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<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr> <td><span class=default> <!-- <div id="translate-this"><a href="http://translateth.is/" class="translate-this-button">Translate</a></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.google.com/jsapi"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://x.translateth.is/translate-this.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> TranslateThis(); </script> --> <!-- startprint --> <span class=default><p>Prize4Life Champions are members of the community who serve as advocates and ambassadors for Prize4Life and the fight against ALS. </p> <p>The Prize4Life Champions program recognizes the outstanding work of individuals and groups who have come together to raise money and awareness. </p> <p><strong><u>Prize4Life Champions:</u></strong></p> <p><strong>Anne-Marie Sullivan</strong></p> <p>Anne-Marie Sullivan, originally from Key Biscayne, FL, is currently a student at Northeastern University. In July 2010, her stepfather Vance Paris was diagnosed with ALS. Inspired by his courage in handling the devastating news he had just been given, she looked for any opportunity to get more closely involved in the fight against the menace of a disease. "Like it or not, ALS became a part of my life, and I was given two choices: I could wallow in sadness or I could follow Vance's lead and fight," Sullivan recalls. Shortly after becoming a fan of Prize4Life on Facebook, she was made aware of the second annual 5K4Life. Though she had minimal experience as a runner, she decided to create "Team Hammy," named for the moniker she gave Vance. Her fundraising page for went public on September 20 with a target of $500. By the day of the race, Team Hammy had raised $5,510 for Prize4Life. "Our success was made possible by the amount of love, respect, and admiration that people have for Vance," says Sullivan. "The sheer number of donations is a direct reflection of the esteem that people hold him in." The love continued on race day as Sullivan's family and friends arrived to cheer on Team Hammy, which included teammate Michelle Adler. They wore matching t-shirts, hats and necklaces with a picture of the team namesake's face. The 5K was not easy for a novice runner, but Sullivan pulled through. "I kept running for my family and friends who supported me, for Vance, and for the thousands of other PALS and their families. That was all the motivation I needed to cross the finish line."</p> <p align="center"><strong><u><img title="" height="225" alt="" width="300" src="uploaded_graphics/anne.jpg"></u></strong> <p align="center"><em>Anne-Marie Sullivan and her stepfather Vance</em></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p><strong>Elise Michael</strong></p> <p><span class="default"><span>Elise Michael's first exposure to ALS came much too early, when as a seven year-old, she was told that her wheelchair-bound great uncle was dying of ALS. Fourteen years later, the disease emerged again, afflicting her boyfriend's mother. Elise was struck by the feelings of powerlessness and uncertainty that an ALS diagnosis left in its wake. Determined to restore a sense of control, Elise reached out to her family for ideas and help. Her brother, a <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /> <st1:placename w:st="on"> <st1:place w:st="on">Harvard</st1:place> <st1:placename w:st="on">Business</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">School</st1:placetype></st1:placename> graduate, told Elise of his friend and classmate, Avi Kremer. "I immediately contacted Prize4Life," she said. "Everyone involved was beyond kind, generous and helpful." From her correspondence with P4L, Elise was inspired to organize a fun run in <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on">Wellesley</st1:city></st1:place>, where she was then attending Wellesley College. Despite challenges, she was able to collaborate with the Athletic Department at <st1:placename w:st="on"> <st1:place w:st="on">Wellesley</st1:place> <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:placename> to create the <a title="" href="/page/6050">Wellesley Mini-Marathon to End ALS</a>, held April 10, 2010. The proceeds from each $10 donation went straight to Prize4Life and many other campus organizations donated their time and talent to the cause. "Everyone has been amazingly benevolent and supportive," Elise said. At the race's after party, participants enjoyed pizza and baked goods. The event raised nearly $2,000! </span><span>"We<span> can all do our part to help and be a positive factor when you rally behind a cause," Elise said. Her passion for this cause and dedication to Prize4Life continued as she recruited more than 20 volunteers to assist in the second annual, A Prize4Life Gala on June 1, 2011. Her recruitment of volunteers and their support was an integral part of a hugely successful event!</span></span></span></p> <p align="center"><span class="default"><span><span><img title="" height="203" alt="" width="168" src="uploaded_graphics/elise.jpg"></span></span></span> <p align="center"><span class="default"><span><span><em>Elise Michael</em></span></span></span></p> <p align="center"><span class="default"><span><span><em></em></span></span></span> </p> <p align="left"><span class="default"><span><span><strong>Mark Dyson and Lionel Bony</strong></span></span></span></p><span class="default"><span><span> <p><span><span>Temperatures were far below freezing and contiuing to fall at midnight in Crested Butte, CO. It was the start of the Elk Mountain Grand Traverse, held on March 25-26, 2011. The backcountry skiers faced a self-supported, 40-mile journey to Aspen through the mountainous backwoods of the state. Among the roughly 130 teams of two braving the harsh conditions were Mark Dyson and Lionel Bony. Inspired by the similarly treacherous path that Avi Kremer faced after being diagnosed with ALS while at Harvard Business School, classmate and friend Lionel decided to dedicate the race to Prize4Life. "Whenever I was feeling cold, exhausted or achy, I just had to think about what Avi is accomplishing on a daily basis to feel energized again. Racing for Prize4Life and Avi was an incredibly powerful motivator," he said. The trek was long and hard, but their dedication paid off. Mark and Lionel finished in the top 30 (in just under 12 hours) and raised more than $2,000 for Prize4Life and the fight against ALS.</span></span></p> <p align="center"><span><span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /> <o:p><img title="" height="300" alt="" width="225" src="uploaded_graphics/lionel%20and%20mark.jpg"></o:p></span></span> <p align="center"><span><span> <o:p><span><em>Lionel Bony and Mark Dyson</em></span></o:p></span></span></p></span></span></span> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="default"><strong>The Rubinstein Family</strong></span></span></p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="default"> <p><span>The word mitzvah most commonly refers to a selfless act of kindness that goes above and beyond a random gesture. When Adam Rubinstein was given a school mitzvah project to complete in October 2010, he and his family knew there were many ways to do mitzvot, or good deeds, but they chose to support Prize4Life's 5K4Life Road Race. "[It is a cause that is] near and dear to our heart. The timing was perfect," Adam's mother, Suzanne, said. The young boy's first cousin just so happens to be Prize4Life founder, Avi Kremer. Suzanne and Avichai's uncle, David, had traveled to <st1:country-region w:st="on"> <st1:place w:st="on">Nepal</st1:place></st1:country-region> with Avi when he was just out of the Israeli army.<span> </span>They welcomed him into their home, where he helped care for Adam, a toddler at the time, while Suzanne was pregnant with her second child, Sara. <span> </span>"I met Avichai when he was just beginning his service in the army.<span> </span>He was 18 years old.<span> </span>I was lucky to have had many opportunities not only to see him in <st1:country-region w:st="on"> <st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> but to share extended visits on trips and in the States with him, speaking of life, goals and dreams..." Suzanne remembers.<span> </span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span class="default">Given their distance from <st1:city w:st="on">Boston</st1:city>, the Rubinsteins participated in the 5K remotely in <st1:city w:st="on"> <st1:place w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:place></st1:city>. They planned to walk the distance of the race and end at <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:placename w:st="on">Golden Gate</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype></st1:place>, but rainy weather prevented them from doing so. Rather than postpone or cancel, the family walked around a nearby mall instead. "<span>Adam and his dad did the full 5K and despite the weather, it was a wonderful experience. We were also simply thrilled with the amazing response we received via donations from friends and family, especially on such short notice. It was truly a moving experience as well as a great educational or learning opportunity for both Adam and Sara," </span>Suzanne said.<span> </span>Through the 5K4Life, the Rubinsteins raised more than $3,000 to support Prize4Life and accelerate the search for a cure to ALS. </span></p> <p align="center"><span class="default"> <o:p><img title="" height="188" alt="" width="250" src="uploaded_graphics/rubinsteins.jpg"></o:p></span> <p align="center"><span class="default"> <o:p><em>The Rubinstein Family participating as remote runners in the 2010 5K4Life. </em></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p align="center">To learn more about the Champions program, or to become a Champion, email <a title="" href="mailto:gmartinez@prize4life.org">Guadalupe</a>. </p></span> <!-- stopprint --> </span></td> </tr> </table>
