Group wants to 'tri' to help
<p>Jane Marker, in background in red, admires the yard work of members of two local triathlon clubs and their families at her home on Saturday. On the left from front are Stephanie Hallock, Connie Price and Tom Aylward and on the right is 11-year-old Mason Stephens. The clubs Ñ CDA TRI and Lake City Tri Ñ have joined forces to help local seniors in need and those with disabilities after Marker, 85, of Coeur dÕAlene, who suffers from osteoporosis bone disease, was seen cleaning up her neighborÕs yard.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Good deeds can be contagious.
Jane Marker's desire to clean her neighbor's yard despite being 85 and hunched over with osteoporosis made members of two local triathlon clubs do a double take during a recent bike ride.
Marker's determination inspired CDA TRI and Lake City Tri to clean up the senior's yard on Government Way on Saturday and put out a collaborative call to assist seniors in need and those with disabilities with raking or snow removal for free.
"We saw her picking up pine needles, then we learned that she was doing it for her neighbor who was away," said Connie Price, a member of the Lake City club, adding that they couldn't resist but to pitch in. "She said she wanted their lawn to look nice on their return. She said that people always treated her well in her life and she likes to do nice things for others.
"We decided then and there to come back ... "
Members of the clubs and their families turned out to rake up pine needles at Marker's home and thank her for sparking them to help others in need.
Marker went outside on a chilly day to observe the clubs' work and gave them a thumbs up. Her words of reaction were to the point.
"I appreciate them coming out and it sure looks beautiful," Marker said.
Marker obviously takes pride in a clean yard. While the clubs were finishing up bagging pine needles, she picked up the stragglers on her porch and in her flower beds.
"She likes it neat," said Marker's daughter Melissa. "She's known as the 'lady who sweeps.'"
Marker was observed by the clubs using a broom without bristles to round up leaves and pine needles. Price replaced the old broom with a new one and rake.
The clubs have adopted Marker, so to speak, and offered to come back as needed. They're looking for others to help.
"We know we have got a late start on the season, but when the snow flies we will shovel as well," a joint letter from the clubs states.
Tom Aylward of CDA TRI said the idea is to unite the clubs for a common good.
"It's nice to do something to help the seniors," Aylward said. "We're starting here (at Marker's home) and getting the word out."
Seniors or those with disabilities needing a hand with yard work can contact Price at 664-5678 or ctprice7@frontier.com, Aylward at 623-4520, Tawnya Dawn O'Keefe at 695-3104 or Megan Motley at 755-6117.
CDA TRI is also helping the community by sponsoring athletes who have overcome obstacles and want to improve their fitness levels.
The club held a scavenger hunt fundraiser on Saturday in downtown Coeur d'Alene to raise funds for Nick Maniscalco, a local athlete who was injured in an auto crash and is planing to ride a bike for 3,650 miles in 365 days. He earlier walked 365 miles in 365 days.
Maniscalco, 24, Dalton Gardens, sustained a brain injury during the January 2008 car wreck outside Walla Walla, Wash.
"Our team jumped on this opportunity," CDA TRI's Motley said of the fundraiser for Maniscalco. "He was a great fit for our sponsored athlete program."