The Beating the Odds Foundation held a Beating The Odds Rally at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

The Beating the Odds Foundation held a Beating The Odds Rally at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA, on May 10, 2005.

United States Senator Rick Santorum and Art Rooney II, President of The Pittsburgh Steelers, were Honorary Co-Chairmen. Beating The Odds, in partnership with Pennsylvania schools, brought 8,000 middle school students to Heinz Field to hear stories of dreams, obstacles, and never giving up. Hosted by Pittsburgh Steelers great, Rocky Bleier, and shark attack survivor and competitive surfer, Bethany Hamilton, unbelievable people representing the true meaning of “beating the odds” told their stories of tragedy and triumph, of hope and inspiration. Additional motivational speakers for the event were: Bob Wieland, a true American hero who lost both of his legs in Vietnam, Adam Taliaferro, a young promising football player at PSU who endured a career ending injury, Erik Weihenmayer, a blind mountain climber who has reached all of the highest peaks of the seven summits, and Curt Brinkman, an eight-time Paralympics medal winner and the first wheelchair racer to win the Boston Marathon.