On August 5, 2012, Smithville Lake, Missouri, will welcome competitors in the first annual Matt Mason Memorial “Cowboy UP!” triathlon to Smithville Lake, Mo. Organizers established this event to honor, support and celebrate the lives of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. They were inspired to hold the triathlon in memory of their friend, Matt Mason, who lost his life on August 6th, 2011, while on a mission in Afghanistan with his Navy SEAL Team.
Proceeds from the Cowboy UP! event will go to benefit several charities, with the majority of the money raised going to the Wounded Warrior Project. This organization’s mission of helping injured service personnel and their families embodies the principles of dedication and service that Matt Mason stood for.
“This triathlon is our way to stay close to our dear friend and keep his memory alive, while focusing on supporting others like him and their families,” said co-organizer Steve Zimmer.
To help Cowboy UP! become a success, the organizing committee needs help from the public, including donations, volunteers, and, of course triathlon participants. Anyone is welcome to sign up at the official event website, and there’s a growing online community on the Facebook page.
Matt Mason, who grew up in the Kansas City metro and served his country for 12 years, embodied the best in all of us. He was a son, a husband, a father, a friend, a triathlete, and a teammate, as well as being generous in spirit in everything he did. Strangers felt welcome and comfortable around Matt and always took an immediate liking to him. Those that were fortunate enough to have known him will always remember him as the loyal, kind, generous, unassuming man that he was.
So if you want to help American’s servicemen and women and their families, to honor the memory of Matt Mason and/or to compete in a triathlon at the beautiful locale of Smithville Lake, raise money for wounded veterans, sign up to support or compete in the event today.