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| Renal Resources includes: |
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| Team Ireland – USA Squad 2007 |
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 Are you Interested in becoming a member?
Click below to find out more information and to fill out our online form to apply. |
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Jeff Cobb -
My name is Jeff Cobb. I have been involved in athletics most of my life. In 2002, I started running more for exercise than anything else. I ran my first half marathon in 2003 and was hooked. For the last couple of years, I have thought about starting triathlons, but never really made it past a thought. I work for National Renal Alliance, a provider of dialysis services located in Franklin, TN. Prior to working for National Renal, my knowledge of renal disease was from afar. My wife's uncle has diabetes. Eleven years ago, he went on dialysis before having a successful kidney transplant. Now, from close range, I have a better perspective of what it means to have renal disease. Our CEO gave us a copy of Shad's book. Each of us can find meaning in his mantra "no limitations, just inspiration". I am honored to be a part of Shad's mission. It is now my turn to help "pay it forward", as they say, by helping to inspire whoever will take notice, whether they have a disability, disease, or just a thought.
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Dennis Dane - Elite Athlete
 My name is Dennis Dane and I am a CPA at a small Accounting/Financial Planning Firm in Minneapolis, MN.
I was born and raised in the Des Moines area. I have competed in sports since I was 7 years old. I took up swimming at 8 years and running in middle school. I didn’t really start biking until this year.
In my junior year of high school I really wanted to make the 400 freestyle relay team, however I wasn't improving enough to beat out the 4th guy. I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma.
After receiving an inhaler I started to improve and at the "last chance" meet to make the 4th spot I got it by .25 seconds. At the Iowa State Swimming Championships our 400 freestyle relay team placed 2nd.
I started competing in triathlon in 2006. I had a dream of a rookie year. I have placed 2nd in three races and 3rd in two races. When I started racing it was my dream to compete with a team. I didn't know what team because there are several teams out there.
On August 12th I raced in the Turtleman Triathlon in Shoreview, MN and there I met Shad. He gave me his card and told me to contact him if I was interested in racing for his team. I went to his website and read his story and the story of the people that have been affected by Shad's foundation. Reading Shad's story inspired me greatly. I was excited to have the opportunity to race for a team that is making such a great impact in the lives of many. I knew inside that this was the team for me. I would not be racing just for a bike/tri store, or myself, but I would be racing to give dialysis patients hope when they had none.
I thankfully grew out of my exercise-induced asthma. Kidney disease is a disability that people cannot just grow out of and I have come to realize that because of it many people today are on dialysis. Next year I hope to be racing for The Shad Ireland Foundation and am excited to see the difference that the team and I can make for people on dialysis!
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Brad Davern - Challenged Athlete / Dialysis Patient
 My story starts in the summer of 2001. I had just finished my second year at Bethany College, where I was a member of the basketball team. We had just won the conference championship. I was right where I wanted to be playing basketball in college, a lot of friends, and having fun. I worked my whole life to get there and I was loving every minute of it.
I started coughing up blood that summer. That is what sent me to the doctors in the first place. I was also very weak and fatigued playing basketball in my summer leagues. The doctors took some blood samples and sent me home. The next day, which was July 4, 2001, the doctor called my house early in the morning and told my parents to take me directly to the emergency room after asking if I was up and still functioning. My family took me to the hospital and a few days later I was on dialysis with a catheter in my chest. I was wondering what the heck happened to me? There can't be anything wrong with me. I was in great shape and had never been sick before, so I wasn't worried at first. That's when they told me that if I hadn't been in such great shape I would probably be dead. That had my mind going in a million different directions. The fact that they had me on prednisone and a chemo pill, cytoxin, wasn't helping me feel any better about myself. They took a lot of tests when I was in the hospital. The main test was a kidney biopsy. The result of the test was that I have Wegners Disease, which is an autoimmune disease. The upcoming weeks were the worst. My whole life was crashing down in front of me. I had gained twenty pounds in a week or so at the hospital because of the steroids. That really freaked me out. I had stretch marks. Skinny old me had huge stretch marks down my sides and I wasn't expecting that.
I started on dialysis three days a week for three and a half hours a day. I didn't have a choice of the type of dialysis I would get because I got sick so quick. I had a few bouts with seizures. Three to be exact. They chalked those up to high blood pressure. I was also in the hospital various times with bouts of pneumonia, which had me in there weeks at a time. During this time the following year, my sister and I were testing for a transplant. October 2, 2002, I had my first transplant from my sister Megan. We also did a stem cell transplant, which was to help me take the transplant better. I was very thankful for that. That kidney rejected and had to be removed eight months later. I was back on dialysis for almost three years before being called for a kidney. On April, 27, 2006, around 4:30pm, I was called for my second kidney transplant. It was from a twenty-one year old girl from Washington. That was one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me. Then nine days later I was brought down from my cloud when I rejected that kidney. I had it removed and was back on dialysis again.
This is where I find myself as of now. Three days a week for three and a half hours a day seems to be my trademark. I am looking to change that though. I want people to not just look at me as a sick dialysis patient, but as an active and productive person whose not held back by his so called disability. Physical activity has been a big part of my life since a young age. I've played basketball, soccer, volleyball, and ran cross country throughout my life. I haven't been able to get back into the shape I used to be in because of hospitalizations and I haven't gotten enough motivation. I do try everytime I get out of the hospital, but sooner or later I get a set back again. I have been apart of Team Pittsburgh, which is a team for transplant recipients. We attended the Transplant Games in 2004, in Minneapolis, MN, and in 2006, in Louisville, KY. I didn't participate in 2006 due to the transplant I had gotten. I did win two medals in 2004. One in basketball and one in bowling. Maybe Team Ireland can help me win more medals for Team Pittsburgh in 2008.
Just thinking about the chance to be on Team Ireland has me very excited. The chance to get into shape again and compete is awesome! Being on dialysis and going through the things I do I never thought I could or anyone could do something as physically demanding as Shad did. Sometimes I think my legs couldn't carry me down the street let alone miles. I know being able to compete again would make me feel normal again, which is great for me. If I could help inspire someone like Shad has inspired me it would blow my mind. That is one one thing that would keep me motivated through training. The thought that I could affect someone's life in a positive way. Being on a team like Team Ireland could help everyone involved to stay motivated. Teammates can lend words of encouragement in times of need. I know I would need some encouragement being on dialysis and trying to stay positive mentally when things are getting tough. I know not to many people think that I can do a triathalon, but I'm going to prove them wrong. One thing I've learned lately is that I have to stop looking back at what I left behind and look to what I can do in the future.
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Hassan Ibrahim -
 My name is Hassan Ibrahim and I am a specialist in the care of patients with kidney disease, dialysis and kidney transplantation. While many advances are being made in my field and the technology is growing exponentially, not enough emphasis has been placed on lifestyle modifications and their impact on kidney health. The link between obesity and diabetes is undeniable and the link betweedn diabetes and obesity to kidney disease is just as strong. The Shad Ireland Foundation offers a unique opportunity to promote fitness in people with kidney disease. Shad's vision for taking these efforts to the next level where they can be studied carefully to determine their impact and benefits is very admirable. I would like to be part of this team because of what it stands for and more importantly for the great potential it has.
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Shad
Ireland - Challenged Athlete/Dialysis Patient
 I chose to form Team Ireland 2006 because it will
be another first in triathlon. Team Ireland
2006 is unique in the fact that it features healthy
and challenged athletes training, traveling, and
racing together. You see, I believe in the true
essence of competition, in the true beauty that
is triathlon; it is not about being the best, it
is about being the best you can be. Team Ireland
2006 represents my personal belief in an individual’s
ability to turn obstacles into achievements. The
body will go where the mind leads it. Triathlon
is not about the extreme distances or external environment;
it is about the inner struggle we all face. It’s
not about that moment when you believe that you
can’t continue it’s about the moment
after that as you reach down deep and push for the
finish line. I know what that moment is all about
because I overcame it at Ironman Lake Placid on
July 25th 2004 when I became the first kidney dialysis
patient to ever compete in and complete an Ironman.
I also faced that moment several times during my
2005 race season as I overcame
the heat, dehydration, and pneumonia.
All you can ever expect of yourself is that you
gave everything you had when that moment came and
you were faced with the ultimate challenge. For
me it’s always been about a promise I made
to myself; one day I will run with the best athletes
in the world, one day I will qualify for the Ironman
World Championship in Kona Hawaii.
For me it is about one event, one pursuit, the Iron
dream.
Look for me in Kona.
NO LIMITATIONS,
ONLY INSPIRATION.
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Larry Phillips -
 Hi My Name is Larry Phillips. I have been running since right after I graduated from High school. I seen the Detroit Free Press marathon on TV and said to myself if some of those people can do that then so can I. 4 months later I ran a very Hilly marathon In Bloomfield Hills Mich and finished in over 4 hours. Then 8 more months later I ran the Detroit Free Press Marathon In 3 hours and 20 minutes. Since then I ran over 30 marathons then got into Ultra running. I have run anywhere from 50k's to 6 day races. Starting in 2000 I got involved in Triathlons. I remember watching the first Ironman in Hawaii over 20 years ago and always wanted to do one. When I found out there was one really close to where I lived now in NY (Lake Placid) I was ready to go. I finished that race in 2001 in 14 hours and 36 minutes. Within the last 2 years a close friend of mine named Bob had to start on dialysis 3 times a week. That is how I became interested in the disease and wanted to find out more information about it. That is when I came across Shads web page and ordered his book.
I think this is a great way to help and also get the public (and Myself) informed and aware and also help patients who are on Dialysis. I hope I can make a difference(for the good) in someone's life.
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Kim Rucker -
My name is Kim Rucker and I am the Director of Marketing and Strategic Development for National Renal Alliance, a unique and community service oriented national dialysis provider.
I learned about renal failure at a young age when one of my best friends was diagnosed with renal failure when we were in the seventh grade. After years of peritoneal dialysis she was healthy enough for a transplant. One of the most disappointing moments in my life was finding out that I was not a good match to donate a kidney to her. She later received a kidney from a living related donor, only to reject it three years later, and then go on hemodialysis. She went in to cardiac arrest and passed away while having her access declotted not long after starting hemodialysis.
When the opportunity to work for a dialysis company presented itself I immediately accepted the job without thinking twice. National Renal is a company that is truly dedicated to improving the quality of patient’s lives. Shad’s mission is quite similar. He is inspiring and helping individuals with renal disease to improve the quality of their lives. National Renal is a proud sponsor of Team Ireland. I personally believe, as does National Renal, that sponsorship should be more than a monetary donation. My life has been changed both personally and professionally because of kidney disease. I would love an opportunity to be a part of helping others make positive changes in their lives.
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Jeff
Vizethann - Elite Athelete
 I
have been in Healthcare for over 16 years and in
the Dialysis business since 1999. I have seen the
many challenges that Dialysis patients face and
our company works very hard to help them in many
ways from providing innovative treatment options,
laboratory values, to funding many new NKF initiatives.
 I have also been involved in Triathlon since 1989
doing over 100 Triathlons of varying distances and
recently completed my 2nd IronMan event at IM Florida.
Once I met Shad, I was 100% sold on the ideas and
dreams he has for himself and the foundation. I
am fortunate enough to be able to compete and race
in this great sport and have made some life long
friends along the way. It is the shared experience
of training and racing that makes us all “teammates”
in some way. Just to get to the starting line is
a HUGE accomplishment for anyone and one that binds
us all.
My goal is to help Shad and the foundation in any
way I can, through racing, fundraising or spreading
the word of passion and success to anyone who will
listen. This is a great opportunity to help the
people within the Dialysis community and others
with chronic diseases and to show them all that
although they have a disease, it is only a limitation,
if they allow it to be one.
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