[BobbyB]

Coon Rapids resident John Vleck battles ALS challenge
Friday, 21 March 2008

John Vleck grew up in Blaine, racing through his childhood summer days on the soccer field and skating through the winter on a backyard hockey rink.

In high school, Vleck competed on the mat, the vault, the high-bar and the rings as co-captain of the 1985-86 Blaine High School gymnastics team.

Always on the move and ready to face any challenge, Vleck, currently a resident of Coon Rapids, wasn’t about to let a January 2007 ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) diagnosis slow him down, so he spent the year camping, fishing, hunting and vacationing with friends and family.

John and Stephanie Vleck, pictured at the September 2007 Walk to D’feet ALS event. (Photo, courtesy of Vleck family)