Yesterday I finally had the opportunity to meet Shad in person. We were able to get out for an enjoyable ride in scenic Ventura County, CA and enjoyed a nice dinner. Over the course of the few hours we were able to spend together, I couldn’t help but be inspired by Shad’s enthusiasm and general outlook on life. While Shad clearly has a big personality and is fun to spend time with, listening to his vision and goal’s for his foundation gave me a much deeper appreciation for how committed Shad is to bringing change to the lives of dialysis patients! I am very much looking forward to being a part of Team Ireland 2009!
Bio
Discovering Shad's story in Triathlete magazine was a serendiptious moment for me as I recently took it upon myself to find a worthy cause to champion. In reading Shad's story it was clear to me that I had found the perfect opportunity to contribute to a great cause that happens to be a perfect fit with my 3 passions in life - my family, my work and training for and competing in triathlons . With two young boys, my wife and I try to be good role models leading healthy and active lives. Having the opportunity to show my children the importance of giving back to the community by getting involved in an important cause such as Shad's Team Ireland would provide me with a great opportunity to pass on a valuable lesson to my boys. My second passion, my work, is in the healthcare industry where I work for a large corporation that finds its roots in serving the dialysis community. For the past three years I have worked in the Nephrology business unit of Amgen, where I have had the good fortune to champion educational initiatives directed towards improving the awareness and education of Chronic Kidney Disease. Working for an organization that is committed to helping improve the lives of CKD patients is immensely gratifying, but being able to contribute through my own personal involvement in Team Ireland would be extra special. Finally, the fact that Shad has chosen to pursue triathlons, my third passion, as his outlet for inspiring other dialysis patients and anyone who has ever thought about stepping up to the start line at a triathlon, makes the idea of joining Team Ireland a "must do!" I would love the opportunity to join Team Ireland to help raise money, participate in the races and, more importantly, help spread Shad's message of hope and inspiration!
