Jon Blais has passed away...

[Lise]

Thanks, RM, for letting us know. That disease is astonishing in its horribleness. I watched him finish Kona 2 years ago, then watched others roll across the finish line in his honor last year. What an amazing man. He accomplished so much and will long be remembered.

[mimitabby]

we watched the horrors of this disease in my dear grandmother, who lived a long long healthy life and then suddenly, at the age of 90, she started losing her voice. 2 years later, she died. At any age, this is a horrible way to go.

[Running Mommy]

Horrible indeed.
I remember watching last years Kona coverage and Jon was saying "last year I did the Ironman, this year I'm in a wheelchair, and next year I won't be here. I'll be dead." That really struck me because I knew it was true, but my heart wanted to believe that somehow he would beat it.
What courage he had to face death with such composure. His legacy will live on through the work that he did while he was here.
If you ever get a chance to support an athlete that is doing a race to raise money for ALS, please do what you can. It could be any one of us. It could be me... scary, very scary.
Rest in peace Jon, I will always remember the ALS warrior poet.

[KnottedYet]

RM - I watched that, too. Oh, this news hurts.