Delmar resident Tina Barach has been selected by Tyson Foods as one of the top 25 finalists eligible to be selected as Tyson’s Gold Medal Mom and win a trip for two to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Tyson’s Gold Medal Mom contest is a nationwide search for that one special mom worthy of gold-medal recognition. Among thousands of entries, Barach stood out as an inspirational woman whose selfless dedication has helped others to live their dreams.
She was nominated by her daughter, Eliza, who said her mother knows the true meaning of dedication and sacrifice.
Eliza’s entry was titled, A real gold medalist, and described the sacrifices Barach has made for her daughter.
Barach’s daughter has been a gymnast since the age of 5 when her dreams of competing at the NCAA level and going to the Olympics began. A few years ago, in the midst of her daughter’s rigorous training, Barach lost her job and couldn’t afford to pay the gymnastics tuition. In order to pay the bill, Barach took a night job cleaning the gym and continues to work there in order to keep her daughter’s gold-medal dreams alive.
`My Mom has always been my biggest supporter,` Eliza Barach wrote. `She has never missed a competition of mine. She cheers until her voice is gone, not just for me but for all my team as well.`
Tina Barach said words can’t describe how touched she is to be nominated and to be selected as one of Tyson’s Gold Medal Mom finalists.
`Being nominated as a finalist is unbelievable. I was so surprised. Eliza’s essay made me feel so proud to be her mom. She is such an amazing child I would do what ever it takes for her to continue her chosen sport,` said Barach.
`Knowing that she feels the way she does is what makes being a parent not a job but a gift. It would be my honor to sit with Eliza at the 2008 summer Olympics. Whether I win or not, in my heart I have already won the best prize ever, being a mom to three awesome children.`
Voting in the Tyson Foods Gold Medal Mom contest is open until June 11, and can be done at www.goldmedalmom.com. The winner will be announced June 18.“
