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, July 24, 2011

Goodbye Vermont!

We made plans to push across the New Hampshire border and into the town of Hanover on Friday. We changed our plans after finding locals jumping from this awesome bridge and cooling off in the river below. It was 96 degrees outside and the mountains of Vermont weren't cooperating. Instead of a huge 26 mile day we opted for a 20 with lots of down time by this beautiful river. A great last day in my favorite state yet.
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1 comment:

  1. Chuck JohnsonJuly 26, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    It's pretty good when you consider a 20 mile day taking it easy! Keep it up Red Oak!

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