King Lebron

LeBron James hosts his annual King for Kids Bike-a-thon in Akron

Name a sporting event that doesn't keep score but has 1,100 winners and LeBron James.The NBA draft would be a bad guess.
But if you picked James' own King for Kids Bike-a-thon in Akron on Saturday, you can sit in the winners' circle with the 1,100 bikers who rode for charity.
And maybe Akron itself was a winner, too. Mayor Don Plusquellic certainly thought so.
In the past 20 years, the city's downtown has gone from the world's largest vacant lot to a vibrant urban center that gleams and teems with a splendidly intimate ball park and myriad destination restaurants.
The mayor was pleased because James burnished the city's luster when he let it slip out that he was committed to maintaining the bike-a-thon as an annual event no matter what.
But Mahogany Gibson didn't come to dine or take in a game. And neither did Christopher Beard.
They were among the first heat of riders, ages 9 through 14, who formed up in ranks and files like horse cavalry to charge around a one-mile course.
As they and the others waited, volunteer chaperone Dennis Leonard walked along his 11 charges like an unusually genial sergeant, adjusting helmet straps and checking for seat adjustment.
Before they took off, James took the stage and told everyone that he doesn't talk much, "but I'm real excited about this. My whole passion is about inner-city kids."
Plusquellic said that the King "loves to give back" and that his combination of generosity and talent is what elevates him above other NBA stars.
The young riders were also givers. Their participation was in recognition of their efforts in the community and in school.
But they weren't the only competitors. Deaveon Sharpe, 7, was among many scrambling for autographs. She asked a reporter for his and stopped when he said, "I'm nobody." "Yes you are," she protested. "You own the Cavs."
She was directed across the street to Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry, who doesn't own the team, either, but knows who does.
A relative said she'd already scored the signatures of Mo Williams, Cavs coach Mike Brown and "America's Got Talent" host Nick Cannon.
Brett Cavallaro and his son, Noah, 8, came up from Columbus for the family event, a three-mile course. Noah said the biggest challenges were "the hills." Dad said they'd be in the eight-mile main event next year because Noah lamented that the family course "wasn't long enough."
There was no final score on how much was raised for charity, but last year's event funneled $50,000 to the Akron YMCA and the Urban League, through the LeBron James Family Foundation. The mayor's office estimates that a total of 3,000 were downtown for the race, including spectators.
But there were other, less tangible achievements, too.
The best trophies are the ones that are deserved but unexpected, and 11-year-old Andrew Petrisko of Elyria got just such a prize Saturday.
No one may have noticed as he queued up in the first rank for the kids' one-mile event. His presence itself was the trophy.
Andrew has focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, an ailment that placed him in end-stage kidney failure.
His father, Scott, said that as late as a month ago, his son's health made it appear impossible for Andrew to enter. He'd been prepared to ride in a Carebike, a combination wheelchair and bicycle powered by someone else.
But he responded with unexpected speed to an experimental new drug treatment at Akron Children's Hospital.
After the race, Andrew told his dad, "That was awesome."
Andrew's next words were "Can we leave now?" because he had a baseball game in Elyria.