Help Francis raise money

Dear friends,

As some of you know I suffered a stroke in July 2017, followed by a heart procedure 4 months later. Fortunately, my recovery was steady, and I got most of my functionality back. It was because of my CrossFit training and the excellent medical care I received, that I am luckier than most. 

To increase stroke awareness, I am raising money to run the Falmouth Road Race on August 21st as part of Tedy’s Team. Tedy Bruschi suffered a stroke in February 2005 at the age of 31, just weeks after winning his third Super Bowl and days after returning from playing in the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. As he recovered, Tedy committed himself to being an advocate, spokesperson, and inspiration for stroke survivors in our area.

When Tedy’s Team was created, the main goal was to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke, and to break the stigma of who can have a stroke. Then it grew to an endurance training team when Tedy was able to secure five bibs from the Boston Athletic Association for the Boston Marathon® as a member of their charity program. The focus of the team was still awareness, but through the running team, Tedy’s Team helped to fund life-saving research.

Fast Forward 17 years, over 1,500 alumni, numerous travel marathons, Falmouth Road Races and Boston Marathons, and Tedy’s Team has raised over $8 million to support the American Stroke Association and help reduce deaths from stroke. Since Tedy’s Team was created, stroke has gone from the nation’s No. 3 killer to No. 5. While there is still more work to be done, we can see the impact of what they do on a daily basis.

This is my second time running with Tedy’s team and you can see the positive impact from the other stroke survivors firsthand.

So, please don't stand on the sidelines. You may not want to run 7 miles, but you have a great opportunity to make a real impact in the fight against stroke.

Thank you for your support!

Together we can make a difference.

My best,

Fran Ahern