Wrestling Coach To Run 1200 Miles For Hearts Without Boundaries

SARASOTA, Fla. - June 24, 2013 - PRLog -- Nels Matson, a Lakewood Ranch High School wrestling coach who is a congenital heart defect survivor is running from Florida to the Cambodian Embassy in Washington D.C. in 35 days, beginning June 15, 2013, to fund open heart surgeries for impoverished children in Cambodia.  

Tri 4 Number 1 Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit founded by Nels Matson, 30, of Bradenton, FL. He is completing an ultra-run as the first fundraiser of its kind to benefit Hearts Without Boundaries (HWB). Based in Long Beach, California, HWB is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that funds cardiac teams from the United States to perform heart surgeries on impoverished children in Cambodia who suffer from congenital heart defects (CHD). It also sponsors Cambodian children with the most severe CHD to travel to other countries for life-saving heart surgeries and medical care.

Matson underwent open-heart surgery at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL for his own heart defect when he was 3 years old. Matson is currently an assistant wrestling coach and substitute teacher at Lakewood Ranch High School in Bradenton, FL.

To raise awareness of this cause, Matson will run an average of 40 miles per day from Bradenton, FL to the Cambodian Embassy in Washington D.C. from June 15 to July 19, 2013. He will be running the entire journey carrying his companion Diplo the Diplomatic Penguin on his back. Diplo is a plush penguin that kids and adults with CHD will be encouraged to sign. At the conclusion of Matson’s journey, Diplo will be gifted to the Angkor Hospital for Children, with the signatures representing the support of the CHD community in America.

Along his route, Matson will meet up with and run alongside supporters of all ages and encourage them to donate to Hearts Without Boundaries or fundraise and tell their own story through his website, www.T41Run.com.

In 2012, while speaking at a Mended Little Hearts of Volusia County gala, he was introduced to Hearts Without Boundaries founder Peter Chhun. Once Nels met Peter, he knew that he had to contribute to Peter’s mission. Peter welcomed the compassion and initiative Nels has shown, saying, "I am sure that each of Mr. Matson's footsteps during his 1,200 mile run will echo through the entire congenital heart defect community."

Approximately 1 in 100 children are born with CHD. This is true and all the more tragic in Cambodia, where an estimated 100,000 children are living with congenital heart defects yet most are untreated due to lack of resources.

Nels Matson and Denise Zolla Pizzo established the Tri 4 Number 1 Foundation Inc. with the sole purpose of supporting nonprofits like Hearts Without Boundaries. Tri 4 Number 1

Foundation Inc. is a volunteer-driven nonprofit with no paid employees that provides this support through endurance sports and athletic-themed events.

During his run, Matson will be stopping at hospitals and city halls across the Southeast for early morning meet-ups and an open invitation for runners to join him.

Along his northward journey, he will pass through a host of small cities as well as the following metropolitan areas, which he will be departing from on the following dates:

Tampa, FL: June 16

Orlando, FL: June 19

Daytona, FL: June 21

Gainesville, FL: June 24

Jacksonville, FL: June 26

Savannah, GA: June 30

Columbia, SC: July 4

Charlotte, NC: July 7

Greensboro, NC: July 11

Richmond, VA: July 16

At his 7 a.m. departure from each city, Matson will invite children with congenital heart defects to meet Diplo the Diplomatic Penguin and sign his shirt. At each departure, people of all ages will be encouraged to run with Nels and Diplo.

Visit the Tri 4 Number 1 event website at www.T41Run.com to make your tax-deductible donation to Hearts Without Boundaries.

Denise Pizzo

Tri 4 Number 1 Foundation Inc.

941-567-6606 (home)

727-560-8870 (cell)

Tri4Number1@gmail.com