkinson's Disease. Crafty Grad ................15 Mark recalled that in 2007 they Denman Research Forum ..13 planned to ride a seven-day race Destination Imagination Team . 10 from San Diego, Calif., to Savannah Donations ................. 16 Ga. As they started training, it became apparent that Mark wasn't recovering Drew Meister-Coach of the Year 12 from their rides as quickly as he In Memory .................13 should, so he was unable to compete. New Administrators and Staff .6 Scott finished and qualified for the New Scholarships .......15 RAAM. Shortly after that, Mark Project Lead the Way ....7 noticed a weakness and slowness in Scott and Mark Luikart his left hand, and was diagnosed. "I Photo compliments of Pat Burk and The Times Reporter. Prom Boutique ...........17 was in shock, but Parkinson's is not a Reunions .....................7 death sentence", he said. "God has chosen my life for me and I'll live with it. I'm pretty Scholarship Winners .....8 easygoing and, at this point, I can still ride for pleasure. Still, it's hard to give up the Steak Dinner...............10 competition." The twins still hold the record for most miles ridden by siblings (833) in a race that Teacher Grants .............4 required cyclists to ride as many miles as they could in 24 hours, which they set in Travelmates ................14 2006. Two for the Road...........1 As the race begins June 17, Scott will be riding the bicycle, while Mark, who no longer Where are they now ......5 can manage such a rigorous race, will do his riding in one of two mini-vans as the chief of Scott's eight-man support crew. The 3,021-mile race from Oceanside, Calif., to the Two for the Road . continued from page 1 Boardwalk at Annapolis, Md., is considered the world's most difficult bicycle race. It crosses 14 states, and climbs more than 100,000 feet. Once the clock starts on the West Coast, it doesn't stop until the racers reach the finish line on the East Coast. RAAM is 30 percent longer than the Tour de France and solo racers finish in half the time with no rest days. Participants are expected to complete the race in 12 days by averaging about 252 miles and 22 hours of riding per day. The Luikarts have set their goal at 10 days and 300 miles a day. Two mini-vans and a motor home carry a crew that takes care of food, water, navigation and problem solving. The vans drive in front of and behind each rider, protecting them, lighting the way at night, and navigating for the riders on a public address system. The motor home will provide a resting place for Scott. Three crew members are on duty at all times, as they rotate through 12-hour shifts. It's a job getting the crew trained, Mark said. Just remember how tiring it is to ride 300 miles in a car, and then imagine riding it on a bike. One hundred miles are just a warmup. The course is designed carefully so that riders can't get lost or injured. If a van has to pull off the road, it must be at least 5 feet off the highway or the rider will be fined a loss of 15 minutes. The race, which first was run in 1982, is considered the Olympics of cycling. Thirty single riders and 220 others competing as teams must cross the Mojave Desert, Rocky Mountains, mid-country flatlands, and Appalachians on their way to the Atlantic Ocean. The race is run on all back roads rather than through any major cities. "Most of the riders are from 14 other countries and are better trained than those of us from the U.S.," Scott said. "For example, Slovenia puts its riders in the military to train them, and lets them keep their amateur status. I am blessed to be able to finance my own training and race, and thrilled to be raising money for Parkinson's research." His training for RAAM began last November, and he has ridden more than 9,000 miles since then in combinations of long (300 miles) and shorter, faster sprint-type rides. He trains in Ohio when the weather permits and at Sebring, Fla.; Tucson, Ariz.; the Smokey Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway. "I figure I need to take in at least 400 calories an hour while riding, since I'll expend about 10,000 a day," Scott said. He explained that riders eat very little solid food, but drink high protein, high carbohydrate liquids, specially formulated for cyclists. "Hydration and calories keep you on the bike," he said. He uses hand signals to exchange bottles with the crew while he is riding. You have to have everything with you when you start out because you are dealing with weather, sanitation, health and possible injury while seeing America at 20 mph. He said that possibly half of the riders will not be able to complete the race because of its difficulty. During his most recent training ride at Birmingham, Ala., Scott was unable to finish the race. "I learned something valuable," he said. "I had been awake for 36 hours and went into sleep deprivation. I tried to rest and fell into such a deep sleep that I couldn't waken to go on with the race. I discovered that I can only sleep for about 10 minutes so that I don't go into deep sleep, but still get some rest. " The twins will leave June 3 to spend two weeks acclimating riding in hot temperatures. They are the sons of Ralph and Alice Luikart of New Philadelphia. STEPHENSON, STEPHENSON, CARROTHERS & ONG ATTORNEYS AT LAW Owned and Operated by: The Pangrazio Family 313 Center Street • Dennison, Ohio PHONE (740) 922-5748 Please understand that some information included in Claymont Connection may be incomplete due to the number of resources consulted for each issue. We apologize for any inaccuracies, and hope that you will contact Claymont Foundation with any corrections. 2 Alumni Awards Banquet The Claymont Foundation presented their 11th annual Alumni Claymont Mock Trial Team and announcer for Claymont Football Awards on Saturday May 2nd at Claymont High School. and Claymont Wrestling on WBTC. He is a member of the Dennison Kevin Johns (C '79) welcomed everyone in attendance and Rotary and the Twin City Chamber of Commerce. introduced Kaitlin Unrue (C '09) to give the benediction and Clara He was appointed by the Governor to Chair the Uhrichsville Pearch (C '06) to provide the dinner music. Fiscal Emergency Management Committee, assisted with the reopening of Tusco Grocers (now Laurel Grocers), directs projects Brad Hillyer (C '74), longtime friend and colleague, introduced for the Courts Probation Department and Community Service the 2009 Citizen of the Year Award winner Program which provides 8,000 hours of community service each David S. Smith (U '60). The Citizen of the year (mowing yard service for the elderly, street cleaning, snow Year Award is presented to an individual who removal and painting services) for all the communities in the has been active in community education and Southern District Court area. He has established the James and awareness. Betty Connolly Scholarship, the Marie C Hillyer Scholarship (along Dave, a veteran, is the owner of Dave Smith with the help of Hud, Blair, Beth and Becky Hillyer) and the Ruth Realty and is the Property Manager of Claymont Wilson Scholarship at Kent State University, Tuscarawas Branch Jaycee Housing and attended The Ohio State (which provides $30,000 each year to Claymont High School University. Dave has been active in many community activities often graduates). serving as an officer or a member of the board of those Brad and his wife Kim reside in Dennison. They have three organizations. children Katy, Jake and Alex. His affiliations include: Twin City Chamber of Commerce, Dee Johnson Metzger (C '70) presented the award to Brad. Claymont Jaycees, Clayland Lions Club, Warwick Lion Club, Metzger then recognized the teacher grant recipients. Buckeye Club, Uhrichsville Alumni Association, Tuscarawas County Claymont Superintendent Ryan Delaney introduced the 2009 Metropolitan Housing Authority, Uhrichsville Planning Commission, Teacher of the Year Award winner Scott Claymont Jaycee Housing, Inc., Miss Clayland Scholarship Program, Buxton. The Teacher of the Year Award is Tuscarawas County Council for Church and Community, Habitat for selected from nominations by current teachers Humanity of Tuscarawas Valley, Tuscarawas County Senior Center and staff in the Claymont School System. Scott and Ohio Area Agency on Aging Region 9. teaches Government and Advanced Placement Dave has logged many volunteer hours with the American Cancer United States History at Claymont High School.