Rowayton Man is Running for ITP

January 17, 2009

Rowayton, CT – In 2004, Rowayton resident Chris Tinnesz noticed bruising about his body after returning home from a soccer game. Shortly thereafter, he was diagnosed with ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura), a very rare bleeding disorder characterized by an abnormal decrease in the blood’s platelets. An amateur athlete who has since participated in three ITPMAN Triathlons in Darien, Chris Tinnesz has again decided to fight ITP on his own terms.

As platelets are essential for the blood to clot properly, an ITP patient may suffer from excessive bruising, nosebleeds, and bleeding gums. A very low platelet count leaves the patient in serious danger of spontaneous bleeding, including cerebral hemorrhage. While a normal platelet count hovers between 250,000 and 500,000 platelets, at the time of his diagnosis, Chris Tinnesz’s platelet count was around 2,000.

“Chris Tinnesz came to us last year with a passionate vision for fighting ITP,” says Christopher Landino, executive director of the ITP Foundation, a Darien-based nonprofit dedicated to battling ITP in children and adolescents. “He was adamant about creating a fundraising and awareness endeavor that had vitality unlike any other philanthropic campaign.”

Run for ITP is that vision. Tinnesz, an avid runner who jogs an average of 30 miles per week, decided his mileage should be put to good use. Run for ITP is driven by sponsored pledges for each mile that Chris Runs for ITP. Individual sponsors can pledge anything from a nickel to a dollar donation, or more, per mile run.

Since kicking off on January 1^st, Tinnesz has been soliciting sponsors to back him as he Runs for ITP, the proceeds from which directly benefit the ITP Foundation.

“I was aware of the ITP Foundation through the ITPMAN Triathlons,” says Tinnesz, a husband and father of two children. “And I identified with their message to raise awareness for ITP through promoting a healthy and proactive lifestyle. I contacted them and said, “Here is a living, breathing fundraiser that perfectly fits your belief for how to work for the cause”.”

The ITP Foundation has traditionally raised awareness and funding for the cause through such athletic programs as the Annual Darien Sport Shop ITPMAN Triathlon; the 4^th race, which successfully sold out registration for the first time, was held this past September. The ITP Team, a band of endurance athletes throughout the country, raise money and awareness through participating in competitions of their choosing.

“We are very proud of all of our programs, our athletes, and our individual fundraisers,” says Landino. “Our support-system is extremely dedicated, and they understand that creating awareness for ITP is the first step in creating a movement.”

“Run for ITP is unique in that it relies on an extremely focused and committed ITP-patient. Chris Tinnesz knows that, if he is willing to run that extra mile, he is helping not only his own cause but the cause of children everywhere who suffer, each day, from this disease. It’s a tremendous undertaking for one person in his situation to take on, but anyone whose met Chris knows that he thinks big.”

Tinnesz, a brand and graphic designer by trade and co-owner of Lobster Co-op, a clothing and accessories store in Rowayton, understands the task at hand is no small feat. He keeps track of his mileage with a GPS-running device, and chronicles each run, daily, on his Run for ITP blog (www.runforitp.blogspot.com), which also has a welcomed audience of sponsors leaving their comments and encouragement.

Chris usually runs through Rowayton and Darien. “I Run for ITP a few mornings each week, on generally the same course, and I wear the Run for ITP shirt,” says Tinnesz. “Eventually, even if people don’t recognize me, they’ll recognize ITP.”

As for living with ITP, Tinnesz previously had been treated with steroids to get his platelet count to a safer level than where they were when he first discovered he had ITP. His platelets remain at a safe and normal level, and he makes periodic trips to his hematologist to have them counted. He understands that many children are not as fortunate as he, and so he and the ITP Foundation are asking community members and local businesses to sponsor him as he Runs for ITP.

To do so, and to learn more, please visit the ITP Foundation’s website www.itpfoundation.org.