A little background first.  I raise money for the Snowdrop Foundation, an organization that raises money for Pediatric Cancer Research at the Texas Children’s Hospital Cancer Center.  They also give college scholarships to pediatric cancer patients and survivors.  My character is Grape Nut, dressing in a full purple body suit, with purple angel wings and tutu, and bunny ears.  I’m called Grape Nut as I am purple like a grape, and I am a nut.  I do crazy things.

I love Wipeout, and during the summer of 2010 while watching the show, I thought how funny it would be to run the course in the Grape Nut outfit.  Sent a text message to two friends, and their response was basically to go for it.  I also decided that if I got on the show, and happen to win that I would donate the $50,000.00 to the Snowdrop Foundation.

So it began:
Went online and did a search to see how to apply for the show, and get more information.  When I filled out the online application, I filled it out as Grape Nut would, not me.  Basically, I was funny with my answers.  You have to post a photo, and can add up to four more, so my main profile photo was of me in the full outfit, a few more of the outfit and then one serious head shot of me.  Next, I became a fan of Wipeout on Facebook and started following them on Twitter.  I began posting on their Facebook wall about wanting to be on the show, and I also had my friends post on their wall also.

Good friends of mine help me make some videos, and I linked them to Wipeout.  I then became a fan of Mystic Art Pictures on Facebook as they are the casting company for the show.  I would post on their wall about getting on the show.

Open Casting Call:
You do not need to attend an Open Casting Call to get a shot to be on the show, but I felt it would improve my chances.  So on October 15th, we flew out to Burbank as the casting call was the next day.  The event did not start until 11:00 AM, but we arrived about 6:00 AM to get in line.  I was the 8th person in line.  That was a fun experience as you get to talking to others around you, and you make new friends.  I had already made friends on Facebook with some, and it was great to finally meet them in person.  Many already knew about Grape Nut.  We had photos taken together, made a few little videos just to remember the experience.

Then it was time.  They were getting ready to start.  Okay, can’t say anything about what happened next, but when I left, I felt pretty good.  But then I started to worry, did I say the right things, was I funny, did I make it.

I got “the” call:
Time went by, not sure how many weeks had passed since the casting call, but I finally got “the” call.  I was heading to lunch, and got a call.  I knew the area code that I should be looking for, and there it was.  I was right, it was the production office.  They told me I had been picked to be on the show, and explained how everything works and the date I would need to be in California for filming.  I was so excited, but due to contracts, I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone.  Do you know how hard it is for me to keep a secret?

It’s time to be a contestant:
I flew out to California on a Sunday, as the show would be filmed the next day.  I doubt if I slept much that night, as I was afraid I would over sleep.  In the morning, I headed out to the course, and I got lost.  Well, I had my GPS and just didn’t pay attention when it told me to turn.  I panicked for a moment as I just didn’t want to screw things up.

When I arrived, I was escorted with a few others to the contestant trailer.  It was time to get to know the others, why they wanted to be on the show, what they do for a living, just your basic idle chatter.  Some even brought board games to help pass the time, but that didn’t last long, I think we were too nervous and excited to play games.

We then meet Matt Kunitz, the executive producer of the show.  He says to the group, “there’s Grape Nut, this guy worked harder than anyone in the history of the show to get on”.  That made me feel good.  Then it was time to film the show.  I won’t say much about what happens, but I will tell you that I did finish the first course, yet my time was not good enough to move to the next round.  And I can tell you, it is harder to run the course than you think.  And the water temperature, well it’s very cold.  But is is an experience that I will never forget.

What is a little funny, on that episode, one obstacle we got covered in oatmeal.  Well, after I can the course, I took a long shower.  On the way back to the hotel, I stop to pick up a six pack, I needed it.  I get back to the room, look in the mirror and see the side of my face and my ear is covered in dry oatmeal.  I laughed thinking about what the people in the store thought when they saw my face.  By the way, I still have the shirt that I wore on the show, and it still has dry oatmeal on it.

The show airs:
We get an email telling us that we will be the first Spring show to air, and the date.  A few days before the show airs, ABC posts on their website about the show, and they use my photo to promote it.  How awesome is that?  I am briefly in the opening clip yelling “I’m stuck”, and then around the seven minute mark, you’ll see me for about 20 seconds.  They call me the Purple Easter Chicken.  What is interesting, when you look at the video and then at the photos, it’s not the way that I remember it.  There is a professional photographer on the course taking photos.  I look at mine thinking “I don’t remember that happening”.

Overall:
This was a great experience and something that I will never forget.  I made a lot of friends at the casting call and the day we filmed, and I have also become friends with many that were on other episodes, and with contestants from Wipeout Canada and Total Wipeout.  I plan on heading back to California soon to hang out with some of my new friends.

Videos:
The video I made for Wipeout
Video at the casting Call

This year, I dedicated my run to the parents of cancer patients. The parents go through so much, yet stay so strong during the battle.

A few days before the run, I started to get an allergy cold. Tried everything to fight it, but I wasn’t recovering fast enough. The morning of the run, I still wasn’t feeling that great, but I knew I had to run as there were a lot of people counting on me. The run started off great, but I was in the “open” division, which means I was near the back. For about the first 5 miles, it was crowded on the course. I was feeling good, and my times were very good. Some of my miles were a little faster than I wanted, so I had to slow my pace. I finished at 2:43:44 which beat my time of 3:00:45 from last year.

Interesting Numbers:
Official Time: 2:43:44
Placed 7402 of 9397 finishers
458 of 524 males 45-49
3620 of 4172 males

I want to say thank you once again for all your support.

When I was little, not sure of when as that was so long ago, but I always wanted to be a photographer.  At 16, my parents got me a camera for Christmas.  Now, I did go to the store with mom to pick it out.  She wrapped it, put it under the Christmas Tree, but I was an anxious kid.  Every day after school, I would come home, carefully unwrap the box, and get the camera out.  I read the instruction book over and over.  After playing with the camera, I would put it back in the box, re-tape the paper, and put it back under the tree.  By Christmas Day, I knew everything there was to know about the camera.

My first job, I worked in the camera store on Main Street at Walt Disney World.  I loved it.  I even sold an expensive camera to someone, and we didn’t even speak the same language.  Very cool.  But since Disney World was 50 miles from home, it was decided a job closer would be better.  I got an after school job at Stan’s Photo on Merritt Island.  I was in Heaven.  Working in a camera store and learning everything I could.  There was even a darkroom where I could do some printing.

Also during this time, the high school band director was into photography, and took me under his wing.  He taught me how to develop film, both color and black & white.  Taught me so much about printing with an enlarger, and even little tricks.  Secret, to reduce wrinkles, you stretch pantyhose under the lens when making the print.  I knew how to dodge and burn, you name it, I could do magic in the darkroom.

A lot of what I learned over the years was self taught.  I couldn’t afford college or any special training.  I hit the books and experimented a lot.

When I graduated from high school, I moved to North Carolina with my parents.  When I was 19, I opened a camera store.  It was small, but starting out with basically nothing, I was proud.  But being young, not having good resources and not really knowing how to run a business, I had to shut it down.  I was sad, but I was proud because at least I tried.

Situations came up and I ended back down in Florida.  Worked night shift at Circle K, had a job at a camera store, and then gave up on everything to be a manager at Wendy’s.  Photography was not getting me anywhere, so I had to try something else.  I was at Wendy’s for a few years, then decided I needed to try to get back to my true love, photography.  I landed a job at a big photo lab that printed mainly for professional photographers.  Soon, I would be the manager for the sports/events printing department.  Everything there was great.  I was still in “photography”, just not taking photos.  But I was okay with it.

Then in December of 1989, the owner of the lab asked me if I would come out to Houston to help get the new lab going.  It was only supposed to be a six weeks deal.  Well, I fell in love with the city the moment I arrived.  I helped get the lab going, and then it was time for me to return to Florida.  I didn’t want to leave.  So, I was told to go back or not have a job.  I lost the job.

Soon after losing that job, I was able to land a job with a photography studio.  I learned a lot there, had a good time, but I couldn’t be creative like I want to be.  I ended up leaving and becoming a manager for Eckerd Express Photo.  While there, I started to try to get back into my photography.  Finally had a job that I had weekends off and could do things.  I was there for several years, but some of the corporate stuff required, I couldn’t agree with.  Big corporations are about numbers, not customer service.

Now off to a mom and pop One Hour Photo shop.  It was a fun job, to a point.  I was able to work on my photography, and even used the darkroom to print my own work.  Some of my prints were in magazines.  But I did most of the photography for free, just trying to get my foot in the door.  The only reason I left that job is because the owners fought every day and I just could not handle it.

So that leads to where I am now.  Back in 1997, I started working for another photo lab.  Once again, not doing photography, but still in the same field.  After about 5 years, I took a leave of absence just to see if I could get my photography going.  I tried everything, but I never had the money or the right resources to make it.  I was doing what I could with what I had.  Finally, I had to crawl back to the lab and see if they would let me back.  Luckily they did.

So, I work part time in a photo lab.  I do photography on the side, when I can.  I do work for other photographers just to help pay my bills.

Times I have watched America’s Next Top Model, I dream about those fashion photo shoots that they do.  They have such great equipment, lighting and staff.  And the indoors sets they have, I would die to be able to have sets like that.  I would love to have my own place to do what I dream for.  I love fashion photography, I love to make people look so pretty.

My answer to what my dream job is, to be a fashion photographer.  But I don’t dream about it anymore as that dream seems to have faded away as I know it can’t be reached.  But don’t worry, I am a happy person.  I have wonderful friends and family, and that is all that matters.

Certified 5K – 8:00 am
Toddler Dash – 9:15 am
Family & Kids 1 Mile Run – 9:20 am
Silent Auction & Raffle 7:30 am – 11:00 am

Bess Campbell Elementary School – 1000 Shadow Bend Drive
In the Greatwood Community in Sugar Land

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