Cape Coral race this Saturday to benefit injured world class athlete
A charity run to benefit a word-class athlete who was struck by a car two days before she was to leave for Spain to compete in a duathlon world championship will be held in Cape Coral on Saturday.
The Cupid Chase 5K will benefit Lisa Buohler, who was doing a final bike workout in September when she was critically injured along SR 80.
Buohler suffered numerous life threatening injuries, including a broken back, five fractured vertebrae, three lumbar spine fractures, two thoracic spine breaks, herniated and bulging discs in the cervical spine, a lacerated liver, lung contusion, a lacerated liver, a fractured plateau of the knee, a sprained ACL, a small meniscus tear, a fractured foot, abdominal wall bleeding, and other internal bleeding and bruising.
She also suffered a rotator cuff tear, severed gluteal muscles and damaged nerves, a deep laceration to the calf muscle that included nerve damage, a small tear below the knee, exposed elbow cartilage, a fracture of the hand, a concussion, severe road rash, and small pieces of carbon fiber had to be picked out of her thighs.
The driver of the vehicle that struck Buohler was minimally insured, leaving the elite-class endurance athlete with thousands in medical bill, organizers said.
The community is rallying behind Buohler by organizing the Cupid Chase 5K to help pay her medical expenses.
The race will start at 8 a.m. at Jaycee Park, which is off Beach Parkway in southeast Cape Coral. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. Participants should be there by at least 7:30 a.m.
Awards will be given by age divisions to the top three runners in each age division.
Age divisions are separated into five-year increments except for the categories of 11 and under, and 70 to 99.
In addition special awards will be given to the top male and female overall winners, top male and female masters’ winners, grandmasters winners, and senior masters’ winners.
Door prizes will also be raffled off at the race.
The run will be held Saturday at 8 a.m. in Jaycee Park, 4125 SE 20th Place.
A duathlon is a race that involves running, cycling, and the running again. Different races have different lengths. Duathlon is the sister-race of Triathlon (swim, bike, run) and is regulated by the same race governing body: USATriathlon.
Contact John Blewis for more information at 239-314-8814.
For more information or to make a donation online visit:
www.endurancesportstiming.com/Cupid_s_Chase.html
Donations may also be made to accounts set up for Lisa Buohler at:
Preferred Community Bank on Colonial
4379 Colonial Boulevard Fort Myers, FL 33966
(239) 728-2265
or
Preferred Community Bank
3020 Lee Blvd
Lehigh Acres, FL 33971
(239) 303-9544