Ironman amputee to headline weekend events

Scott Rigsby, the first man to complete the famed Ironman triathlon on two prosthetic legs, will speak at 7 p.m. today at Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau. He also plans to participate in the Run for God races Saturday.

Race organizer Scott McQuay said he's excited to have Rigsby at the events.

"It's a very big deal, mainly because of his story and his endurance," McQuay said.

Rigsby lost his legs after being injured in an automobile accident at age 18, but battled back to become a marathoner and advocate for people with physical disabilities. He set world records for marathons completed with two below-the-knee amputations.

"[The people running in the race Saturday] aren't world-class athletes, but they have everyday obstacles they have to face, and he's going to tell them they can step up to the plate and do more," McQuay said. "It's a story that most people can relate to."

One of the main purposes of the Run for God is to help people improve themselves by completing a race for the first time. Saturday's races represent weeks of training supervised by partner organization Southeast SportsCare.

"A lot of them showed up bright-eyed and didn't really know what they were getting into, but to see them go through the program is really neat," said Katie Niles, field representative for Southeast SportsCare and a certified athletic trainer.

Rigsby also is involved with the Wounded Warrior program and other organizations that help people overcome disabilities. He was three minutes away from the finish line in the 2013 Boston Marathon when the bombs went off. He subsequently has helped those who were injured adapt.

The Cape Girardeau race is one of 10 races nationwide officially sanctioned by the Run for God organization. Proceeds will go to Love Inc. and the Amen Center to fund their crisis relief services.

About 300 runners already are signed up, and race-day registration starts at 6 a.m. at Lynwood Baptist Church. Races begin at 8 a.m. Registration for the one-mile run is $20 and $35 for the 5- and 10k races.

tgraef@semissourian.com

2935 Lynwood Hills Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701