Projo Running Blog

Kevin Long learned about fellow triathlete Jon Blais the way many others around the country did - by watching NBC's coverage of the 2005 Ford Ironman World Championships, where the Seekonk native became the first person with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis to complete the challenging race.

And like so many others, Long's association with the "Blazeman'' did not stop there: ``I was coached by a good friend of his last year and was slowly drawn into the (Blazeman Foundation) through hosting an ALS spin-a-thon and then being invited onto the Board of Directors when we decided to form an official non-profit. "

Asked to share his thoughts about what Blais achieved in the two years since being diagnosed with ALS, Long, of Pound Ridge, N.Y., had this to say: ``The resounding sentiment of people regarding Jon's passing (on Sunday) is that this world is a better place for Jon having been a part of it. He has truly inspired people by his actions and words. His quote, "The meaning of life is to live life" says it all about him. His Team Blazeman Warriors will continue to fight his War on ALS and hopefully win the War that Jon started to end this disease."

More information about the Blazeman Foundation and the Team Blazeman Warriors can be found at http://www.waronals.com.

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