Cancer Survivor Branigan Completes Ironman Triathlon
By
Mary E. Adair
<P><B><H3><CENTER>Armstrong Cabinets Employee and<BR>
Cancer Survivor Completes<br>
Ironman Triathlon
Sixty-two year old Larry Branagin, a
member of the IT group at Armstrong’s Cabinet Products office in
Addison
,
Texas
, returned to work this week (Oct 20) after successfully completing the Ford Ironman
World Championship in
Hawaii
on October 11, the acknowledged “Super Bowl” of worldwide Ironman
triathlons. That in itself is newsworthy, but Larry is also a recent
colorectal cancer survivor, having finished his medical treatments only a year
ago.
Larry says, “I feel blessed that I was able to
do this. I went to
Hawaii
to prove that a foundation of faith can help accomplish the impossible.”
Fellow Armstrong employees at the
Addison
office feel that perhaps Larry’s greatest accomplishment is not this race,
but the inspiration he provides to other Armstrong employees.
 Louis Burrell, vice president of Human
Resources for Armstrong Cabinets, says, “Larry is such an inspiration to so
many people, particularly because he is a cancer survivor. He gets up
early and stays up late to train, all behind the scenes, before and after work.
It’s a tough schedule. He sets a wonderful example for all of us. In
fact, I train for triathlons myself, and Larry’s example keeps me going.”
Louis notes, “Even with the physical and mental demands of training and
battling cancer, Larry has a track record of
always
having a kind word for everyone! He is always available to help others. It just
blows people away!”
If you are a triathlete,
there is no bigger day in the sport than the Ford Ironman World Championship. In
a race where every detail is meticulously attended to, athletes are invited to
explore the "
Big
Island
’s” breathtaking
Kona
Coast
while at the same time getting in touch with their own
physical and inner strength. The race this year attracted nearly 1,800
competitors from around the globe. Larry qualified for the event through a
lottery system.
The 2.4-mile ocean swim, 112-mile bike race and
26.2-mile run were completed in succession on one day. Larry completed the
race 25th of 38 entrants in his age division, with a total elapsed time of
fourteen hours, thirty-eight minutes and thirty-three seconds.
Larry was first diagnosed with colorectal cancer
in September 2006. He received daily treatments of radiation and chemotherapy
for eight weeks, underwent the first of four surgeries in December 2006, had to
wear a colostomy bag for a few months and then undergo another six months of
weekly chemotherapy, finishing in September 2007. Of the experience, he
says, “I tell people that the biggest hurdle they face is often the space
between their own ears. They must find different ways to think through and do
things. For me, building on a foundation of faith –
through my church, my doctors, my coach and myself –
was an integral part of my healing. The teamwork is important. A physical
therapist works with me, my coach and my doctors to help me learn how to
mentally engage some of my muscles.”
Larry was training for triathlons before he was
diagnosed with cancer and his bout with the illness was only a temporary setback
in his plans. Now cancer-free and “feeling fantastic,” says Larry, his
next goal is to train and complete another triathlon in August, 2009, in
Louisville
,
Kentucky
. He says this Corkboard article will do more than just publicize his
recent triathlon experience. “It gives me the opportunity to get the
word out to other Armstrong employees about the importance of routine cancer
screenings. Due diligence is important."
Editor's Note: Larry Branigan works with the editor's daughter for Armstrong Cabinets in Addison, Texas. Article used with permission.
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