Courtesy: ITP Foundation

U.S. Pro Road Race Cycling Champion (2002) and professional Ironman triathlete Chann McRae and international triathlon champion and U.S. Olympic hopeful Jessi Stensland will be leading the recently formed ITP Team, a project of the non- profit ITP Foundation aimed at raising awareness of and funding for ITP, a serious bleeding disorder. McRae, a professional triathlete since 1988, and Stensland, who raced her first triathlon in 1997, are on the Board of Directors of the ITP Foundation.

The two world-class athletes are dedicating their time and talent to building the ITP Team because of their commitment to fighting ITP, Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura, sometimes called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. A bleeding disorder that destroys a person's platelets, ITP inhibits blood clotting and causes severe bruising. In some cases, this can lead to intracranial bleeding, which can be fatal.

"People with ITP have to be very careful about participating in sports, because of the bruising and possible internal bleeding," explains McRae. "Sports are a huge part of my life, so that really hits home with me - that kids with ITP can't do a lot of the things that I just take for granted."

McRae and Stensland will encourage other triathletes of all levels to join them on the ITP Team. Members of this team seek sponsors for their races who will agree to donate money to the ITP Foundation. Those donations will help the Foundation in its mission to spread information about ITP, provide financial assistance to the families of children with ITP and fund important medical research into improved care and an eventual cure.

"By becoming a part of the ITP Team," says Stensland, "you are helping to make a big difference in the lives of children with ITP. Plus, knowing that what you are doing is helping others may give you that little extra push you need to do that much better, finish that much faster."

McRae and Stensland stress that athletes of every level are eligible to join in the ITP Team's efforts. "We welcome everyone that wants to help," say Stensland and McRae. In addition to their roles on the Board and efforts to educate, encourage and recruit team members, McRae will train and race with the ITP logo and Stensland will train and occasionally race with the ITP logo.

Those interested in joining the ITP Team can find more information at www.itpfoundation.org, or may ask questions by emailing [email protected] g or calling (203) 655-6954. For more information about Chann McRae and Jessi Stensland, visit www.channmcrae.com and www.jessistensland.com, respectively.