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of 16:28:56, more than half an hour before the cutoff, he "log-rolled" across the finish line and is the first person with ALS to start and finish this race. He died on May 27, 2007. Some international triathletes continue to honor Blais and show their support for the fight against ALS by doing a "Blazeman-Roll" across the
Ironman finish-line.
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in Hawaii, a lifelong dream. As Blais put it, "Finishing the race is huge for me. No one is beating ALS. No one has done anything but walk away and die." His resolve to finish the race was unwavering as he stated, "Even if I have to be rolled across the finish line, I'm finishing." With a total time
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Exemplifying the passion amateur athletes have for the cause, 18-year-old "Blaze Kid" Jennifer Hansen had raised almost $ 30,000 for the organization before reaching eligibility for her first
Ironman event in 2011. The San Francisco athlete said the disease hit home with her in 2009 when a beloved
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The
Blazeman Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises money internationally to foster awareness of and research on ALS. Branding itself as the "Multi-Sport Movement To End Lou Gehrig's Disease," the organization was founded in 2007 by friends and family of Jon Blais. As a popular
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money-raising cause and "reason to race" for professional and amateur triathletes, the organization is the subject of frequent press coverage in local news outlets around the world and in media devoted to running, swimming, bicycling, and triathlon competition.
54:(ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or motor neurone disease, a progressive disease in which the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement degenerate and die off. He was permitted to enter the 2005
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The organization operates under the leadership of Jon Blais' parents, Bob and Mary Ann Blais, his sister, Jennifer Murphy, and friends. Supporters include leading
Ironman competitors, such as
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because of its reputation as a triathlon mecca and to work with learning disabled and at risk students. On May 2, 2005, at age 33, he was diagnosed with
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139:. The Providence Journal, reproduced on alswarriorpoet.com. June 3, 2007. Archived from
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356:"Blazeman Foundation Awards Grant for ALS Research at Wake Forest Baptist"
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380:. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Archived from
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306:"Blazeman Foundation Releases Full-Length Celebrity Music Video"
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190:"In memory of triathlete and hero Jon Blais, the Blazeman"
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Research funding from the foundation has been awarded to
204:"World Ironman Championships: beyond my wildest dreams"
34:(ALS) and is the namesake of the Blazeman Foundation.
22:(August 30, 1971 – May 27, 2007), also known as
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Deaths from motor neuron disease in the United States
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Northwestern
University Feinberg School of Medicine
406:. Columbia Triathlon Association. Archived from
110:($ 400,000 committed through 2012 ), and the
104:Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
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206:. chrissiewellington.org. October 21, 2011
255:. Northwestern University. Archived from
99:basketball coach was diagnosed with ALS.
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281:. Blazeman Foundation. Archived from
228:. Blazeman Foundation. Archived from
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378:"Braving an Extraordinary Challenge"
358:. Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
329:"At 18, "Blaze Kid" Awaits Arizona"
226:"Welcome to Blazeman's War on ALS"
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331:. Lava Magazine. Archived from
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435:, Jon Blais' personal website
251:Feinberg School of Medicine.
52:amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
32:amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
30:noted for his fight against
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464:American male triathletes
404:"The Blazeman Foundation"
327:Barber, Jennifer Ward.
168:San Diego Union-Tribune
137:"Jon "Blazeman" Blais"
112:University of Maryland
44:Seekonk, Massachusetts
308:. Triathlete magazine
48:San Diego, California
143:on November 28, 2012
106:($ 11,300 in 2011),
91:, Bryan Rhodes, and
439:Blazeman Foundation
384:on 12 December 2012
354:Whittington, Eric.
259:on 12 December 2012
164:"Giving it his all"
73:Chrissie Wellington
63:Blazeman Foundation
42:Born and raised in
16:American triathlete
335:on 27 January 2013
285:on 5 February 2012
279:"News & Media"
26:, was an American
56:Ironman Triathlon
46:, Blais moved to
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459:2007 deaths
454:1971 births
210:November 8,
173:October 16,
77:Leanda Cave
448:Categories
414:3 February
388:3 February
362:3 February
339:3 February
312:3 February
289:3 February
263:1 February
236:1 February
153:(obituary)
118:References
81:Andy Potts
28:triathlete
89:Matt Reed
20:Jon Blais
24:Blazeman
416:2012
390:2012
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212:2011
175:2005
149:2013
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