HomeJustin Abbott
Indiana Gamma - Butler University
My Iron Phi Story
Help Justin Become An Iron Phi! - In Memory of Dave Naylor
This year, I'll be 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. Lou Gehrig was a member of Phi Delta Theta, and our organization has taken an active role in finding a cure.
The net proceeds will support ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) research, education, screening and treatment. It will also help strengthen an organization (Phi Delta Theta) that has had a lasting impact on my life.
I will be participating in the 36th Running of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon which takes place on Saturday, May 5, 2012, in Indianapolis, IN. The Mini has sold-out for the past nine years with 35,000 registrants, and an additional 4,000 participants in the Finish Line 500 Festival 5K. The Mini-Marathon is the largest half-marathon in the U.S., and overall, the seventh largest running event in America.
I will be raising money and running in memory of Dave Naylor. Please read the short blog below to learn about Dave and his experience with ALS.
According to The ALS Association's web site, 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 eventually leads to their death. That's why I'm becoming an Iron Phi. To do something bold about Lou Gehrig's disease.
I've set my personal goal at $1,000. So I need your help. Would you please consider making a donation of $20? More would greatly be appreciated. You can 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 402 W. Hampton Dr. Indianapolis, IN 46208 if you'd rather donate that way.
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,
Justin Abbott
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In Memory of Dave Naylor
Dave was a great teacher. After graduating from Grove City College, he taught high school history and government. He went on to get his Master's and Doctorate in Social Studies Education from Rutgers University. After wards he moved to Cincinnati with his wife, Mary, and two sons, Tom and Todd. There he took a position at the University of Cincinnati and taught there for 33 years. He remained active in many groups in the community and spoke at conferences where his sessions were always well attended. He truly had a gift for teaching.
Dave began having problems with his right arm in December 2006 and had trouble lifting things off of shelves. After spinal disc surgery in February 2007 and physical therapy, he was not getting any better. Over the summer in 2007, he noticed that he felt unsteady on his feet when he was walking to and from his car. He had planned to retire at the end of August 2007, which he did. They saw a neurologist in September, and Dave was diagnosed with ALS on October 1, 2007. The only thing the family knew about ALS at that time was that Lou Gehrig had it and they had read the book Tuesdays with Morrie. They learned far more after that than they ever wanted to know.
Dave had a wonderful attitude about his ALS. He had always been so independent and a good athlete. Little by little, though, he lost his ability to do much of anything. He couldn't walk or use his arms or legs at all. If he had an itch on his face or head, he couldn't scratch it. One of his greatest fears was losing his voice. He did have a speech devise that he practiced with at times, but he had to use an eye gaze devise since he couldn't use his hands to type. This proved to be very frustrating for Dave as his mind was five or six sentences ahead of what he was able to type with his eye gaze. It gave him comfort to know that he wouldn't be trapped in his body if he lost his ability to speak, but it certainly wasn't easy to do. He had such a strong faith and grace as he went through this journey.
Dave passed away from the disease on June 27, 2010. Although ALS renders the victim essentially helpless and unable to do simple tasks, Dave always had a positive attitude. His faith, family, and friends kept him strong even through the hardest of times. It is an honor for me to raise money and run in his memory, and I want to acknowledge Mary and the rest of the Naylor family for their strength and allowing me to help keep the memory of Dave strong. I hope ALS will soon be a thing of that past.
by Justin Abbott on Sat, Oct 15, 2011 @ 12:36 PM
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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.”
