Gehle's World Games in Spain, Aug. 5-12th

Posted

ANIAH ROSS

PCC INTERN

FORT MADISON - A senior at Fort Madison High School will be competing on a world stage this summer.

Caleb Gehle is a senior at FMHS and is involved in many activities throughout the school. One of these many activities include the track team. Gehle was born with cerebral palsy and looks at track and field events from a different vantage, but considers it competition like any other athlete, because of his recent success in track and field events, Gehle has been invited to Barcelona, Spain to compete in the Cerebral Palsy World Games, Aug. 5-12th.

While there he will be competing in the 100-meter, the 200-meter, and the 400-meter wheelchair race. He will also compete in the shot put, discus, and javelin field events.

Gehle and his dad, Mike Gehle, are currently fundraising for a new chair. Mike said the chair will cost about $3,000. They are also trying to raise funds for the cost of the trip, his track uniform, entry fees and anything else needed for the trip. So far there efforts have been paying off, they've been getting many cash donations and held a silent auction during this Saturday's fundraising event at Kinnick South in Fort Madison.

"I am really excited and I'm actually honored that I get a chance to do this," Caleb said.

He is one of many picked to travel their way to Barcelona. The event is Olympic styled, they're people from all over the world coming to this event to compete.

Mike said he wasn't sure of the exact cost of the trip yet because it is broken into three payments and the final payment hasn't been announced yet. Total funds raised at the event on Saturday also haven't been tabulated yet, but Mike said he should have final numbers on costs and donations in the next couple of weeks.

PCC Editor Chuck Vandenberg contributed to this story.

 

Caleb Gehle, pictured at left with his father Mike, is headed to Barcelona, Spain for the Cerebral Palsy World Games Aug. 5-12. A fundraiser for the Gehle's was held Saturday at Kinnick South to offset costs of the event. Photo by Aniah Ross/PCC Intern

 

Barcelona, Bloodhound, Caleb Gehle, Cerebral Palsy, CP World Games, fort madison, fundraiser, Spain

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