Ten years ago, I met Paul Jolliff when he took time out of his own life to help me learn to live without alcohol and to start putting my shattered life back together. We had much in common that made it easy for me to relate to him and caused our friendship to grow over the years. It is my belief that God truly used Paul at that perfect time and place in my life.
During this time, Paul was attempting to run a marathon in all 50 states and started to also compete in triathlons. He did the shorter ones at first but quickly found that these were not enough of a challenge for him. The last triathlon in which he competed was the Great Floridian, a full iron-distance race. Paul completed the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run - a huge accomplishment!
About six years into my sobriety, Paul, a husband and father of one with another on the way, lost his life in a dive training accident while training with the fire department for which he was employed. There are no words to describe the tremendous loss felt by his wife, son, fire department and friends. The change in my life is just one fruit of Paul's generosily as he was involved in helping people in many other areas of the community as well. Obviously, he is missed very much.
About three years ago after Paul's death, I couldn't get a conversation that Paul and I had had out of my head. He was always trying to get me to go on training or fun runs with him, but I always said no. This particular conversation had to do with his competition in the Great Floridian. I could barely swim 500 yards or even run a mile, so I just told him he was crazy!
However, something about that conversation got to me and I started training for triathlons. I began with a three year goal ending in the completion of the 2007 Great Floridian in Paul's name. I finished the race, and while it felt good to run in Pauls footsteps (so to say), there was still some unfinished business.
Paul wanted to compete in the Kona Ironman in Hawaii - the triathlon of all triathlons! There are only two ways to get to the Kona (qualify or get chosen from their lottery). I figured that since I am more of a participant than a competitor, I would get into the lottery and try to race in this Ironman-sanctioned event for Paul. However, I won't hear about the lottery until April 2008. Wanting to race in a Ironman event sooner, I have signed up for the 2008 Ford Ironman in Louisville Kentucky! With this race, I also wanted to do something positive for the community in Paul's name. I wanted to focus on public safety diving since Paul died in a dive training accident. As a public safety diver myself, I know that through good training, procedures, and networking, we minimize the chance of meeting the same fate as Paul.
Therefore, I have chosen to raise money for the International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists (IADRS). This not for profit organization provides divers and teams the opportunity to network with one another about what methods are working and what aren't. They provide services to assist with drowned victim recovery when other attempts by the local community produce no results. IADRS also hosts an annual conference that emphasizes diver safety, training and education. You can find out more about them at www.iadrs.org.
It is my hope that the monies raised will help the IADRS with resources to educate public safety diver teams who are currently working without the proper training.
None of this could be done without the support of my family, the firefighters and families at the Franklin Township Fire Department and the wonderful people at IADRS who have sacrificed to make this happen!
I am here today because of our Heavenly Father and His decision to put Paul in my life.
God Bless!
Jerry Richert
This is us! This is Team Tri4Paul aka Team Richert, they are the ones that make it all happen!
Leaving for the bike leg of the 2007 Great Floridian (112 miles).
Just a couple of the best friends and supporters a guy could have. Five others drove all night from Indianapolis to Orlando and suprised me race morning at 0400!
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Arrived at finish line 14 hours and 55 minutes later!
