IRONMAN AND DIALYSIS PATIENT SHAD IRELAND HEADS DOWN UNDER AS PART OF “TAKING ON THE TOUR” CAMPAIGN FOR KIDNEY DISEASE
Ireland will speak to hundreds of people affected by kidney disease at the Renal Society of Australasia annual conference on June 9 in Adelaide, Australia
June 2, 2012 – Atlanta, GA – Following a grueling week in May where Ironman Triathlete and dialysis patient Shad Ireland rode three stages of the Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race to launch “Taking on the Tour,” the dynamic Ireland heads across the globe to Australia to continue the awareness campaign for kidney disease. On June 9, Ireland will speak to hundreds of people affected by kidney disease, including patients, nurses, doctors, social workers, dieticians, and other health care professionals at the Renal Society of Australasia annual conference in Adelaide.
At the conference, Ireland will speak to members about his 29-year battle with kidney disease and how he overcame all obstacles to be the first dialysis patient to successfully complete an Ironman triathlon. As part of “Taking on the Tour,” a 24-month athletic endeavor to conquer the sport of cycling and raise awareness for kidney disease, Ireland will return to Australia on January 21, 2012 to ride about 135 kilometers in the community challenge of the Santos Tour Down Under. Following the ride, Ireland will visit several cities in the region in an effort to inspire people and spread the message that no matter what challenges they face, anything is possible.
“By riding in the Santos Tour Down Under in Australia, I hope to inspire people in this country as well as the millions affected by kidney disease across the world to take action and get healthy,” said Ireland. “My biggest goal is to show those who are suffering that anything is possible, no matter the obstacles.”
Ireland, best known for his epic 4,700 mile ride across the U.S. in 2009 to bring attention to those with kidney failure, is riding multiple stages the world’s toughest cycling races and plans to compete in the Orange County Triathlon and the New York City Marathon, all in an effort to spread the message of healthcare and prevention as well as to raise awareness of the millions of people afflicted by kidney disease worldwide.
A dialysis patient since the age of 10 and living with no kidneys, Ireland is a passionate advocate for kidney disease prevention through exercise and healthy living. His mission is to inspire others to accomplish anything, no matter what the challenge, and to educate people to exercise as a way to prevent kidney disease as well as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes, which are the leading causes of the disease.
For more about the “Taking On the Tour” initiative, or to donate to the Shad Ireland Foundation please visit www.takeonthetour.com or www.shadirelandfoundation.org
About The Shad Ireland Foundation
Global Mission: Committed to education, prevention, awareness, and access, the Shad Ireland Foundation is an international non-profit organization that is actively exploring ways to further develop and expand its global impact on kidney diseases and their leading causes. In countries around the world the Foundation is developing and creating strategic relationships that will lead to the development of tools and resources, which will ultimately and positively impact individuals, families, and communities affected by, and or living with this disease.
About the Santos Tour Down Under
The first stop on the world cycling calendar, the Santos Tour Down Under is a week-long multi-stage professional cycling race, which typically begins in Adelaide and travels through regional South Australia each January. The Santos Tour Down Under will take was first held in 1999 and has grown year on year to become the biggest cycling race in the southern hemisphere. In 2012, the race takes place from January 15- 22.
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