Congratulations to team Destination Cure for their participation in the 2005 Memphis in May Triathlon. |
Donations:
Click the button below to to donate to Destination Cure in support of this event. If you would like to donate on behalf of a specif athlete, please specify their name the applicable field. |
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| Julie Kelleher |
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| David and Ian Kelleher |
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| Rosemary Lombard, Julie Kelleher, Emily Ronek, Danielle Delancey, Rosemary Moleski |
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| (L to R) Bill Donovan, Mike Buckler, Julie Kelleher, Rosemary Lombard, Emily Ronek, Quintin King, David Kelleher, Terry Sobolewski, David Kalajian, Bill Tiffany (not pictured - Rosemary Moleski, Danielle Delancey) |
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| Bill Donovan, Terry Sobolewski |
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| Julie & David Kelleher |
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| David Kelleher in the 2004 Pacific Crest Triathlon |
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David Kelleher's bio:
After graduating from Duke in 1994, I was commissioned as an Infantry officer in the US Army, While in the Army, I was a Ranger and a Platoon Leader in an Airborne Battalion in Vicenza, Italy. Prior to deployment to Bosnia in late 1995, I woke up one morning with severe double-vision. After a few months of tests, I was diagnosed with MS. I've had plenty of exacerbations including temporary paralysis of each arm and each leg, temporary blindness, and chronic numbness. These exacerbations were treated with high-dose steroids. As a result of the steroid treatments, I also suffered from a debilitating hip disease - avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Rather than have total hip replacement surgery, I went through a fairly revolutionary surgery called a free-vascularized fibular graft. The surgery involves surgeons removing a 4-inch section of the fibula (lower leg bone) and grafting the bone to the femoral head (ball of the hip). This grafting procedure then revascularizes the hip bone, and the previously collapsed bone grows back. These surgeries required me to be on crutches for a full year and motivated me even more to get back into some challenging athletic endeavors. Despite the intermittent MS-related symptoms and my hip surgeries, I have remained very active and will be one of the racers in Memphis. Needless to say, this initiative has great personal significance to me and my family. I know what you're thinking...how can I possibly complete a triathlon when I can barely run two miles? You're not alone! Our team members range from those who have never competed in any type of race to Ironman triathlon finishers and even people who have MS. Race participants can either choose to do the entire triathlon themselves or form a relay team where one person does the swim, another the bike, etc. Everyone is welcome and the event should be a great time! If you are interested in racing, raising money, donating your life's savings or just showing up in Memphis to celebrate and have fun. |
Sponsors:
A event such as this can not succeed without the gracious support of individuals and companies. Please support our corporate sponsors who are helping to make this event a success. If your company would like join these organizations in sponsoring this event, please contact David Kelleher. | |
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