Amyloidosis‏

In 2007 my father, Dennis Blake, was diagnosed with a rare blood disease, Amyloidosis. After years of battling the disease, the correct diagnosis was finally given less then a week before he passed. Amyloidosis is a rare blood disease that can affect one or more organs when abnormal deposits of the amyloid protein are produced. It is debilitating and life threatening. The disease meant nothing to my family weeks before we first heard the word, and then it defined the rest of our lives. It is only in the last 25 years that physicians have started to understand the disease. I have been hiking the Appalachian trail for a little more then a month. Hiking 8 to 12 hours a day, I have had plenty of time to think of my father and what kind of differences I could make in his name. I would love to make this epic adventure about more then myself. The amyloidosis foundation's mission is to increase education and awareness in hopes that it will lead to earlier diagnosis and improved treatment. My goal is to raise $1,000 in the name of my father. I have roughly 200 miles left. Just one penny per mile adds up to $20 when I complete the trail of 2,000 miles. If anybody would like to donate a small amount per every mile I complete, then I am confident that I can reach my goal. Here are the directions and the page link for the donations: Check "In memory of" and add my father's name "Dennis Blake"

Sunday, March 27, 2011

To blog or not to Blog?!

It seems I underestimated the intrest in my daily progress on the trail. I know everyone at home is following Buschs blog and He dedicates LOTS of time to it out here. Ive decided I will try to keep everyone posted on my personal experience out here. I'm not sure I will be able to post as much as Shutter(Busch) but I will try my best! Thanks for all the support, it keeps me going on the hard days!
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2 comments:

  1. CourtneyMarch 27, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    Yeah!! So excited to be able to hear your voice through your blog! And so happy for you that you are going strong :) keep it up buddy!!

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  2. AnonymousMarch 29, 2011 at 10:49 PM

    This is Richie d.....word is traveling fast about yalls great adventure...everyone in town is talking about this...will y'all return safe...will the world just fall off? Have you spotted any monsters? What about the Indians? Are they dangerous? Bring me back a scalp....well I hope all is well and are civilazation needs your to bring back answers if we ever expect to survive....god speed

    p.s tell Tommy e his Lil frank got bite by a snake and died

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