Media
For Immediate Release: June 22, 2007
Contact: pr@phillytri.com or (609) 304-3206
Montgomery Brothers, Kidney Transplant Donor and Recipient Trained for Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon
Tom Montgomery suffers setback and is forced to withdraw
PHILADELPHIA, Pa., June 22– In January, 2005, Rich Montgomery donated a kidney to his brother Tom. To celebrate their healthy lives, both brothers signed up for and trained for this weekend’s Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon on Sunday, June 24. Unfortunately, Tom suffered a rejection episode a few weeks ago, and will now not be able to complete. Rich will still be competing, as will Tom’s son Sean, and Tom will be there to cheer them on.
At age eighteen, Tom was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous cysts in the kidneys, eventually leading to kidney failure. Tom’s condition progressed slowly over the years. But in the summer of 2003, another of Tom’s sons, Ryan, who was then eleven years old, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Ryan was successfully treated for two years at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP, where Tom’s wife Kathy is a nurse) and is now in full remission. CHOP is the charitable beneficiary of the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon.
However, the stress of Ryan’s condition exacerbated Tom's kidney failure, doubling the failure rate, and it was determined that he needed a new one. Tom has seven brothers and sisters, so they were all tested for a kidney match, and Rich ended up being the best choice. The transplant occurred in January, 2005. Since then, for the most part, Tom’s kidney function has been very normal, with no limitations. Tom had a similar setback in March, but recovered with treatment and both brothers ran The Broad Street Run ten-mile race in early May. “We are optimistic about Tom’s current treatment plan, and hope to both be competing in next year’s Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon and other endurance events very soon” said Rich.
Now in its third year, the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon in Fairmount Park, recently named the fourth best triathlon in the United States by Outside Magazine, will feature a full weekend of race events during the weekend of June 22 through June 24, 2007. In addition to the marquee Olympic Distance Race on Sunday, June 24, there will once again be a Sprint Distance Triathlon, Kids Duathlon and Kids Fun Run on Saturday, June 23. There will also be a Race Expo on Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23. Registration for the Olympic Distance Race reached its capacity of 2,400 participants shortly after registration opened, and an additional 1,000 athletes will competing in the other events.
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About the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon
The Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon was founded in 2005 and is one of the largest triathlons in the country and is held in the city's historic Fairmount Park, in and around the Schuylkill River and the Art Museum. The race will raise an estimated $1 million for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Oncology department and for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through its Team In Training program. In addition to Philadelphia Insurance Companies sponsors to-date include Nathan Human Propulsion Laboratories, Cadence Cycling & Multisport Centers, United Healthcare, Endless Pools, Excel Physical Therapy, Boundless Philadelphia, Penguin Sport Wash, Sorbothane Insoles, Philadelphia Inquirer, Triathlete Magazine, REI, Gatorade Endurance, GU Sports, Wissahickon Mountain Spring Water, Zoot Sports, Le Bus, Healthplex Sports Institute, Triumph, Manayunk, Great Harvest Bread Company, Chestnut Hill Academy and Cohen Partners. More information about the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon can be found by visiting www.PhillyTri.com or by contacting pr@phillytri.com.
