Prayers needed for an AFA pioneer
May 28, 2008
The Ironman Football League would like to wish Ron Real and his family the very best and let them know that our hearts and prayers are with them through these uneasy times.
Ronald J. Real, President of the American Football Association, was diagnosed with a form of incurable Lymphoma Cancer more than one year ago. He has been battling the disease with a series of Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments. After a brief period in remission at the end of 2007, the cancer has advanced and has metastasized.
With the advice of his medical team, Ron has been removed from all cancer treatments. He has been released into hospice care in his Sarasota, FL home. Ron was receiving palliative radiation treatments to his brain, which ended on April 15, 2008, and is being aided by the caring hospice team.
Ron’s wife, Ceil, and their 7 children and 12 grandchildren (all from the Chicago area), have been able to be with Ron through this time and have rented an additional condo at his residence. “It’s great to have the time to take a moment with each of my kids and share my thoughts and hopes for their futures,” said Ron. “I may not know what lies ahead, but it is wonderful to be able to fill this time with my family and friends.”
Not only is Ron the President of the American Football Association, he is also the President of the Lido Ambassador Condominium Association, where he resides. He is taking the time to finalize his affairs with these wonderful organizations and to ensure succession plans are in place.
The Semi-pro football community has been devastated by this news as Ron Real has had such a big part in promoting and improving the sport. Real has been a true pioneer in the sport and we are all honored to have been a part of it.
The American Football Association (AFA) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the advancement and promotion of semi-pro/minor league football teams and leagues in the United States.
The AFA was founded in 1980 by Ronald J. Real under the name Minor Professional Football Association (MPFA). Its main function was to conduct an annual post-season championship tournament for teams calling themselves “minor league”.
Real has dedicated his life to the advancement of semi-pro football, and today the American Football Association is in its 29th year of service as the national association for semi-pro/minor league football organizations. It provides services to approximately 800 teams in 62 different leagues, covering 47 states plus the District of Columbia. There are some 75,000 active football players, coaches, administrators, trainers, officials, and even cheerleaders participating annually in this level of sport.
If you would like to contact Ron, you can send him an email and his family will be glad to get it to him. His email address is rjreal@comcast.net.