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THE BLUEPRINT:
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LI leader Jeffrey Reynolds beat cancer twice using Ironman mindset
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‘Every Mile Matters‘ offers resilience lessons from triathlon to treatment
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Balances personal story with leadership and coaching insights
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Book addresses healthcare inequality in cancer care access
In his new book, “Every Mile Matters,” local leader Jeffrey Reynolds shares how his experience as an Ironman athlete became a powerful tool in his fight against cancer – not once, but twice. Reynolds, president and CEO of Family and Children’s Association, said he approached cancer treatment with the same discipline and determination he brought to endurance training, transforming adversity into resilience.
At 55, Reynolds joined an elite group of athletes in 2021 completing a 140.6-mile Ironman triathlon in Florida. But the victory was short-lived. A routine PSA test led to a prostate cancer diagnosis, followed by a more severe blow: Stage 3B colorectal cancer. Reynolds found himself applying the same grit and strategy he used in endurance sports to navigate a high-stakes medical battle.
“I went from being at the peak of physical fitness to facing my own mortality,” Reynolds said in a news release about the book. “But I quickly realized that triathlon had been preparing me for this race I never signed up for.”
Reynolds said he found the discipline to push through “the wall” at mile 20 of a marathon, and the ability to stay calm in chaotic open water – all of which equipped him with the tools to face cancer head on.
With that approach, Reynolds said he persevered through months of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, while continuing to lead one of Long Island’s oldest and largest nonprofit organizations and also coaching others who had been newly diagnosed.
In the book, Reynolds offers practical wisdom for anyone facing life’s biggest challenges. He also shares “training tips” for building holistic resilience – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual – that transcend the athletic arena into everyday leadership.
The book also delivers a sobering critique of America’s healthcare system. Reynolds contrasts his access to top-tier care with the stark disparities that influence cancer outcomes – where race, education, income and geography can play a role.
“‘Every Mile Matters’ is a triumph of heart and soul in battling the demons of cancer,” Mike Reilly, an ambassador caption for the Ironman Foundation, said in the news release.
“Jeffrey Reynolds has captured each defining moment of his cancer journey with honesty, passion, and remarkable clarity,” Reilly added. Through his story, he teaches us powerful life lessons – and more importantly, how to live them daily.”
The book is available on Amazon and through its dedicated website of the same title.
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Adina Genn
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