Ironman Triathlon athletes honored with hero award

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Friday before the Ironman Triathlon festivities kicked off, PPD honored six “heroes” who will be participating in the races this weekend.

Each one has their own story of battling through diseases such as multiple sclerosis, leukemia and cystic fibrosis. Each one has battled through.

“I was lucky enough that I was in a clinical trial, and I was a good result of that clinical trial. My son died of leukemia, he didn’t have the opportunity for a clinical trial.” Said PPD Hero Willie Vasser.

With the help of the clinical trials from PPD these six are able to continue with their lives. Together they are able to help motivate others in similar situations… and even each other.

“You kind of feed off of the positive energy that they have and they all have such great attitudes that there’s no way that I cannot be motivated by all this.” PPD Hero Kirk Smith said.

“You get to get them through the rough days,” adds PPD Hero Ryan Darby. “You get to put a smile on their face.”

These heroes can be described as resilient… courageous… and inspirational. This weekend however, there’s another phrase that describes them. “I am Iron Man”