Forget about the funny-looking guy in the red and yellow suit that’s going to explode over movie screens on May 2. If you want an iron man who’s a real hero, look no further than Jun Watanabe.

He may not have super powers, but he’s an Ironman – meaning, a person who (willingly yet!) puts himself through a grueling Ironman triathlon (meaning he – hold on now – swims 2.4 miles, bikes 112 miles and runs 26.2 miles, all in succession). Jun, a San Francisco resident, will be one of the participants in the I ronman Coeur d'Alene triathlon in Coeur d'Alene, ID on June 22.

And he’s doing it as part of his efforts to help raise funds for the ITP Foundation (www.itpfoundation.org), a non-profit organizations that battles the bleeding disorder ITP (immune thrombocytopenic purpura) in children.

Watanabe first became aware of ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura), a disorder that can cause severe bruising and bleeding, while volunteering as a swim coach for the YMCA in Darien, CT 4 years. ago One of the children he coached has chronic ITP; the parents of the child had recently launched the ITP Foundation, which has established the “ITP Team” to encourage endurance athletes to use their talents as a way of raising funds for ITP.

ITP Team members ask individuals or businesses to sponsor them in triathlons and other sporting events, and the money raised is donated to the Foundation. Watanabe, who has been actively involved in endurance events for the past 8 years, quickly signed on and has since become the ITP Team Program Director.

Watanabe, who is 31 years old, says he is volunteering in this way because “there’s a need for more positive role models in our children’s lives. I want to be that role model children can look up to; the ITP Team is an avenue which allows me to use my talents and athleticism in a constructive/positive way.”

“We are thrilled to have Jun Watanabe as part of the ITP Team,” says Christopher Landino, Executive Director of the ITP Foundation. “He has for several years been an active, important member of the ITP Team. On behalf of the ITP Foundation, I thank Jun for his concern, his commitment and his compassion.”

“Being an endurance athlete requires so much time and dedication,” Watanabe says, acknowledging the valuable role his family and friends have played in supporting his efforts over the years.

Watanabe is the founder and CEO of Alegup Strategies (www.alegupstratgies.com), an educational company focused solely on the needs of the next generation and of those generations to come. The company seeks to give “a leg up” to youth when encountering life's stumbling blocks of challenges and obstacles by providing an understanding and proficiency of real world life skills and learned life lessons.

Watanabe likes to “live life in the moment, with thoughts of living a great life without having many regrets for the choices that I’ve made.” And he has words of encouragement for children struggling with ITP: “Always have faith that people have the capacity to do what's right and that they will find it in themselves to help those that can't. There's no cure for ITP now, but with so many people helping out, my hope is that there will be a cure soon. Finally, believe in yourself that you have the capacity to do anything you want. There are challenges ahead, but always know it in your heart that you can persevere and make the best of every situation.”

Those wishing to sponsor Mr. Watanabe in his races can do so by making a donation under the “Sponsor an Athlete” area of the ITP Team section at www.itpfoundation.org or by emailing

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About ITP
ITP is an autoimmune disorder of unknown cause that affects both children and adults. ITP occurs when the immune system malfunctions and produces antibodies against the body's own platelets. These antibodies destroy the platelets, resulting in a decreased level of blood platelets needed for normal blood clotting. Characterized by a low platelet count, notwithstanding normal bone marrow production and the absence of other specific causes (such as leukemia or aplastic anemia), ITP can lead to life- threatening bleeding episodes.

About the ITP Foundation
The ITP Foundation is a Darien, CT based non-profit which was established to raise awareness of ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura), a serious bleeding disorder. The Foundation helps families with children and adolescents with ITP who need financial assistance to manage and treat the disorder, and funds research to find the cause of and cure for ITP. Information: www.itpfoundation.org