Jon "Blazeman" Blais
Today - November 10th - meet Jon Blais. This is one of the men who prompted Ben to create 2175 for ALS and the reason he is out doing what he is doing, right this minute. Let's learn from Jon today - and do on thing today for someone we love.
*Be Well,
Team 2175
 | Watch Videos on Jon Blais |
| |
| |
Born and raised in southern New England, Jonathan S. Blais had always been an elite athlete and multi-sport competitor. Given a death sentence in the form of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease) in May of 2005, at the age of 33, Jon accepted his diagnosis and decided to do incredible things with it. He began waging a War on ALS from the beginning. This was his way of dealing with it; this is how he lived out his days... fighting for research and raising awareness.
A decade prior to his diagnosis, Jon decided to move from his home in Seekonk, Massachusetts to San Diego to finish school and eventually get his Master's degree in teaching. Focusing his energy on helping kids who were emotionally challenged and learning-disabled, Jon became a teacher at the Aseltine School. This is also where he became better known as "The Blazeman." Jon did amazing work with the Aseltine kids. Through summer recreation programs and outdoor activities, his students learned to overcome obstacles and become stronger through hard work and determination. When Jon was told he had ALS, and subsequently only 2-5 years to live, he left the life he'd built, and the many he'd touched behind, and headed back east. In a poignant moment, once caught on film, Jon's dad Bob, was quoted as telling his son, "You're coming home to live, not die."
Competing in triathlons for 20 years, Jon always wanted to compete in an Ironman - especially in Hawaii. On October 15, 2005, only 5 months after being diagnosed, Jon became the only individual with ALS to complete an Ironman, finishing in 16:28:56. He crossed the finish line by log-rolling over it, and since then, the "log roll" has been graciously performed by countless athletes as a symbol of hope, and more importantly, as a means of raising awareness for ALS.
In one short year, the devastation of ALS had taken over Jon's existence, but he refused to let it break his will. He went back to Kona in October of 2006, not as a competitor, but as a voice for ALS and as a cheerleader; because someone did the competing for him. Brian Breen, a Chicago native who won a lottery spot, learned of Jon's battle and decided to race in his honor at the 2006 Ironman. A more emotional scene one could not imagine as Breen, the "Crazy Irishman", log-rolled over that line and ran to Jon's side. They victoriously embraced each another as one more battle in the War was won. Luckily, NBC was there to "get it on film" and share it with the world. Thanks, Wooman.
Jon’s impact on the sport of triathlon is one that many will never forget. In February 2007, Jon was awarded the Competitor of the Year award at the Endurance Sport Awards ceremony. Two months later, the NBC broadcast of the 2006 Ford Ironman World Championship won a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Edited Sports Special, of which Peter Henning dedicated to Jon. Less than one month after Jon’s passing, the World Triathlon Corporation announced a new initiative where all domestic Ironman, Ironman 70.3, and IronGirl events will reserve race number 179, Jon’s Kona number, for a special athlete, a first in the world of triathlons. Since then, many warriors have requested number 179 at various sporting events throughout the country.
In two short years, Jon became a powerful voice for ALS, using the sport he loved to help promote awareness and fundraising to find a cure for this horrific disease. Jon passed away on May 27, 2007 and while he is missed dearly by those close to him, his spirit and the lessons he has taught us all live on.
Jon always believed in ending your story with a quote. Others have already said it best, so it's better to remember those and go out strong. So here goes… “The meaning of life is to live life”...Thanks, Blazeman.
-NRP07
Team Blazeman
Team Blazeman is a nationwide team of multisport athletes who compete for a cause larger than themselves. Members of Team Blazeman, known as Blazeman Warriors, help carry out the mission of The Blazeman Foundation for ALS by raising awareness about ALS. As they train and race, Blazeman Warriors raise awareness and commit to attainable fundraising objectives to support cutting-edge scientific research to find the causes and a cure for ALS.
Blazeman Warriors keep the spirit of Jon Blais alive. They show others, and discover themselves, that failure is not an option and to never give up. For that reason, Blazeman Warriors achieve success and fulfillment in their multi-sport endeavors that they never dreamed possible. Blazeman Warriors commemorate Jon’s 2005 Ironman finish by rolling across the finish line to the cheers of spectators, a gesture that has come to symbolize the War on ALS.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This biography is published on the Blazeman Foundation for ALS website and can be accessed by clicking here.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your dollar will make a difference. Please click here to help Ben reach the finish...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
