I am competing in the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii on Saturday, October 10, 2009.   The Ironman is a grueling 140.6-mile journey consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike, and a 26.4-mile run that must be completed in 17 hours to earn the coveted title of Ironman.  Part of my motivation for doing the Hawaii Ironman is to increase awareness of type 1 diabetes which affect 1 in 300 school kids, is rapidly growing and is likely the second most common chronic childhood illness. Diabetes is an insidious illness that impacts all the blood vessels in the body.  Type 1 diabetes requires the constant injection of insulin in order to survive and the constant monitoring of blood sugar levels typically using a finger stick to draw blood for analysis multiple times a day in order to keep complications at bay.

Ultimately, my involvement with JDRF led to my taking part in my first 100 mile bike ride, a fund-raiser for JDRF, and put me on a path to participate in triathlons, including an Ironman 70.3 (half-Ironman) in 2007 and 2009. Although a former ‘couch-potato’, I decided to take shot a applying for a lottery in the Ford Ironman World Championships for 2009 and use that as a way to help fund raise. I was 1 of 200 people selected at random from out of more than 7000 submissions.  (Ford is a very strong supporter of JDRF, having given millions to JDRF, for which our family is very appreciative.)

As the CEO and President for Labcyte Inc, my first priority is to continue grow the business of this novel, proprietary technology that uses ultrasound to move liquids without touching. This approach is now being used by the top 10 pharmaceutical companies to improve discovery of compounds that might be used for therapeutics (including potentially for type 1 diabetes.) It has been described in one peer reviewed article by Astra Zeneca as revolutionary and as  the most significant discovery in therapeutic compound management in decades.

My next priority is to raise money for JDRF. If I become the top fund-raiser for the 2009 World Championships, the investment firm Janus will provide an additional $10,000 to JDRF over and above what I am able to fund raise at the website. Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Janus Charity Challenge.  The money will go to a great cause, JDRF, with the ability to help people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes as well a potentially others with autoimmune diseases.

Thanks for your help!!!  Wish an old dude like me luck!

Mark

PS  You can follow my progress, or lack thereof, on-line during race day! There will be a link at http://www.ironman.com/.

To be continued.