#Charity #Football #Travel #Tragedy
๐ Have you ever heard about the incredible and tragic story of the man who attempted to dribble a football from Seattle to Brazil in 2013 to promote a charity?
TIL that in 2013, a man set out on a journey to dribble a football all the way from Seattle to Brazil, a distance of over 10,000 miles. His goal was to raise awareness for a charity and inspire others to give back to those in need. However, just 250 miles into his journey, tragedy struck.
In this article, we will delve deeper into this heartbreaking story, exploring the motivation behind the man’s epic journey, the challenges he faced along the way, and the lessons we can learn from his untimely death.
## The Man Behind the Journey
– His name was Richard Swanson, a 42-year-old man from Seattle who had a passion for football and a heart for helping others.
– After losing his job and going through a divorce, Richard decided to embark on a bold adventure to make a difference in the world.
– He planned to dribble a football from Seattle to Brazil, stopping along the way to meet new people, share his story, and raise funds for a charity that was close to his heart.
## The Journey Begins
– Richard set out on his journey in May 2013, armed with only a football, a backpack, and a dream.
– He documented his progress on social media, sharing photos and updates with his followers as he made his way through various towns and cities.
– Along the way, Richard encountered kindness and generosity from strangers who were inspired by his mission and wanted to help him in any way they could.
## The Tragic Accident
– Just 250 miles into his journey, tragedy struck. Richard was hit by a truck while walking along a busy highway in Oregon.
– Despite the efforts of emergency responders, Richard did not survive the accident, leaving behind a legacy of courage and compassion.
– The news of Richard’s death shocked and saddened people around the world, who had followed his journey and been inspired by his determination to make a difference.
## Lessons Learned
– Richard’s story serves as a reminder of the power of one person’s actions to create positive change in the world.
– His dedication to helping others, even in the face of personal hardship, is a testament to the strength of the human spirit.
– While his journey ended tragically, Richard’s legacy lives on in the hearts of those who were touched by his story and inspired to make a difference in their own communities.
In conclusion, the story of Richard Swanson’s ill-fated journey is a powerful reminder of the impact that one person can have on the world. His determination to make a difference, his passion for helping others, and his unwavering belief in the power of charity continue to inspire us today. May we all strive to follow in Richard’s footsteps, making a positive difference in the world and spreading kindness wherever we go.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/amp/fan-dies-dribbling-ball-to-world-cup-in-brazil-10445749
At least he died doing what he lovedโฆdribbling a fucking soccer ball in traffic
As an American reading the first part of this headline initially caused me to form an (obviously wrong) image of a dude somehow trying to dribble an official Wilson NFL football NBA style down the road — and thinking “that’s got to be almost impossible to do – no wonder he didn’t make it…”.
Curious how he would have dealt with the darien gap. Seems a rather ill-thought plan.
The gap between american english and european english seems small until someone asks you the dribble a football.
At least he wasn’t run over 250 miles from the finish line. That would have been such a waste of effort.
Sad part is, he probably did more to promote the charity by dying doing this than he would have if he had succeeded.
More details here https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/15/american-dies-dribble-soccer-brazil
I have a neighbor that was biking across the US. He started in California and died in Pima, Arizona, run over by a car early in the morning.
Being alongside state highways is super dangerous.
250 miles tho
Guy must be very persuasive if he was able to get his wife to go along with his idea.
โSince I just lost my job I thought I would leave you and our 2 kids for 12 months so I can dribble a soccer ball to Brazil.โ
250 miles south of Seattle would be somewhere on the Oregon coast. I could see how this happened, given my experience with Oregon drivers on the coast. I bet he made it to about Lincoln City
I feel like a lot of people have no idea how dangerous being a pedestrian near a major road can be. I couldnโt imagine how bad it is next to a highway, especially when youโre not consistently focusing on the road.
I actually ran into this guy when this happened in Vancouver WA, Salmon Creek. He was walking down Highway 99, I stopped and spoke with him for a bit and was heartbroken to hear this had happened, especially so soon after speaking with him
The dude dribbled a ball for 250 miles. Thatโs incredibly impressive to me. They made it seem like he didnโt do anything. Motherfucker you go run 250 miles dribbling a soccer ball.
Dodge ram I bet
As an American, I had a very wrong idea of what was going on in this scenario for a few moments.
Every American so confused on how this guy could dribble a football three feet let alone 10,000 miles
According to NPR, pedestrians being killed by cars in the U.S. is at a 40-year high. Washington state is middle ranked with new Mexico being number one.
Similar story happened to an Olympic rower called [James Cracknell](https://www.attend.org.uk/about-us/news/two-years-after-a-brain-injury-left-him-introverted-and-aggressive-james-cracknell-and) during an attempt to cycle, row, run and swim from Los Angeles to New York within 18 days. He managed to survive it but suffered a traumatic brain injury which changed his personality
American here, I saw โfootballโ and was not surprised by the news. Damn things go off in all directions when you dribble em