Swimmers Take to Water in Support of Rare Disorder

Newswise — MARSHALL, Illinois - The Geoffrey Keller Memorial Open Water Swim held in honor of the late son of Curt and Kathleen Keller to raise funds to research better ways of managing Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) during surgery, to improve methods of detecting MH, and for MH awareness.

For photos and race results click this link.

“The event was a great day! The swimmers did well and had a good time. The community came out and gave great support to the event, said Curt Keller. More people have become aware of malignant hyperthermia and were glad to help raise money to support research for it.”

“Well done! MHAUS is thankful to Mr. and Mrs. Keller; Thomas Hintz, Site Supt. III Lincoln Trail State Park, and Walnut Point State Park of Illinois Department of Natural Resources; The Municipality of Marshall, Illinois; Sponsors of the Swim, The Swimmers; and The Douglas Warren Band of Nashville, Tennessee for all working together to raise money for the cause, said MHAUS Development Coordinator Michael Wesolowski. We are all looking forward to the Second Annual Geoffrey Keller Memorial Open Water Swim in June of 2015!”

This year’s Swim was presented by Geoff Keller MH Group, Illinois Department of Natural Resources; and Marshall, IL; and took place Saturday, June 21, 2014 at Lincoln Trail Lake, Lincoln Trail State Park in Marshall, Illinois; and was sanctioned by Illinois Masters Swimming Association (ILMSA) for United States Masters Swimming (USMS), Inc.

The rectangular course formed a 1.2 and 2.4 mile loop as was marked by buoys, lifeguards, rowboats, rescue boards, and kayaks, officials, and/or other safety resources. In-water start prompted swimmers to move counter-clockwise around orange 8-foot tetrahedron turn buoy marks (with red guide buoys on straightaways), exit water with brief run on beach sand, and through finish chute.

Save The Date
The next Geoffrey Keller Memorial Open Water Swim is June 13, 2015!

About Geoffrey Keller
Geoffrey Warren Keller, a person susceptible to malignant hyperthermia (MH), passed away on September 9, 2012. Geoffrey, age 26, will be honored as a loving husband, son, brother, and friend.

About the Geoffrey Keller MH Group
His family and friends have come together to organize ongoing events to memorialize Geoffrey through the Geoffrey Keller MH Group for families, patients, healthcare professionals and students to share ideas and news and to collaborate on events and planning projects. All group members can chat and message with each other by connecting, similar to liking on Facebook. Click this link for more information: http://my.mhaus.org/group/GeoffKeller

About Malignant Hyperthermia
Malignant Hyperthermia is an inherited genetic disorder found in an estimated 1 out of 2,000 people. MH crisis situations are triggered by commonly used general anesthetics and the paralyzing agent, succinylcholine, and results in a biochemical chain reaction response in the skeletal muscles of susceptible individuals. General signs of MH crisis include increased heart rate, greatly increased body metabolism, muscle rigidity, and/or fever that may exceed 110° F along with muscle breakdown. Without proper and prompt treatment, MH crisis mortality is extremely high, without immediate recognition and treatment with the antidote, dantrolene sodium.

About Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States
Established in 1981 when families who lost their children to Malignant Hyperthermia or were unable to find information about MH. Malignant Hyperthermia is a genetic disorder found in an estimated 1 out of every 2,000 people.

Today Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS) provides information and resources to medical and lay communities through conferences,educational materials, ID tags, 24-hour MH Hotline, MHAUS website, and with the help of MH Groups like the Geoffrey Keller MH Group. The mission of the MHAUS is to promote optimum care and scientific understanding of MH and related disorders.