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BLAZEMAN 5K RUN/WALK

Information & Background

Entry forms, updates and general information will be added here up until race day.
Please keep checking back for the latest...

Saturday, May 13th, 2006

The Blazeman 5K
“Decision Must Be Instant… Commitment Must Be Total.”
-Blazeman


Sponsored By: AmeriFi Mortgage Corporation

The Blazeman 5K Walk/Run will benefit the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Therapy Development Foundation or ALSTDF. Jon Blais aka “Blazeman” competed in and finished the 2005 27th Ford Ironman World Championship in Hawaii in the face of great adversity. He was diagnosed with ALS also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a motor neuron disease, which progressively and relentlessly destroys muscle control of individuals. Students at Flat River Middle School in Coventry, RI met Jon, learned of his story, and organized this event to help. Please come and support a great cause to raise awareness and money to help combat ALS.

Where: Flat River Middle School
1675 Flat River Road, Coventry, RI

When: May 13th, 2006 10:00 a.m.

An Entry Fee will help support our fight to end ALS
$15 pre-registration fee on line at needtorace.com
$18 Mail-in Download Here
$20 fee after May 9th

Contributions can be made out to: ALS-TDF
Care of the Jon Blais Fund and sent to:
Vicki Norris-Karten
4 Lister Drive
Barrington, RI 02806
E-Mail: vnk@cox.net

All funds raised will be donated to the

On-Line Registration

Click Here To Download The Entry Form




Design By: Steven Feeney
Flat River Middle School, Coventry, RI




Race Sponsor Brochure


AmeriFi Sponsored Ad In The Providence Journal

Race Sponsors To Date
Flat River Middle School 8th Graders
Shechtman Halperin Savage, LLP Coventry Teachers Alliance
Jif Etcetera AmerFi Mortgage Corporation
Michael & Helena Shapiro Simas Family
Michele Cyr Davenport Construction, Inc.
Specialized Orthopedic Physical Therapy Adam Simas
Martineau & Manning, P.C. Flat River Middle School Student Council
Lonna Ramirez Knotty Oak Middle School Faculty
Town of Coventry LGS Consulting
Family Fitness Zone, LLC James Finucane
Frank Murphy Knotty Oak Middle School Faculty
Summer Villa Assisted Living Jackie Ricci
Town of Coventry The Cooney Family
The Myers Family Advanced Financial Services, Inc.
Ethide Laboratories, Inc. Charles Blanchette
Frank Moody
Goods & Services Donations
Tim Hortons Custom Costumes & Entertainment Productions
Rhode Island Label Works, Inc. DiPetrillos Bakery
Jerry's Market Fresh City
Borelli's Bakery Coca Cola
Chartwell's Dining K-12
Special thanks to Bob Rothenberg, Technical Advisor & Consultant
Raffle & Prize Donations
Applebee's Restaurant Pawtucket Red Sox
Nails by Christine Salon Serenity
Air Nails Coventry Hair Styles
Junior's Road House Restaurant Dave's Marketplace
Pool & Patio Claudette's Art Studio
FRMS Integrity Team
Summer Basket & Sports Basket		 FRMS Fusion Team
Gardening Basket
FRMS Liberty Team
Movie Basket		 FRMS Elements Team
Family Fun Night Basket
FRMS Pride Team
Stress Relief Basket		 Carrabba's Italian Grill
St. Bart's Club Restaurant Newport Tennis Hall of Fame
TGI Fridays Pampered Chef Basket-Thanks Helena Furtado
Susan's Salon Papa Gino's
FRMS Freedom Team
Fitness Basket		 Luigi's Restaurant
Epoxy Solutions Meritage Restaurant
Pane e Vino Kingston Liquor Mart



March 3, 2006

Dear Parents/Guardians:

As many of you know, our students had the privilege of meeting a true hero, Jon “Blazeman” Blais, when he spoke to the eighth graders in December. Jon was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, in May, 2005. ALS has no cure and no effective treatment. ALS is marked by a rapid loss of voluntary muscle control due to the death of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. The result is complete muscle paralysis, communication impairment, difficulty swallowing and breathing and eventual death. Following diagnosis, the average ALS patient survives 2 – 5 years.

Although plagued by early symptoms, Jon, an elite athlete, made it his mission to participate in the Ford Ironman Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii to raise awareness of ALS. Jon’s strength, determination and courage enabled him to successfully complete the race in just under 17 hours. He was the first man in history to complete the Ironman with ALS.

After watching the NBC film of the Ironman and listening to Jon’s story, the students decided that they had to do something to help this cause. They chose to hold a 5K Walk/Run which will be held on Saturday, May 13th in Coventry.

Needless to say, this is an enormous undertaking and we have heard through the students that some of the parents would like to get involved. On Thursday, March 9th at 7:00 PM we are having an informational meeting for parents that would like to hear more about this event. Jon will be present to answer any questions/concerns. All are invited and may choose to get involved at any level. All help is welcome!! We look forward to seeing you...

Sincerely,
Shawn Henderson
Race Chairperson


To Whom It May Concern:

We are asking for your assistance in promoting our first annual Blazeman 5k.

This race is in honor of a former teacher, Jon Blais who was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, on May 13th of last year. After being diagnosed he was determined to spread the word about ALS to raise money for some sort of treatment for the disease. This is because in the 70 years since Lou Gehrig's diagnosis there has only been one FDA approved drug that has failed to do little if anything for the symptoms. It is referred to as "diagnose and adios" Knowing that he only had 2-5 years left of his life Jon decided that his first step in raising awareness was going to be competing and finishing the Ford Ironman World Championship in Hawaii this past October. After hearing of his great accomplishment, it was unanimous: We needed to raise money for ALS research because we simply can not lose more great people like Jon to this motor-neuron disease.

This year on Saturday May 13, the one year anniversary of his diagnosis, Flat River Middle School will be hosting The Blazeman 5K. The purpose of this race is to raise awareness of the disease as well as raise money in Jon's search for a cure. All proceeds will go directly to the ALSTDF (ALS Therapy Development Foundation) a research facility based out of Cambridge, Massachusetts that funds research for the disease. Although in another 1-4 years, chances are Jon will no longer be with us, his voice will still be heard through this annual race among other fundraisers Jon has been involved in. We are asking for you to help us endorse this race so that we can help the ALSTDF fight the war on ALS. Any promotional assistance would be deeply appreciated, not just by Jon, but the upwards of 30,000 people who suffer from ALS. To learn more about Jon and his daily battle with ALS you can visit his website at www.ALSWarriorPoet.com. To visit the ALSTDF website log onto www.ALS.net.

Sincerely,

Students from Flat River Middle School


Saturday, January 28th, 2006
FRMS

After Jon left our school we all knew what we had to do: raise money for ALS research. This was a unanimous decision in Mr. Henderson's advisory. We brain-stormed many different ways to fund raise and ultimately decided to go canning. So Shelby and I went to Hollywood Video and after hearing John's story they were more then willing to let us can. In 8 hours we were able to raise $394.64 for the Blazeman. Although this is a great start it pales in comparison to what we could raise, which is why we have booked superbowl Sunday and the Saturday before to can at Stop & Shop and why we have started to plan a 5k, because this world can't afford to continue to lose heroic people like Jon to ALS.

-Erin

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