Projo Running Blog

Passages: Blazeman loses valiant 2-year battle with ALS 11:39 PM Sun, May 27, 2007 | Permalink Carolyn Thornton    Email

Known to his friends as the ``Blazeman,'' the 35-year-old Seekonk native and Rhode Island College graduate waged a valiant war against the disease, more commonly known as Lou Gherig's Disease, after being diagnosed on May 2, 2005.

Realizing that those with ALS usually die within two to five years after being diagnosed, the special education teacher worked tirelessly to create more awareness about the neurodegenerative disease that relentlessly attacks the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord and for which there is still no cure.

Documenting his efforts on his Web site http://www.alswarriorpoet.com, Blais mobilized an army of triathletes - called Team Blazeman Warriors - to help with his "War on ALS." He and that dedicated group of friends have spent the past two years holding fundraisers throughout the United States to support the newly-created Blazeman Foundation, which is committed to creating awareness, funding research and finding effective treatments for individuals with ALS.

In 2005, Blais became the first competitor suffering with ALS to complete the prestigious and grueling Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.

Already wheelchair bound the following year, he was forced to watch the event as a spectator. Brian Breen - a 31-year-old banker from Tinley Park, Illinois - completed the 2006 event in tribute to Blais.

In accepting an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Edited Sports Special for the 2006 Ford Ironman World Championship at the 28th Annual Sports Emmy Awards Ceremony, Ironman’s Executive Television Producer Peter Henning announced that the award was being dedicated to Blais and his family.

Blais was also named the Competitor of the Year at the 15th annual Competitor Endurance Sports Awards, held this past February in San Diego.

Blais' parents, Mary Ann and Bob, sent out this e-mail following their son's death on Sunday:

Dear Friends,

Jonathan passed away at approx 8:30 Sunday, May 27, 2007
He was a great son, brother, uncle and friend. We shall miss him more than you know,
He lost this battle in hopes others may win the war.

Donations to the Blazeman Foundation or Jonathan S. Blais Scholarship fund would be appreciated. I shall follow up with the pertinent information for these funds.

Please keep up the fight that Jon started 2 yrs ago in his honor.

Mary Ann and Bob Blais

See and hear Blais and his family talk about his battle with ALS and his quest to complete the 2005 Ironman at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Vrjp2P0GlE

For more information on becoming involved with Team Blazeman or making a donation, log on to http://www.waronals.com

On his Web site, Blais explains in his own words: WHY SUPPORT BLAZEMAN FOUNDATION?

Utilizing Blazeman's War on ALS Multi-Sport Movement will help you reach the minds of those needed to sustain and develop your efforts further. Blazeman’s courage makes it possible for others to follow: having a podium to speak from. Synergy of Blazeman Foundation takes place when energy is harnessed together as “Blazeman Warriors”. Strength in numbers is necessary to be heard collectively. As we grow, you grow, and vice-versa… together those who support Blazeman Foundation’s Movement of “Blazeman Warriors” enables Blazeman Foundation to be much more effective achieving its mission of waging war in Blazeman’s War on ALS. -blazeman

Leave a comment

Name:

Email:

URL:  

Remember personal info?

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.