The 5th annual Tackle MS with Alex Tanney youth football camp takes place on Saturday, June 18 at Monmouth College. Tanney, a former record-setting quarterback at Monmouth College and 9-year NFL veteran, is currently the offensive quality control coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. Five years ago, Alex and his wife Rebecca started the non-profit Tackle MS with Alex Tanney Fundraiser in honor of Alex’s sister-in-law, Julia. According to the event’s website, tacklemswithalextanney.com, Julia, who is married to one of Alex’s older brothers, Matt, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November 2012. Unfortunately, Julia was also diagnosed with “Primary Progressive” MS, a less common and more aggressive variety of the disease. This disease turns every day chores into incredibly challenging, sometimes insurmountable tasks. Although various medications claim to limit the disease’s progression, there is no cure presently available.
Julia relies on diet and exercise to improve her symptoms and prognosis. She closely follows the work of Dr Terry Wahls, using “food as medicine,” to boost nutrition consumption by eating 9+ cups of vegetables daily. She also regularly swims to keep her muscles strong, while hoping, praying, and waiting for a cure. Julia and Matt, who currently serves as the Athletic Director at Wabash College in Lafayette, Indiana, have twin daughters Lillian and Katelyn. Alex Tanney has seen the impact of multiple sclerosis in his family and Julia’s life, and he hopes to use Tackle MS with Alex Tanney events to support and bring awareness to the disease.
Dr. Terry Wahls is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Iowa. She is also a patient with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, which confined her to a tilt-recline wheelchair for four years. Dr. Wahls restored her health using a diet and lifestyle program she designed specifically for her brain.
The Tackle MS with Alex Tanney youth football camp is scheduled for this Saturday from 4-6pm at Monmouth College’s April Zorn Memorial Stadium and is free to all youth 1st-8th grades. Tanney says he thoroughly enjoys coming back to Monmouth each year for the camp, especially for such a great cause.
For more information on the youth football camp, Tanney’s sister-in-law Julia, the Terry Wahls MD Research Fund or to donate, go to tackleMSwithAlexTanney.com
For the entire interview with Tanney, go to the SPORTS PODCAST section.
