Fight ALS.

Join us in the first ever Tri to Defeat ALS!

The journey to the Lavaman Triathlon to honor Kevin Heller, Army-West Point ‘83 and all the leaders and loved ones challenged by ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease. Beat ALS!

On January 5th, 2021, Kevin Heller - a leader, classmate and friend of mine - passed away from ALS or Lou Gerhig’s Disease.  Kevin was a positive and dynamic leader who never gave up and lived one day at a time.  He signed up for the Olympic Distance Lavaman Triathlon after his ALS diagnosis, and offered his entry to me later in 2020, as the disease quickly progressed, taking away his ability to compete.  

The Lavaman course director agreed to transfer his entry in order for me to participate in Lavaman as a fundraiser for the Golden West Chapter of The ALS Association in Kevin’s honor on March 28th.  

However, the event was moved back to October 31st so I am unable to do the triathlon with the rest of the competitors as I will be participating in the Panama City Ironman the following weekend. 

Nevertheless, I am still traveling to Kona, Hawaii to participate in the Lavaman, only “virtually,” in Kevin’s honor.  I’ve hired David Wild, the 2019 Lavaman champion to coach me the week prior to March 28 and through a course that is as close to Lavaman as we can get.

It is my vision to be the first triathlete leader to complete a triathlon in Kevin’s and other leader’s honor, with the goal of 20 or more triathlete leaders to follow, also fundraising alongside me to help end ALS.  To conclude the fundraiser, Carol Ann Renfield ‘88 and John Heller ‘84, Kevin’s siblings, as well as David Wild will be running in the actual Lavaman on October 31st, all in honor of Kevin and leaders and loved ones challenged by ALS past and present, and David will repeat his 2019 Lavaman victory for 2021 in honor of all those affected by ALS.

After the Lavaman in October, we will share in an interview how we performed - how many triathlons were completed since the first on March 28 and how much money has been raised and will call the mission accomplished.

The fundraising goal of $41,500 was set to be approximately half of what Kevin raised on behalf of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter on his own.  Double the goal producing a thousand times Kevin’s West Point ‘83 class year - $83,000.  

We need at least 20 virtual or actual triathlon participant leaders to help achieve the $41,500 fundraising goal.  Carol Ann, John, David and I make 4; 16 or more additional triathlete leaders are needed!

If you would like to sign up to complete a triathlon in Kevin’s, and all those who have battled and are still battling ALS, honor or contribute to the fundraising efforts to help us reach our goal, please go to TritoDefeatALS.org.

Thanks for your consideration!