We Do It For Lou

I have wanted to become an Iron Phi ever since I joined the Ohio Epsilon chapter of Phi Delta Theta back in April 2019. Growing up, my family dealt with a very similar disease to ALS known as Parkinson's Disease. Just like ALS, Parkinson's affects the neurons in our body and has a detrimental impact on the motor system, that is, how we move, speak, eat and breathe. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons eventually leads to death. My grandfather, Richard Porter Sr., was diagnosed with Parkinson's early in my childhood, and as I grew up I witnessed the horrors that a disease like this can cause to someone you love. Shortly after I joined Phi Delta Theta, he unfortunately passed away from his fight with Parkinson's. My grandfather was a man of high character and was a hell of a fighter all the way to the end. He was one of my best friends and a great teacher growing up since my parents were often away from home to work and provide for our family. When I found out about the Iron Phi program, I knew that I wanted to help in the fight against ALS and to help families who were going through similar experiences to what we did.

This year, I'm finally attempting to become an Iron Phi - a distinction given to a small percentage of members within my Fraternity. The mission of Iron Phi is to strengthen the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity and the impact it has on the fight against Lou Gehrig's disease through the fundraising and athletic efforts of its members. I have been preparing for this journey for almost three years now, losing over 50 pounds in body weight and increasing my physical strength and endurance through resistance training and calisthenics. I have dedicated myself to being a healthier, higher standard man through the principles of my fraternity, family, and in honor of my grandfather. To achieve my Iron Phi status, I will be weightlifting every day, running at least 1 mile every day, and will not consume any alcohol or tobacco during the 2022 Lou's Olympics, which starts February 4th, 2022 and ends March 31st, 2022. I will also be completing 1950 repetitions of squats, which is the year the Korean War began and my grandfather fought in. Finally, I will be competing in weightlifting competitions for charity, such as the Iron Sharpens Iron event hosted by Phi Delta Theta at Kent State.

I've set my personal goal at $1950 donated towards curing ALS, but I want to go far beyond that as well. However, I need your help to do this. Would you please consider making a donation? The donation could be as little as $5, and donations are tax-deductible. You can make a donation on this page by clicking on the "Make a Donation" link. You can also send a check made out to Iron Phi to me at 194 Spicer Street, Akron OH 44304 or through my Venmo @Austin-Zody-1 if you'd rather donate that way instead.

Approximately 331,000 people are diagnosed with ALS or another neuron disease each year. That's why I'm becoming an Iron Phi. To do something bold about Lou Gehrig's disease and for my grandfather.

I hope that you'll share this incredible adventure with me - by supporting me in my fundraising efforts.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Sincerely,
Austin Zody