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"

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Hiked 26 miles today across some of the easiest terrain yet. Started before dawn and hiked steady all day. Crossed into Tennessee and left Carolina for good. Finished the evening walking along a ridge with the sunset to my left and the blue folds of mountains to my right. Hit the Iron mountain shelter after dark and what do you know? Sabertooth and the boys had the fire rolling.
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3 comments:

  1. CourtneyApril 21, 2011 at 9:52 PM

    That's damn good time bro! Can't wait to see more pics, the ones you've posted so far are worthy of hanging on the walls in my house ;) keep it up!! Xo

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  2. A.April 22, 2011 at 7:04 AM

    Yay! I'm so glad you were able to catch back up. Tell Sabertooth we love him and he'll be an uncle on Wednesday (if she doesn't decide to surprise us a little earlier....) So good to see you Matt!
    —Amy

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  3. CharliApril 22, 2011 at 8:59 PM

    Awesome job Matt! Can't wait for you to get your pkg. Uncle Chuck and I have spoiled you. You better make it all the way to ME!! We love you and miss you! I wish you would move up this way. You could ski in less than an hour, be at the beach in 15 mins and in ME in 1/2 hr.

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