Swimmers attack HHT

MASTER SWIMMERS ALL:
Six Shasta County residents will attempt the 33rd Trans-Tahoe Relay Swim July 18 to raise awareness and funds for HHT, a blood disorder. From left, the team includes Glen Hoxie, Todd Royse, Mike Lynch, Bill Haedrich, Mark Cibula and Jeff Berriger. Donations can be made online at: www.active.com/donate/SwimforHHT

Years ago when Mike Lynch, now a successful mortgage professional, was still attending classes at Chico State University, his college roommate, Greg Brown, often suffered from a bloody nose or cracked and bleeding lips. Brown and Lynch not only shared living space, they were also teammates on the Chico State swim squad.

Lynch and Brown didn't know it then, but Brown was exhibiting the classic symptoms of a not-so-rare blood disorder called Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia or HHT. One in 5,000 people have this autosomal dominant condition that affects blood vessels in the skin, lungs, brain, liver, nose and gastrointestinal systems, but the condition remains under-diagnosed and under-treated, said Lynch, owner of Home 1 Lending in Redding.

"A very, very good friend of mine has this blood disorder and I want to do whatever I can to help find a cure for his condition," said Lynch, who recently took on the presidency of Anderson's Rotary Club.

Untreated, HHT can result in stroke, hemorrhage and death, hence its name as the Silent Killer. At least 20 percent of those affected by HHT become disabled or die prematurely because nine out of every 10 persons with HHT — an estimated 68,000 U.S. citizens alone — are not yet diagnosed due to "a widespread lack of knowledge by medical professionals," according to the HHT Foundation International's Web site, www.hht.org

Today, Greg Brown is in his mid-40s and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Angela, daughter Katelyn and son Anthony. Brown recently competed in the Bay to Breakers foot race as a way to bring awareness to the deadly condition that, in some people, can cause uncontrolled internal bleeding. Over the years, Brown has undergone two brain surgeries and at least one lung surgery to stop his blood vessels from spontaneously rupturing, Lynch said. To help control his condition, Brown must regularly receive infusions of iron-enriched blood that helps keep his blood vessels strong.

Inspired by Brown's story, Lynch and five friends – all master swimmers from the Redding area – have decided to participate in the 33rd Trans Tahoe Relay Swim on July 18. This 11.5-mile open water swim across Lake Tahoe is the only such swim in the nation that crosses a state line. And with water temperatures ranging between 55 degrees and 65 degrees Fahrenheit — participating swimmers are not allowed to wear wetsuits — Lynch and his relay teammates will most definitely appreciate the constant companionship and close proximity of a rescue and support boat that operated by Chris Haedrich, son of one of the team members.

Lynch's team includes Glen Hoxie of Foothill High School, chiropractor Todd Royse, commercial real estate broker Bill Haedrich, former Redding City Council member and attorney Mark Cibula and Jeff Berriger, a swim coach.

To pledge online, go to www.active.com/donate/SwimforHHT and fill in the form indicating the pledge level. All proceeds will go to the HHT Foundation International, Inc., Lynch said. As of Saturday, the group had received 13 pledges totaling $1,050 with more expected as the group gathers steam.