Ironman 70.3 EagleMan
The Blazeman Foundation for ALS and the 2012 EnduraFit Ironman 70.3 EagleMan Triathlon
The Columbia Triathlon Association, Inc, a 501c-3 nonprofit corporation, (CTA) has made available to the Blazeman Foundation for ALS , a 501c-3 nonprofit charity, twenty (20) charity/community Entry slots for EnduraFit Ironman70.3 EagleMan Triathlon, 2013. Anyone interested in obtaining a charity slot to this great event should contact Mary Ann Blais at blazemanmom@comcast.net. Each slot is $500 and all fund proceeds will be donated by CTA and will be earmarked for the 3rd part of our ALS research efforts, the procurement of donated postmortem brain and tissue from ALS patients. This research project is in effect and more information is available here. Our plan is to initially fund 5-10 procurements per year and create awareness for this very important area of research. This is a little known important part of ALS sponsored research. Jon donated his brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves to the University of Maryland’s, NICHD Brain and Tissue Bank under the direction of H. Ronald Zielke, Ph.D. Jon always said “if I am going to talk the talk I must walk the walk”. Robert Vigorito, CTA Race Director, Blazeman Warrior and BMF board member flew to Florida after Jon passed in May 2007, and harvested those very organs.
This tissue bank is solely for donated ALS tissue that can be shared with ALS researchers. By supporting this effort through The Blazeman Charity slots at the EnduraFit Ironman 70.3 EagleMan Triathlon, you are helping to continue this dedicated fund for this very needed ALS tissue for research.
A recent article in the Baltimore Magazine highlights this much needed area of research. We have created a brochure that talks more about this project. Please share with pALS and their families.