Ring the Bell! David Bell wins with personal weight loss pledges for charity.

Feb. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- “I want to be in the ring at least once in my lifetime,” says aspiring cage fighter David Bell.

Today, Bell is a small business owner and father of four with another child due in March. He’s also a man who sets and achieves his goals. Last October, Bell decided to lose 60 pounds and took pledges to help 10 local adults with disabilities compete in the 2011 Special Olympics. And, of course, one day he wants to compete in a cage fighting match – but that’s a long term goal.

“I was inspired by a friend to do something extraordinary,” said Bell, who began his weigh loss adventure at 286.5 lbs. By making his personal goals public, Bell found the obligation and commitment he needed to jumpstart and sustain his weight loss efforts. Today he weighs in at 246 lbs. His final weight goal is 226.5 lbs.

And if his personal accomplishment is not enough, raising money to help Hillsborough Achievement and Resource Center (HARC) clients participate in the South Florida Special Olympics this year gives Bell all the motivation he needs and he’s already raised several thousand dollars in pledges through his “Team David for HARC” campaign.

From Nov. 1 to Jan. 31, Bell took pledges, earmarked for HARC, and raised approximately $2500, including at $1,000 grant from local Walmart stores.

Bell leads a busy life as the owner of P.A. Printing and Tampa Bay Vehicle Wraps, two growing companies. He attends church, is a member of a business networking chapter, BNI Profit Pros, and is a Knight of Columbus. He is also busy taking personal and business development courses through Landmark and Dale Carnegie Training.

But there’s still time to support a favorite charity in the midst of all of his activity. According to Richard Lilliston, HARC’s CEO, “David wants to help provide adults with disabilities attending our day programs with equipment, uniforms and anything else they need to participate in this year’s Special Olympics, and while some have competed before as individuals, this will be the first time they compete as members of a HARC team.”

Bell knows the value of a team. Since Nov. 1, Bell, has been working a nutrition and exercise plan built by his own team: personal trainer, Kaj Gruening of KGFit and Bernard Morning of GNC. With their help and support, David is now within 20 lbs of achieving his 60 pound weight loss goal -- shedding 40 lbs in three months. And, throughout the month of February, Bell will be training the HARC Special Olympics soccer team every Thursday at noon, with some additional trainings scattered throughout the month.

The South Florida Special Olympics soccer and other area games will take place at the University of South Florida on March 5, 2011.

To learn more about Team David for HARC, visit the campaign blog at www.teamdavid.typepad.com. You can also e-mail a pledge to teamdavidforHARC@gmail.com or visit the HARC web site at www.hillsarc.com. Checks can be mailed to Steve Roberto, HARC Special Events Director, 2714 W. Kirby St., Tampa, FL 33614.

About HARC
HARC is one of the oldest and most respected charities serving adults with intellectual and physical disabilities in the Tampa Bay Region. HARC is a non-sectarian, non-profit organization that was founded in 1953 by parents of children with Down Syndrome, Autism and other developmental disabilities initially as a support group. HARC has since evolved into a 501C3 charity providing services to hundreds of adults with a variety of disabilities including Alzheimer’s. HARC is governed by a community Board of Directors, managed by a dedicated staff of 170 professionals and caregivers, and supported by a network of over 100 volunteers. The organization currently serves over 400 adults with disabilities throughout Hillsborough County each year and continues to grow by offering many different types of services to support people in their homes, in the community, and on the job.

# # #

Heidelberg PR specializes in highly targeted media relations, event planning, internal communication and campaign development. Primary focus areas include healthcare, education, real estate and retail.