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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ironman heroes overcome illness, display perseverance

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By Elly Colwell

Intern

When Kirk Smith was diagnosed with incurable stage three lung cancer in 2013, the doctors told him he had a 5 percent chance to live another five years. Three years later, he is alive and thriving, and will compete in the Ironman triathlon this weekend in Wrightsville Beach.

“When I was first diagnosed, I remember having a breathing test,” Smith said. “They asked me to breathe into a tube, and I couldn’t do it without a severe pain. Going from that where I was, being short of breath, to now doing this is insane in a lot of ways.”

Smith has acted as the face of Free to Breathe, a lung cancer resource and research charity, in previous races. The organization recruited him for its team for this weekend’s race, connecting him to Wilmington-based clinical research firm PPD.

The company identified Smith and four other athletes as heroes for the PPD Ironman North Carolina triathlon. The event, previously known as the PPD Beach2Battleship triathlon, will take place Saturday, Oct. 22.

The other heroes for this year’s race include Emily Schaller, Robert Moore, Willie Vasser Jr. and Mollie Darby. Each was chosen as a hero because they have personally benefited from clinical research to help them, or a family member, overcome various forms of cancer, cystic fibrosis or multiple sclerosis.

PPD is partnering with New Hanover Regional Medical Center for the competition to increase support for clinical research of these life-threatening illnesses. Highlighting the stories of these five athletes is one way of bringing attention to the success of clinical research, the company said.

“This is not about raising awarenesss — we’re all aware of cancer,” Smith said. “This is about educating people that research makes a huge difference. Research saves lives and allows cancer patients like me to live an active life.”

Smith attributes his current health state to two experimental therapies that he has used to treat his illness. His lymph nodes are currently clear and his tumors have shrunk since his diagnosis, allowing him to return to an active lifestyle.

Each of the heroes will participate in some part of the triathlon. Some will complete an entire half triathlon and others will take part in a relay team.

“I had given up on long distance racing, but because of these medications, I can compete,” Smith said.

Some of the heroes’ illnesses are now in complete remission because of the clinical research methods and others, while they have not eliminated the illnesses altogether, are able to cope and mediate the impact on their everyday health.

PPD will honor the heroes during an invitation-only award ceremony Friday, Oct. 21 at the company’s headquarters.

“We applaud the PPD Heroes for their perseverance and courage in overcoming serious illness and participating in this challenging triathlon, demonstrating as the Ironman team says, that anything is possible,” said David Simmons, PPD CEO and chairman.

Nearly 3,000 people will participate in varying parts of the race this weekend. The competition will begin in Wrightsville Beach and end near PPD’s headquarters in downtown Wilmington.

“I’ll be at the start line with everyone else, nervous as a cat.  I’ve already done more than I thought I could do just by getting here,” Smith said.

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