HomeBen Kaufman
Michigan Alpha - University of Michigan
My Iron Phi Story
Welcome to Ben Kaufman's Iron Phi Page
Hello family, friends, brothers, and other supporters,
Last year I set two goals, which were to run my first half marathon and raise $1,000 for ALS patient care and support. Thanks to months of training and the generous donations of many, I completed 13.1 miles in the 2010 Baltimore Running Festival and became an Iron Phi. This distinction is given to a small percentage of members within my Fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. The mission of this program is to strengthen the fraternity and the impact it has on the fight against Lou Gehrig's disease through the fundraising and athletic efforts of its members. Lou Gehrig was a member of Phi Delta Theta, and our organization has taken an active role in finding a cure.
Even after raising $1,080 and running the longest race I had ever attempted, my commitment to this cause has not waned. As such, I wanted to push myself even further in 2011. I registered for the "Maryland Double," which covers the distance of a full marathon spread over two separate races. I would have run a half marathon at the Frederick Running Festival on May 7th and then head back home to hit the city streets for a second straight year at the Baltimore Running Festival on October 15th. This has already proved to be a challenging task. Just a couple weeks before the race in Frederick, I badly strained my foot and had to defer my participation until next year. However, I remain excited about the opportunity to chase other athletic pursuits while raising money and awareness for ALS research, education, screening, and treatment. As such, I am looking forward to raising money in preparation for my second Baltimore half marathon!
According to The ALS Association, approximately 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS patients eventually leads to their death. The disease is blind, affecting people and families regardless of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
I have a new fundraising goal, and it is indeed a bold one. I intend to raise another $1,500 before the middle of October. This is entirely possible, but I need your help to get there. Would you please consider making a donation? You can easily make a donation on this page by clicking on the "Make a Gift" link below the thermometer. You can also send a check to Iron Phi to me at 1417 Patapsco St. Baltimore, MD 21230 if you would rather donate that way.
I hope that you'll continue to share this incredible adventure with me by supporting me in my fundraising efforts. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Sincerely,
Ben Kaufman - Michigan Alpha '09
Iron Phi #39
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How Does My Donation Make a Difference?
Your donation towards an Iron Phi athlete equally supports two very important things: Supporting ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) through research and support of ALS families and leadership development for undergraduate members of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.
At the end of each year calendar year, the LiveLikeLou Foundation grants dollars raised through Iron Phi to fund its initiatives that support ALS research, scholarships to support the higher education goals of ALS dependents, and summer camp experiences for children who have a parent or grandparent with ALS.
Dollars used for undergraduate leadership development have and continue to help Phi Delta Theta educate more of its undergraduate members as they work to “Become the Greatest Version of Themselves.”
