Tulsa’s Own Forrest Gump Runs for Special Olympics
RUN FORREST RUN: Steve Kime, Tulsa’s own Forrest Gump, is surrounded by members of the Special Olympics Team Tulsa. The team is comprised of Special Olympic athletes from around the Tulsa area.
Courtesy Special Olympics
Special Olympics Oklahoma is pleased to announce that Steve Kime (aka Forrest Gump) will be running on behalf of our Oklahoma athletes. For the eighth consecutive year, Kime is running the Tulsa Run dressed as the fictional character “Forrest Gump,” accepting donations and pledges for Special Olympics Oklahoma athletes. You’ll watch him run in his plaid shirt, khaki pants, carrying a suitcase and a box of chocolates.
An autographed football by University of Tulsa Football Coach Steve Kragthorpe has been given to Kime in order to help raise funds for his annual Tulsa Run fund-raiser event. Individual pledges to help him run will be entered into drawings for the football, hotel stays, Harley-Davidson leather jacket, roses and a round of golf.
Kime’s appearance attracts a lot of attention and brings awareness to the program for children and adults with mental retardation. Kime will run the 9.3 mile Tulsa Run event on Saturday Nov. 11. Tulsa Run 2006 is the 29th Annual 15 km race starting in downtown Tulsa. Kime runs the entire distance carrying “pledges” in his Gump suitcase from supporters making donations to this annual fund-raising event.
“Steve is proof of the impact one person can make on an entire organization. He’s blended his love for the sport of running with his commitment to Special Olympics Oklahoma athletes. We are very lucky to have Steve on our team, supporting our athletes and our year-round program of sports competition for adults and children with mental retardation,” says Adrian DeWendt, executive director for Special Olympics Oklahoma (SOOK).
In 2001, Kime completed his 397-mile run across Oklahoma along historic Route 66. He ran across the state in 16 days in an effort to raise awareness about Special Olympic Oklahoma programs. In March 2004, he biked across Oklahoma along the Mother Road once again raising money for the programs benefiting the athletes here in the Sooner state.
Every donor will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate from Runners World. A donation of $25 or more will place donors in a drawing for a $25 dinner gift certificate from Jarrett Farm and a two-dozen rose bouquet from Floral Design Studios in Brookside.
Every donor contributing $75 or more will be entered into a drawing for a round of golf at LaFortune Golf course or a
football autographed by Coach Kragthorpe. Every donor
contributing $100 or more will be entered into a drawing for a Harley-Davidson leather jacket from Myers-Duren Harley Davidson in Tulsa or a “weekend stay” package compliments
of the DoubleTree Hotel at Warren Place.
The drawings will be held on November 10 and the winners will be notified.
To make a tax-deductible pledge and help Forrest run, contact Special Olympics Oklahoma at (918) 481-1234.
Updated 10-25-2006
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