• Created in honor of Eric McLean, the Leukemia Ironman Fundraiser for Eric (L.I.F.E.) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to cancer survivorship by providing assistance to cancer patients in need, scholarship programs, and donating to cancer research laboratories. We will help draw awareness and contribute towards finding more effective treatments, and one day, a cure.

Eric's older brother will return to the Ironman Wisconsin this fall



On September 8th, 2013, Eric's older brother plans to return to Madison for his 6th Ironman Wisconsin.  It is surely going to be a day filled with emotion, as he has not come back to the Ironman since that tearful finish in 2010 (pictured above).  Though he won't physically be out there following him around with the family, supporting him all along the race, he will definitely be out there in spirit.  His cheers will forever echo all along that course.

Mike is fundraising money for L.I.F.E. to be given towards a leukemia research study at the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research that has been dedicated to Eric.  The study is testing a novel combo therapy for leukemia with preliminary results showing that it could provide long-term disease free survival.

Blake Becker, a professional triathlete from the Madison area and founder of the Blake Becker Multisport Club, has generously offered to coach Mike back in shape for this race.  Thank you Blake. 

To donate to Mike's race for LIFE, please click here.

McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research set to publish a leukemia research study dedicated to Eric

Pictured above: Eric and Mike with Dr. Jing Zhang and Dr. James Shull

May 17, 2013 - A year and half ago, Eric McLean and his older brother gave $10,000 on behalf of L.I.F.E. to a promising leukemia research study at the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research being conducted by Dr. Jing Zhang.  Today Dr. Zhang wrote back with the following message:

"After several months of hard work, we finally finished the testing of a novel combo therapy in our leukemia mouse model. We show that this new therapy could provide long-term disease free survival. This work was initiated by the generous donation from LIFE. We cannot thank you enough for this. As I mentioned earlier, we would like to dedicate the publication to Eric. We are preparing the manuscript now.

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  • The reason that these years have been the best is that I think that I might have had a somewhat positive impact on your lives and perhaps your understanding of what cancer is and what it can do, to both those of us that it has personally attacked and those of us who know someone who is going through it. -Eric McLean
  • I just want children to be left with a better life than what I was left with," he said. "I want them to experience the feeling I had in my life when I realized that I really mattered.
    ~ Larry Hisle
  • Realistically, I have two more Olympic cycles in me. I'm not going to let this beat me.  I've gained a lot of strength from you guys, if Eric can fight 5 times over I can overcome this one year of setbacks.
    ~ Chris Solinsky
  • Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: that man is here for the sake of other men. ~ Albert Einstein
  • Never, never, never give up.
    ~ Winston Churchill
  • I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me! ~ Dr. Seuss
  • Once you choose hope, anything's possible.
    ~ Christopher Reeve
  • If you're going through hell, keep going.
    ~ Winston Churchill