In 2005, Jon Blais was diagnosed with ALS. For those of you who know little about the disease ... those diagnosed deteriorate rapidly ... between 1 and 3 years. They are generally given a 3 to 5 year life expectancy post diagnosis. That is, if they take part in minimal physical activity. Blias decided that since he had been given a death sentence, he wanted to acheive this lifelong dream ... to become an Ironman. He completed this competition that same year (without training because no doctor would approve his medical dismissal to do so). At the end of the race, Blais rolled across the finish line (because as he told his family ... I'm either going to finish this race or someone will have to roll me across the line. In the end, he rolled himself)!
Now triathletes the world over are wearing the blazeman jersey and rolling across finish lines. They are doing it in honor of those suffering the horrendous illness and for Blais ... the ultimate warrior. Some day ... there will be a cure!
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