Posted: July 13, 2004

Triathlon: Former US Marine To Attempt Two Ironman Triathlons In Consecutive Months

--Hopes to Raise over $78,000 for Spinal Paralysis Research and Outreach--

New York, NY--For many of the world's fittest athletes, competing in an Ironman triathlon is the pinnacle of a lifetime of dedication, hard work and sacrifice. Former US Marine H. 'Mike' Monroe will attempt this remarkable feat this summer not once, but twice, within a span of 30 days. While this may sound like an impossible task, for a man who has seen combat on two continents, served in a Special Ops unit of the Marines, and most recently ran across the Sahara Desert in six days, it's just the latest challenge in his quest to help the 250,000 Americans with spinal cord injuries (SCI) realize their dream to stand up and walk again.

Monroe hopes to accomplish his goal by competing in Ironman Couer D'Alene (Idaho) on June 27, 2004, and less than a month later, in Ironman USA (Lake Placid, New York), on July 25. Each race consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run. Working in partnership with the Alan T Brown Foundation to Cure Paralysis (ATBF), Mike is seeking 281 sponsors to donate $281 apiece, one for each mile he will complete on his incredible two-part journey. If he secures the full number of sponsors and finishes both races, he will raise a total of $78,961.

If anyone is up to the challenge, it is Monroe. A Manhattan resident, Mike served twelve years as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and participated in combat operations in the Persian Gulf and Somalia. A leader of a Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance Unit (Special Ops), and an exchange officer with the elite British Commandos, Mike graduated at the top of his class from some of the most physically and mentally challenging schools in the world. After leaving the Marines with the rank of Major, he was accepted into a highly competitive program with the Central Intelligence Agency. Currently he is President of HM4 Fitness LLC (www.hm4fitness.com), a fitness and training company based in New York City. In early 2002, Mike formed an alliance with ATBF and turned his vision into a reality. The first such effort in Mike's ongoing Endure for a Cure campaign was 50 Miles in the Right Direction, which raised more than $14,000 for ATBF through Mike's participation in the 50-mile Bull Run Run. Endure for a Cure II: The Ultimate Desert Challenge centered on his participation last year in the Marathon des Sables, a grueling 152-mile race across the Sahara known as the "Toughest Footrace on Earth." EFOC II generated $40,000 to support ATBF's search for a cure. This year's challenge has been dubbed Endure for a Cure III: 281 Partners for a Cure.

According to Fran Brown, Executive Director of The Alan T Brown Foundation, Monroe's support has made a crucial difference for the organization. "Mike's efforts to raise awareness about paralysis, coupled with the significant research funds he has generated toward our quest for a cure, are nothing short of extraordinary," said Brown. "Equally important, he is an inspiration to all that nothing is impossible. The skills that Mike demonstrates in abundance to meet each of his Endure for a Cure challenges - fierce courage, a strong sense of purpose, remarkable determination to overcome physical barriers - are the very same skills that enable those with SCI to continue leading full lives after paralysis. His commitment is both selfless and completely genuine, and we feel very privileged that he has aligned himself with our cause."

People who would like to support Mike's effort and contribute to Endure for a Cure III can do so by logging onto www.endureforacure.com, or by calling the Alan T Brown Foundation at (212) 944-8727. Donations of all amounts are appreciated. People who contribute $281 or more will be recognized on the Endure for a Cure website and receive a special gift from ATBF. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Mike and ATBF would like to acknowledge the corporate sponsors whose support has helped make Endure for a Cure III possible, including Asics, Crew Creative, and Grand Central Marketing.

About the Alan T Brown Foundation to Cure Paralysis: Since 1988, ATBF has provided significant funding for numerous national and international research projects, including those under the auspices of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Rutgers University, Weizmann Institute of Science, Children's Hospital of Boston, the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, and many others. ATBF also serves as a resource and support system for the newly injured and their families, maintaining strong outreach initiatives with Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and Kessler Rehabilitation Center in West Orange, New Jersey.