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, 2012. 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 still in the planning stages and the BMF shall keep you posted as we formalize the project. 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 would be solely for donated ALS tissue that can be shared with ALS researchers. The Blazeman Foundation for ALS would cover the costs of procurement and harvesting in conjunction with the support of the CTA. More info will be forthcoming at a later date.
By supporting this effort through The Blazeman Charity slots at the EnduraFit Ironman 70.3 EagleMan Triathlon, you will be helping to establish a special and dedicated fund for this very needed tissue for research.