Jim Knaub- The PCH Cleanup Project

I participated in Marathons and road races (in my wheelchair) all over the world for 25 years. I started training two years after an accident left me a paraplegic. Prior to that I was a pole vaulter at Long Beach State just trying to make the 1980 Olympic team. After going through rehabilitation I thought I would try wheelchair road racing. I wasn’t sure how far it would take me, but I knew it was something I wanted to try. Part of my training as a pole vaulter included riding my bike to Huntington Beach pier and back for fitness. So, I figured if I could make it to the pier and back in a wheelchair(I was living in Lakewood at the time) I could do a marathon on my wheelchair.

Well... I made it, and the rest is history. I went on to win the Boston Marathon five times and the Long Beach Marathon 11 times as well as other races all over the world. Through 25 years of racing I always wheeled to Huntington Beach pier and back and the stretch of road between Warner Avenue and the cliffs was very special to me. I trained on that road several days a week and sometimes twice a day. Wheelchair racers from all over the world would come to train with me to learn my secrets and that stretch of road was one of my secrets. The truth is, I had no secrets… I just worked really hard.

Driving that stretch of road over the last year, I’ve seen a lot of trash, and even witnessed people tossing things out of their cars. So, when Covid hit and I had nothing to do, I decided to do something about that. I’ve been pulling a wagon behind my wheelchair, for a few weeks, and picking up litter from the side of the road. Being back out there has brought back a lot of great memories and special memories of all the friends that I met along the way. It’s also been a lot like visiting an old friend that I hadn’t seen in a long time. That road taught me a lot of life lessons and I could never repay that.

I’m starting this Go Fund me to help with the expenses and to start a campaign to:
1- encourage other people to just make the time to spend some time outdoors and find a place that is special to them and look for any litter that you can pick up. Ultimately,
2- I would like to create an educational program that would teach kids about littering and recycling. I would be available to go into the schools and present my program.
3- I hope that this campaign will grow to a point that will educate and encourage people not to liter.
Any help is appreciated and if you happen to be cruising down PCH, and you see me out there, give a honk and wave because I’ll be having a blast!