"I started about 10 years ago when I turned 45," recalls Paul Stich.

Paul was gaining weight and wanted to turn his life around.

"So at 45 I decided, 'Well, if you're ever going to give it a shot, you better get started or you'd be too old,'" says Paul, "I joined the Princeton Club that day and a year later did my first."

His first Ironman triathlon! It's a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and a marathon (26.2 miles).

But one wasn't enough for Paul.

"I think you get a little addicted," he says with a smile, "I've done one a year for the 10 years."

"I've gone to most of them and it's inspiring," says Paul's wife, Judy Stich.

But Paul's inspiration comes from his wife, who has been battling health problems for two years.

"I started noticing problems with numbness, tingling in my hands, my feet, my face, dropping things," she explains, "After several tests to rule out different diseases, one that they wanted to investigate further was MS [Multiple Sclerosis]."

Judy and Paul began their own investigation into the disease.

"We realized it was much more prevalent than we had thought," recalls Judy, "It was very eye opening for us."

And it was all the information Paul needed to set his sights on a new challenge: 3 Ironmans in one year, each raising money for the Wisconsin Chapter of the National MS Society.

"I've got the cause; I've got the ability, so why not combine them both?" he says.

Paul began training while Judy underwent test after test.

"Still no diagnosis," she says as she shakes her head, "My doctor at this point does not believe it is MS. We're not sure what it is yet but still more testing is being done. It's very hard to not know what's going on. You know there's something wrong with your body and yet, no one can pinpoint exactly what it is."

Her husband shares her frustration. "It's just not knowing. If it is [MS], it is and we'll deal with that, but in the meantime just that whole unknown thing is very hard "

Still, Paul has persevered. He finished IM Arizona earlier this year and IM Lake Placid two weeks ago. He's now in the homestretch with his sights set on IM Wisconsin.

His biggest hope? "Maybe somewhere down the road somebody will go in with these symptoms and a week later they'll know, rather than 2 years later."

"I had a doctor's appointment a week ago where she wanted to repeat the MRI and EKG," says Judy, "And I'm just kind of not willing to do that yet. I'm just frustrated to the point that it's been two years and I wish we could come up with something."

Whether that something is MS or another disease, Paul and Judy's commitment to fight MS will remain, much like their love for one another.

"Regardless of the outcome of Judy's symptoms," says Paul, "We decided that this was a cause we should get behind and try to do something."

Judy then puts her hand on her heart and says, "It's overwhelming, we've been married for 35 years and he never ceases to amaze me."

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Paul's triple Ironman feat in the name of MS is made possible through the Janus Charity Challenge.

If you would like to help Paul hit his fundraising goal, or learn more information about how you can become a participant, check out these two websites:

www.januscharitychallenge.com

Paul Stitch Fundraiser For NMSS
www.kintera.org/faf/donorreg/donorpledge.asp?ievent=250249&supID=207855176

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That concludes this year's series.
But I'd like to know what you think of the four reports.
You can weigh in on my blog.
We have a good discussion going on feature stories versus hard news reports.
Click on anchor blogs.
You'll see my name and the "special assignment" entry under it.