making a difference
not so "average joe"

by: EMILY BEIGER

“It’s not about winning, you’ve just got to get out there and do your best!” —Skylar Gwin

Skylar Gwin loves sports, plain and simple. Take him to any pro game and he is a very happy 16- year-old. This love of sports has become a passion for Skylar in a profound way, making Skylar a very special young man.

On average Skylar is a pretty typical teenager. His favorite band is Green Day, he likes to take in a movie or hang out at the mall, and of course he can get lost in a video game pretty much the same as any kid. What’s not typical about Skylar is that he can’t run, or walk, or even dress himself. Skylar has Muscular Dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair.

What Skylar can do though is fly. With a loving father as his motor, Skylar feels like he is soaring when he crosses the finish line at a 5K, 10K or just about any running race.

Paul Gwin has been propelling his son across finish lines for several years now, enjoying the freedom he can give his son while staying in shape and hopefully inspiring others.

Skylar was about seven or eight when his mom pushed him in a race. Paul took over the pushing as Skylar got bigger and said he wanted to start running 5K’s. “Skylar just lit up and said I want to do it with you,” Paul recalls fondly.

Last year, Paul and Skylar found they were motivating other family members to get up and get moving and decided to form a team. They call it Average Joe’s Racing Team, because as Paul said, they are just a bunch of “average joe’s,” just like in the movie Dodgeball. Together they raise money for Skylar’s charities (see below) and hope to inspire other families that have children with disabilities to get involved in not just running, but in sports overall.

This dynamic duo is very excited about a special event coming September 22 to Gwinnett’s beautiful Little Mulberry Park. Skylar’s Run Walk & Roll is all about bringing fitness and fun to the casual walker as well as the competitive runner. Participants can choose whatever level of activity they feel comfortable with as they support Skylar and Paul and the Average Joe’s team. To learn more about this event and Average Joe’s visit www.averagejoesracing.com.

This father/son team is currently training for their first triathlon in May of 2007. Skylar’s favorite part of this triple sport race is hard to pin down. “I like the swim…and the bike…and the run!” Skylar says with great enthusiasm. Paul says Skylar is really starting to like the bike because it is faster than he has ever gone.

A year from now all of Gwinnett County can cheer them on as they plan a run across Gwinnett to continue their efforts to raise money for Skylar’s charities.

These not so ‘average joe’s’ are a true inspiration and a fine example of people who are making a difference in Gwinnett.

Why are Charities so important
to Skylar’s way of life?

• MDA: Best known for the Jerry Lewis Telethon held every Labor Day. MDA provides Skylar with the best doctors, all the equipment he needs and sends him to a week of summer camp each year.
  
  
• Gwinnett Special Olympics: Gwinnett Special Olympics allows Gwinnett County’s kids with special needs a place to compete and have fun in a wide variety of sports.