Bert Gallmon

My journey to Dopey Numero Dos in 2023!    Bad decisions always seem to be made with pressure from others and that is how this journey started.  After running Dopey in 2022 I pretty much made up my mind that it was fun, but it would be a one-time event and that was that. Cause who really wants to wake up at 2:30 AM every morning and then go walk around the parks all day for a second time?!   Insert cool swag from Disney and my pull to do the event for charity in 2023 and here we are!  

I started off as a runner with multiple 5K races, Half Marathons, and even some Marathons, then of course I wanted more.  Enter triathlon [cool intro music building], and bam, I have been in the triathlon world since 2015 and love the three different disciplines. It’s also less wear on my body.  I am definitely not the fastest endurance athlete, but I love seeing what my body can do so of course Dopey seemed like a good idea.  I made it through all of the events in 2022, really enjoying the prep and the challenge, still thinking it was a one-and-done thing.  

Fast forward to wanting to always give back, it seemed like a no brainer to try and grab a charity spot this year. I am grateful that I was accepted and secured a charity spot with the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism. 

This quote is one of my favorites of all time and the driving force behind a charity bib for Dopey 2023.  Autism has touched almost everyone's lives in some way, including my family. I knew that Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism was the right choice for me, especially because I am a Bills fan and we love Doug Flutie.

The mission of the foundation stood out to me the most: To help people and families affected by autism live life to the fullest.  This hit home even more as I watched Autism enter my family’s sphere through my niece.  I look at how her parents, my cousins, do everything in their power to make sure Sam has everything she needs to live her life to the fullest.   

I am lucky enough to be able to run 48.6 miles, but the bigger impact is raising these funds for Autism and the work the foundation is doing.  As a Race Director, I always want to give back and, now as an athlete, I can give back in a huge way with an aggressive goal.  

Any donation will help me reach this goal and impact something more than just ourselves...Jackie had it right!  Thank you for helping me reach my goal and changing lives in the process.