Mount Si’s Lanigan heading to China

Published 9:52 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

Come this June Mount Si senior Erik Lanigan will be taking a trip

to China for an international track and field competition. The trip,

scheduled for June 24 through July 3, will include stays inCanton and Hong

Kong and involve meets in those two cities, a Friendship Exchange and

guided tours.

The Guangdong Institute of Sport and Physical Education of the

People’s Republic of China, working with the Hong Kong Track and Field

Association, the Washington Cultural Exchange and USA Track and Field

set up the trip. During the last 13 years Washington Cultural Exchange

has helped over 4,500 student athletes participate in similar competitions

around the world.

Lanigan has lettered in football, basketball and track but

considers track as his main sport. He has competed in the Junior Olympics

Nationals twice, at state twice, is two-time league champion in the high jump

and plans to win at state this year. Academically he’s maintained a 3.2

grade point average and is on the Mount Si honor roll.

“This is a great opportunity to represent my school, state and the

country as an ambassador to this Pacific Rim country,” Lanigan writes. “I

plan to represent us well, and it is my desire to extend my educational

experience by becoming a part of this Washington Cultural Exchange athletic

program.”

The cost for the trip is $2,195, which will include hotels,

airfare, meals, tours and his USA uniform. The responsibility for raising

the money is up to each athlete and their parents. Lanigan needs to make

his full payment by June 1 and is requesting assistance from Valley residents.

If you wish to contribute, make a check out to “Washington

Cultural Exchange” and mail it to Lanigan at 1112 Borst Ave. NE, North Bend,

WA 98045. The Exchange is a non-profit corporation and contributions are

tax deductible. For more information, you can contact Lanigan at (425)

831-6034.

“Any pledges and contributions are a great help as it is necessary

for me to raise over two thousand dollars to meet my minimum expenses for

the exchange trip,” he adds. “Thank you for any support in this endeavor.”