Hi, my name is Stephen Kane, let me kick off my Ironman season with a random act of kindness to show my appreciation to those who are always moving a step forward regardless of what life has dealt them. My friend Keleny Jacoby is an example of exactly that. I am going to commit my next Ironman 70.3 or as many as it takes to help Keleny Jacoby get a prosthetic hand and learn to sign with her partially deaf child. I met Keleny and her wonderful family on a flight from Wisconsin to Phoenix about six months ago. I was moved by Keleny, by her grace and humility and by the conversations we had during the flight. As I watched her settle in while taking care of her children, I could see someone who wasn’t held back by the resentment and fear that hold many of us back in far less challenging situations. Instead, she has moved forward with gratitude and resilience. I openly asked about her hand and she explained that she was born that way. As we spoke, she mentioned how she wanted to get a bike someday that could accommodate braking and shifting on just one side of the handlebars. I knew by the end of the flight and our inspiring conversation, there was an opportunity to partner with this champion of life in some way.

A couple of weeks ago Keleny contacted me and explained that she had discovered that her son was diagnosed as being partially deaf. Although Keleny is a person that never needed an excuse to move forward and always found a way to do amazing things like play the piano, zip line or take care of her family, she now saw the necessity of getting a prosthetic hand. Not for her self-benefit but for the benefit of her family, her son. This is a testament to the kind person she is and the kind of family values she and her husband are instilling in the next generation of their family.

If you are not familiar with my story, I am a person who has faced my own challenges. When I was 19, I survived an accident that left me with a fractured skull, a broken back, and several other breaks and bruises. When I was 32 I survived cancer and 4 years ago I crashed my bike when my heart paused inflicting several new injuries including the need to install a pacemaker. Being grateful for several second chances has left me with a desire to fight for all those willing to fight for themselves. The good and beautiful people in this world that still stand for what's right. Qualities like love, family, resilience, determination and strong values. Not just those that were born athletically gifted or with high IQs, but the ham and eggers. The normal folk that tries regardless of circumstance and more so those that have one less chance than the rest but still grind forward setting an example. That is how we evolve for the better as a human race. This is how we make our next generation better. By inspiring them. All of them. Showing them that we can all do a little more tomorrow than we thought possible yesterday. Making today and each day a special day. A day where we can wake up feeling ready for the challenge, where we can feel the limits of our thresholds at high noon and can feel the accomplishment of achievement at dusk.

So please join me in raising this money so Keleny and her family can get her this prosthetic. Not just for them, but for the cause I believe in. The mission, that is to make us all better from the inside out. A movement that allows us all to shine with beauty and kindness!

That’s why Keleny is someone I want to support in getting a prosthetic. She and her family are an example of this type of integrity, an example of this movement. Your generous donations will be 100% used for the cost of the prosthitic hand. No catches, nothing for me or anyone else. Just literally giving this family a helping hand!