87-year-old Tommy Mann finished Blue Bell Fun Run in 1:04:22.6
Running with a purpose--Paralyzed man, friend form unique team for Blue Bell Fun Run
By BUD CHAMBERS/Brenham Banner Press Staff Reporter
Friday, April 15, 2005 1:21 PM CDT
Col. Tommy Mann, 87 and retired U.S. Army airborne (1939-67), still has the obvious bearings of a military man. This is despite his being felled with near total paralysis from stenosis of the spine a year ago - and he continues with the positive spirit that brought America World War II victory.
After his wife of 56 years died, Mann - then an active golfer and runner living at St. Simons Island, Ga. - came to Brenham in 2001's early spring to visit his sister and quickly found a new life beginning Texas Independence Day at Washington-on-the-Brazos when Tommy met Ruth Whiddon.
Eight months later the two were married and actively making new friendships as a couple, among them then new Chappell Hill fulltimers, Jack and Julie Edwards.
Julie, in addition to her past Houston energy business background - a factor in her becoming a business and economics teacher at Blinn College since moving here - is also an avid runner, even marathons.
And though there's more than 30 years difference in their ages, Julie appreciated Jack's devotion to fitness and love of running.
So nobody was more upset than Julie about "Tommy's spinal condition ending his running" in February 2004.
And perhaps Tommy wasn't even totally serious a few months ago as Julie began preparing for the 10K (6.2 mile) race at the Blue Blue Fun Run, a fund raiser so valuable in raising funds for Brenham Cub athletics - but all Tommy had to do was mention, "I'd like to run one more time!" and Julie jumped into action to find a way for that to happen.
As a member of Greater Houston's "The Running Freaks", a well-known Texas running club, Julie had little difficulty finding and checking with an outstanding wheelchair runner as to such as "three-wheel" equipment.
Though it took the strange turn of having to be ordered from overseas, and also taking a long while to make it here, a sturdy three-wheeler was pushed into Tommy's bedroom Thursday for a photograph.
Actually with the expert help of three caregivers, especially Jernetta - but also Carolyn and Anetha - Tommy has been loaded about this "racing baby carriage" and has greatly enjoyed several neighborhood tours in the past couple of weeks.
"We had to make certain Tommy could be made comfortable aboard the three-wheeler. It's working beautifully," said a pleased Julie.
Before the actual three-wheel competition equipment arrived, Julie had started rumors in her Chappell Hill area neighborhood "by practicing with a baby buggy and three big sacks (150 pounds) of deer corn."
Some fellow runners from "The Running Freaks" club, good county area friends (including a runner or two), enthused fellow members of St. Peter's Episcopal Church - and even a van on loan from Appel Ford - will all among the key elements in "making this thing work," according to Julie.
The 6.2 miles that Julie Edwards will be pushing Tommy Mann in the three-wheeler will commence at 8 a.m."
If these so-called good friends are situated in the right places to help us on the uphills, I hope we can get this done in about an hour," she said.
Meanwhile, Julie said she also has an EMS friend.
She said with a laugh, "He'll be standing by."
It wasn't certain whether she meant "with ambulance" or not.
By BUD CHAMBERS/Brenham Banner Press Staff Reporter
Friday, April 15, 2005 1:21 PM CDT
Col. Tommy Mann, 87 and retired U.S. Army airborne (1939-67), still has the obvious bearings of a military man. This is despite his being felled with near total paralysis from stenosis of the spine a year ago - and he continues with the positive spirit that brought America World War II victory.
After his wife of 56 years died, Mann - then an active golfer and runner living at St. Simons Island, Ga. - came to Brenham in 2001's early spring to visit his sister and quickly found a new life beginning Texas Independence Day at Washington-on-the-Brazos when Tommy met Ruth Whiddon.
Eight months later the two were married and actively making new friendships as a couple, among them then new Chappell Hill fulltimers, Jack and Julie Edwards.
Julie, in addition to her past Houston energy business background - a factor in her becoming a business and economics teacher at Blinn College since moving here - is also an avid runner, even marathons.
And though there's more than 30 years difference in their ages, Julie appreciated Jack's devotion to fitness and love of running.
So nobody was more upset than Julie about "Tommy's spinal condition ending his running" in February 2004.
And perhaps Tommy wasn't even totally serious a few months ago as Julie began preparing for the 10K (6.2 mile) race at the Blue Blue Fun Run, a fund raiser so valuable in raising funds for Brenham Cub athletics - but all Tommy had to do was mention, "I'd like to run one more time!" and Julie jumped into action to find a way for that to happen.
As a member of Greater Houston's "The Running Freaks", a well-known Texas running club, Julie had little difficulty finding and checking with an outstanding wheelchair runner as to such as "three-wheel" equipment.
Though it took the strange turn of having to be ordered from overseas, and also taking a long while to make it here, a sturdy three-wheeler was pushed into Tommy's bedroom Thursday for a photograph.
Actually with the expert help of three caregivers, especially Jernetta - but also Carolyn and Anetha - Tommy has been loaded about this "racing baby carriage" and has greatly enjoyed several neighborhood tours in the past couple of weeks.
"We had to make certain Tommy could be made comfortable aboard the three-wheeler. It's working beautifully," said a pleased Julie.
Before the actual three-wheel competition equipment arrived, Julie had started rumors in her Chappell Hill area neighborhood "by practicing with a baby buggy and three big sacks (150 pounds) of deer corn."
Some fellow runners from "The Running Freaks" club, good county area friends (including a runner or two), enthused fellow members of St. Peter's Episcopal Church - and even a van on loan from Appel Ford - will all among the key elements in "making this thing work," according to Julie.
The 6.2 miles that Julie Edwards will be pushing Tommy Mann in the three-wheeler will commence at 8 a.m."
If these so-called good friends are situated in the right places to help us on the uphills, I hope we can get this done in about an hour," she said.
Meanwhile, Julie said she also has an EMS friend.
She said with a laugh, "He'll be standing by."
It wasn't certain whether she meant "with ambulance" or not.
posted by WalkSports.com | 5:19 PM
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