Firefighter Robert Verhelst Breaking World Record for Hope & Honor

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February 2012

GOING BEYOND THE CALL.  Firefighter Robert Verhelst, is doing something spectacular that no man has done before in the world of sports.  Firefighter Verhelst will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for most ironman distance triathlons completed in a single year, with a two-fold purpose: to continue the memory of those lost as a result of 9/11, and to raise awareness about the CODE 3 FOR A CURE FOUNDATION. At each triathlon event Firefighter Verhelst will Swim 2.4 miles, Bicycle 112 miles, and complete the 26.2 mile marathon portion in full firefighter turnout gear, including air tank and helmet. The current world record stands at 20 triathlons. 

NEVER FORGET.  After the 9/11attacks first happened, Firefighter Verhelst spent 8 straight days working on the pile of ground zero in the rescue and recovery efforts. Firefighter Verhelst found a baby blanket within the rubble and from that experience he felt a calling to continue the memory of those who lost their lives and the families they leave behind.  Firefighter Verhelst is a true warrior in the fight against all cancer, and he is a proud member of the CODE 3 FOR A CURE FOUNDATION â€" Firefighters United Against Cancer. Although Firefighter Verhelst himself has never been diagnosed with cancer he hopes to advocate the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and being vigilant of any warning signs of cancer. 

ABOUT CODE 3 FOR A CURE FOUNDATION: President & Founder Lorenzo Abundiz, California State Firefighter Medal of Valor recipient, was compelled to form the Foundation after his own personal battles with three different forms of cancer all relating to his firefighting career. Now retired Abundiz, who witnessed many of his fellow comrades suffer and die from the disease, is fighting back against cancer.  The non-profit 501 (c) 3 Foundation is working to establish a fund large enough to assist firefighters diagnosed with cancer who are facing a financial hardship.  Each year Abundiz, along with his team of firefighter/cancer survivors drive a fire engine across America to share their own personal cancer experiences and encourage early cancer screenings among firefighters and the general public. The Foundation honors and remembers firefighters who have died from cancer because they paved the way for better safety equipment and procedures used by firefighters today.  They also grant requests from terminally ill firefighters who want to answer their last call by taking them in a fire engine to different fire departments so that they may save a comrade firefighter from cancer by sharing their story. 

The CODE 3 FOR A CURE FOUNDATION is asking firefighters and the general public to come out to Corpus Christi, Texas and support Firefighter Verhelst as he crosses the finish line for hope and honor.

NOTE:  The Corpus Christi, Texas, HITS Triathlon marks the 2nd of 27 Ironman Triathlon events that Firefighter Verhelst will complete throughout North America.   Firefighter Verhelst achieved his 1st  Triathlon on January 8, 2012 in Naples, Florida.  



Author:Code 3 For a Cure Press Release