PHILADELPHIA -- A Boothwyn, Penn., native acquired a rather unique souvenir from the U.S. Marine Corps today while attending the Summer X Games in Philadelphia.
Anthony Toscano, a 19-year-old electrician, won a brand new Marine Corps skateboard while participating in the Marine Corps' 'Chin-up Challenge.'
"I just wanted to see how many pull-ups I could do, and I ended up winning a skateboard," said a very enthusiastic Toscano.
While taking part in the event, Toscano entered his name into a drawing for the skateboard. The Marines picked his name from a pool of several hundred names.
"I think this is good publicity for the Marines," said Toscano, who has a friend in the Corps. "A lot of people come to the X Games and see the Marines running the Chin-Up Challenge and want to participate. It's a lot of fun."
Throughout the duration of the Summer X Games, the Marine Corps will be giving away several of the skateboards, which display the Marine Corps Emblem and the words 'Pain is weakness leaving the body.'
The Marine Corps, who has been an associate sponsor of the X Games for six years, manages several interactive events at the Summer X Games.
ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC broadcast the Summer X Games on television nationwide giving the Corps a vehicle to connect to young people across the country.
"ESPN's Summer X Games is a unique media sponsorship vehicle that allows the Marine Corps access to young men and women who enjoy physical challenges and pushing themselves to their mental and physical limits," said Gary Sayers the Marine Corps' advertising account supervisor with J. Walter Thompson Advertising Company. "ESPN [and ABC's] commitment to the program affords excellent television coverage in reaching these young people."
The Marine Corps Recruiting Command sponsors nation-wide events to increase awareness and young people's propensity to enlist in the Marine Corps.
The X Games is just one of the national events the Marine Corps sponsors. Other events include the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) National Convention, the National Council of La Raza National Convention and the national Future Farmers of America National Convention. Regional Marine recruiting stations sponsor many other local oriented events and festivals to assist them in their recruiting efforts in their local communities.